KBC Blog (2021)

Join a movement igniting a broad culture of community-wide giving! North Texas (NTX) Giving Day is Thursday, September 22. In 2021, $66 million was raised through 103,000 donors benefiting more than 3,300 nonprofits, bringing the thirteen-year NTX Giving Day total to over $441 million for our community.

As in previous years, KiDs Beach Club® will be partnering with the Chris Krok Show on WBAP 820 AM, the Dallas-Ft. Worth powerhouse radio station. Not only will Krok be highlighting KiDs Beach Club® at various times throughout his 8pm – 12 am show on September 22, but he’ll be joined by KBC President and Founder Jack Terrell and EVP of Strategy Dr. Frank Banfill. Whether you give early or choose to wait until September 22, tune in to the Chris Krok show to hear about the exciting new opportunities God is giving KiDs Beach Club. Outside the DFW Metroplex, you can listen online at wbap.com.

Dr. Willy Rice, pastor of Calvary Church Clearwater, Florida, which partners with KiDs Beach Club, explained what kind of impact you can have by reaching a child. “When you reach a child, you’re not just reaching them for a few years. You’re changing the trajectory of a life, of a family, of a generation. So, when you invest in a child’s life, it has a disproportionate impact when you say invest in someone my age. Reach everybody you can. But when you reach the next generation, that’s how you change the world.”

“North Texas Giving Day is very important to KiDs Beach Club® because it helps the general community learn about the great work that we do,” said KBC’s Dr. Frank Banfill. “It also is a way for our supporters to kick-off our after-school Bible clubs as we launch into a new school year. We’ll be providing thousands of Bibles to kids in the coming weeks, and this helps fund those and other efforts.”

Regardless of where you live, you can still participate in NTX Giving Day since KiDs Beach Club® is headquartered in North Texas. This year, there are multiple ways you can give. You can give at the KiDs Beach Club page on the NTX Giving Day website. You can give at the NTX Giving Day webpage on our website. You can also text KBCBible to 91999. Whichever way you choose to give and support KiDs Beach Club®, know that your donation is making a worldwide generational impact.

"As I look across America, I see homes that are broken and children that are caught in the middle," shared Jack Terrell. "For many of these children, KiDs Beach Club becomes their sanctuary of hope, both in school and on TV. So your giving allows each child to hear hope, see hope, experience hope. On Sept 1^st you can begin giving to North Texas Giving Day to help us impact the next generation. I wish to thank you for your generous donation."

With the welcoming of cooler days and earlier nights, students, teachers, and administrators are returning to school. And with the return to school is a return to after-school KiDs Beach Club^® Bible clubs. In these clubs, which take place one hour a week for 24 weeks during the school year, kids will learn character-lessons through scripture stories and memory games. They’ll discover the joy of knowing they’re not alone in the world and that there is someone who cares about them. And God willing, many will decide to ask Jesus to become their Forever Friend.

“Our Club Relations Specialists are actively preparing for the 2022-23 school year,” said KBC Club Relations Director Tammy Terrell. “We’re excited to see our church partners return with renewed passion to share the gospel in their local schools, and we’re looking forward to adding even more church partners and more Beach Clubs^® all over the country. It’s also exciting to see how God is using KBC-TV to expand our reach into new states and school districts!”

But these clubs don’t just happen. A small team of KiDs Beach Club^® staff work tirelessly to prepare for the launch of our fall after-school clubs. They’ve been filling their days with a flurry of activity to ensure each pre-teen child in the local clubs has a Jesus experience. From training our army of Beach Patrol volunteers to securing lease agreements, from making sure annual background checks are completed to processing all required paperwork, our team members are thrilled that our number of clubs and partner churches nationwide is growing! Just since June, we’ve seen our partner churches increase by almost 34.5%, and the number of clubs has increased almost 20%. While these numbers are not representative of our Pre-Covid numbers, the team is truly thrilled that God is using them to continue Making Jesus Cool at School!^®

KBC Club Relations Coordinator Tina Kimbro shared her excitement about the kickoff of fall clubs. “I sense a renewed spirit and urgency among church leadership and volunteers. In this present culture, they have a greater understanding of the importance of expressing love and being the voice of hope to the hearing and hearts of the boys and girls God entrusts to their discipleship through their Beach Clubs. It is a joy to be a witness to their loving, serving, and caring for their Beach Club^® kids and their schools. I view the 2022-2023 school/club year as a new beginning and know that God is doing and will continue doing great things, immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine."

