the featured ministry of September is ...  

             Kids Life,   sometimes called Monday night church

                                                     and we start tonight! 

 the Kids   

    350 kindergarten through sixth grades come for the best  night of their week.  Over the years this program has become a focal part of our   ministry  week as well , a chance to reconnect with lives and each other.  "One young man when he was in jail, once said that he used to mark the weeks with Mondays, wondering  what is happening at church?"

    ...love, community, accountability, begin known, being found, resources, fun, family, hope, receiving THE good news, acceptance, breakthrough, joy, hard work, investment, long-term relationships ... all these words describe the heart and passion of Kids Life for kids...

    pray for these kids ... as they start back to Kids Life tonight that this year would meet them right where Jesus knows they need to be met 

Small Group Leaders    

     85 (or more) small group leaders are matched with  4-5 kids in a small group, in a class of the child's age.  Classes are in Spanish and English and kids are known in these small groups personally. 

    pray for these small group leaders ... as they make a commitment to "their" kids all year, that they would grow to love and know and pray for their kids, making the most of the time they have with them during "Monday night church"

Teachers    

     12 teachers prepare every week to teach the Bible lesson that has been designed for our kids.  Each teacher is a veteran teacher for this work and knows that preparation and prayer are necessary for an important night.  

    pray for these teachers ... that their hearts and minds have the luxury of time alone with the Lord that they might come prepared and ready to give their kids the Word with power and authority. 

Bus Drivers and Van Drivers    

     10 drivers  sacrificially give 5 hours every Monday, to drive the streets of Phoenix, "looking" for the kids on their lists.  Often, a kid might have already moved, even though we have just begun, and the looking begins.  Lost kids are the business of Jesus, and He gives these drivers great compassion and commitment to their busload or vanload.  The vans and buses become a little mini environment that gets nicknamed or cared for ... just like a friend. 

    pray for these drivers ... for their attentiveness to the safety and needs of their route.  Pray that kids might be found easily and lost kids recovered.

Hub Team and Kitchen Team 

    This team organizes the night.  Paperwork, kids with needs, medical problems, food delivery to every class, supplies, details ... all these items pass through this team.  Without them -- we are in trouble and the night experiences more chaos than it should.

    pray for this group that their service will be joyful and that they would find fellowship with one another in giving such a great gift to the rest of the program. 

Curriculum Development 

    we are so thrilled to finally be at the stage where the development of our curriculum is specific for our kids, their needs and an overall plan to walk through the Bible, both Old and New Testaments in four years.  This year we begin with the life of Moses.  

    pray for the writing of the curriculum as it continues, that it would be inspired and clear. 

Activity Leaders 

    football, basketball, soccer, art, dance, crafts, beauty, bingo, and other fun activities are offered every Monday night.

    pray for those leaders that take on this great responsibility that they might have energy, creativity and focus for each group, each night. 

Worship Team 

    during the week, kids sing the songs of Kids Life.  Jesus songs that speak great truths and give great comfort.  The worship team commits to making this time with the kids meaningful, fun and powerful.

    pray for this team, to be devoted to the task and to be prepared spiritually for this great work of bringing a song to a child's heart. 

This year's ongoing Prayer Needs: 

  1.   People in our ministry struggling with their faith , their circumstances and their pain -- pray for help, resources and courage

  2.   The ministry vehicles  -- all are old, some need to be replaced and we need one more "newer" van 

  3.   R ecruiting for all the ministries  -- this year over 350 people will volunteer for some role in the ministry  

 4.    Infra-structure decisions  -- board development, structural development, staffing, fund-raising, are all major issues that we are growing through 

 5.   Interns ,  young staff and young leaders -- leadership development is the watchword around here for this year.  Pray for our focus and strategies as they get worked out in lives.  Pray for the appointment that is on some lives to be noticed and mentored. 

  thank you for your faithful praying., we need you so much.  God is revealing Himself through your intercession.   
Love, Kit 

Isaiah 42:5-7

This is what God the Lord says -- he who created the heavens and stretched them out, who gives breath to its people, and life to those who walk on it:  I the Lord have called you in righteousness; I will take hold of your hand.  I will keep you and will make you to be a light ... to open eyes that are blind, to free captives from prison and to release from the dungeon those who sit in darkness.