It’s not too late for you, as a church leader, parent, or school administrator to discover how to have a KiDs Beach Club^® at your school. Simply go to kidsbeachclub.org/school-clubs to learn more about after-school clubs, find a club in your area, or start a Beach Club of your very own.

Over the last few years KiDs Beach Club^® (KBC) leaders have found themselves walking through many doors that Father has opened, including a TV show that is now available all around the world. Well, in May the KBC corporate team walked through some new doors…literally. KiDs Beach Club^® moved into a standalone, corporate office building thanks to the support of a very generous donor.

As with any new opportunity, some adjustments had to be made and renovations were needed before sharing this new location with the public. But after a couple of months, with everything moved in, renovations finished, and offices decorated, the KBC board and staff joined dignitaries from the City of Bedford, Texas for a ribbon cutting event August 11. The ceremony was followed by prayers of blessings led by Cross City Church’s lead pastor John Meador and former pastor Bill Anderson.

Commenting on the occasion, Pastor Meador said, “It’s a thrill to see them in this building because they are a really well operated organization, and this just enhances that and builds that.”

KBC Board Member Dianna Booher Rae explained the significance of the building. “This represents a footprint. It represents a footprint in the city. It represents a footprint in our communities. It says we’re here to stay. You’re saying to the community we’re solid. We know what we’re about. We have a goal. We have a mission. We have a vision. And we intend to be here for a long while. And that excites me!”  

Two days after the ribbon cutting ceremony, the building was opened for tours to KBC supporters and the surrounding community. Child and adult stars of KBC-TV, along with the show’s producers and director, joined Beach Club® volunteers, club participants, parents, and community members for a pizza and ice cream party to celebrate. The entire Grand Opening weekend was a series of joyful events that laid the foundation for new doors opening to KiDs Beach Club® in the years to come. To watch video highlights from both the ribbon cutting and open house, please visit our Grand Opening webpage.

While they may appear to come from two different worlds, one from politics and one from entertainment, the two special guests appearing at the KiDs Beach Club 2022 Gala June 18 in Dallas, TX have much in common. They are both fighting for the next generation.

Tony Perkins will be the keynote speaker at the KBC 2022 Gala. Perkins is president of the public policy institute Family Research Council in Washington D.C. He is quite comfortable in the halls of congress speaking on behalf of kids and their parents. You probably have seen him as a guest on national TV outlets presenting a biblical worldview that our current culture desperately needs to hear.

Steph Carse will be the worship leader at KBC’s gala. Carse is a three-time Emmy Award winning musician and television producer. He’s also a pop sensation in his home country of Canada, where the story of his wedding made the cover of a national magazine. Carse’s TV special My Shining Hour has aired on networks around the world and his music videos have garnered accolades from numerous film and music festivals.

Carse is deeply committed to children and their future. A personal passion of his is revealed in the song Awesome—a desire to raise awareness of not only the danger of bullying, but also the power of words.  “I wrote this song as a reminder that there is something awesome in each of us and that we are to celebrate our uniqueness to make a difference,” he said. Carse conducts anti-bullying programs in schools across the U.S.

While Tony Perkins and Steph Carse may have very different careers and are from different countries, they both advocate building character in children. Character building through the lens of Scripture is the hallmark of KiDs Beach Club®, and this will be celebrated at the KBC 2022 Gala. “We are excited to showcase at the gala the many ways in which KiDs Beach Club is impacting kids and their character, not only across the country through our public school ministry but also around the world through our TV show,” said Dr. Frank Banfill, KBC’s executive vice president.

In his book, No Fear, Perkins writes, “I am so encouraged by this new generation of followers of Jesus who aren’t backing down from the hostility and vitriol they face for standing firm in their faith. If God is about to once again change the course of history through those who fear Him rather than man, I am convinced He will use these brave new disciples….” Developing character in kids is paramount to standing firm in the faith.

Perkins told the National Religious Broadcasters Convention that, “America will not be great again until it is good again, and that means America must once again not only acknowledge but live as one nation under God. Let us redeem the time. Let us make the most of this moment.”

Perkins will bring to the KBC gala a special message focused on the urgency of making the most for Christ in this moment. Steph Carse, through his musical performance and background videos, will lead the KBC gala attendees to appreciate their uniqueness in Christ and celebrate the wonder of the Lord. Tickets are on sale now for the gala at kidsbeachclub.org/2022gala. If you cannot attend the event, you can participate by buying a “seat at the table” for $125 and supporting the work of KBC as it reaches kids for Christ and develops their character.

Every summer KiDs Beach Club encourages kids and parents to spend 10 minutes a day hanging out with God with the Hang 10 Summer Reading Program. Beginning May 29, the Summer Reading Program includes 14 weeks of daily Bible readings that will give kids a better understanding of who they are and what God wants for them in their lives. Although the Summer Reading Program is geared toward kids, it is a great plan for adults and teens as well. As you consider diving into the Summer Reading Program this summer, here are some tips that might help you and your family on this meaningful journey:

• Set an alarm at the same time every day as a reminder that it’s time for Hang 10. When the alarm sounds, pause what you’re doing and devote 10 minutes to Bible reading and prayer.
• Hanging out with God may be a new concept for you and your child. Use the tip-in pages “Spending Time with God” in the KBC Study Bible (between pages 242-243) as a guide to help you understand when, where, what, and how. Make a family plan for spending time with God every day…and stick to it.
• Put a sticker on a calendar every day your child reads his or her Bible. At the end of the summer, count up the stickers and celebrate your child’s Bible reading success with a simple treat, like an ice cream cone or an afternoon in the park.
• Print out a copy of KBC’s “Hang 10: Summer Reading Program” and put it on your kitchen table. At breakfast or dinner, read that day’s assignment and talk about the Bible story or verses as a family. Take a look at the Bonus Reading and Challenges sections to dig deeper into the Bible.
• Taking a family road trip? Pack your Bibles and take the summer reading plan with you. Make the most of family time in the car by reading and discussing God’s Word.
• Help your child get comfortable with the Bible by practicing Bible skills. The tip-in page “The Bible is God’s Word… so LOVE IT! LEARN IT! LIVE IT! (just inside the back cover of the KBC Study Bible) contains five different activity options to help your child practice finding things in the Bible and memorize scripture.

We hope you’ll join us on this journey of discovering God’s truth for our lives. Learn more at kidsbeachclub.org/srp.

Though the Pandemic years required many people, churches, and organizations to reevaluate the way they operate, KiDs Beach Club and its church partners have stood firm in the conviction of bringing the gospel to public schools. Last month, KiDs Beach Club wrapped up year 16 of partnering with churches to host after-school Bible clubs in public schools.

Just two years removed from having zero clubs meeting in schools due to the Pandemic lockdown and the move to virtual schools, the 2021-22 school year numbers are very encouraging. Fifty-eight churches partnered with KBC to lead clubs in 71 schools to share the gospel message with 2,700 kids. Even more exciting, 142 of those kids made the decision to ask Jesus to be their Forever Friend.

KBC knows that this massive effort, which included giving 1,621 kids Bibles of their very own, would not have been possible without the help of our 714 dedicated volunteers. Volunteers shared the gospel stories, answered the kids’ many great questions, and experienced the joy of seeing lives changed for both children and their families. KBC cannot thank our volunteers enough!

As summer rolls in, KBC Club Relations Director Tammy Terrell, said “Our Club Relations Specialists are actively preparing for the 2022-23 school year. We’re excited to see our church partners return with renewed passion to share the gospel in their local schools, and we’re looking forward to adding even more church partners and more Beach Clubs all over the country. It’s also exciting to see how God is using KBC-TV to expand our reach into new states and school districts!”

Will you pray with us that we are able to reach more kids and families with the gospel than ever before? Pray that we will be able to add to the over 110,000 kids impacted by Beach Club and over 9,500 professions of faith since 2003. KiDs Beach Club exists to provide every 3^rd-6^th grade boy and girl a Jesus experience within their culture – public school, neighborhood, community or at home. Please join with us in making Jesus Cool at School!

To find out how to get involved, please visit our webpage.