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Unless you’ve volunteered in a Beach Club or heard the personal stories from volunteers or kids, it’s hard to understand what a difference Beach Club can have in the life of a child. Reaching that understanding begins with the realization that the impact is greater than simply the time the spent in Beach Club. Stark Elementary Club Leader Schalee Sanchez learned that lesson early in her time as a club leader. “It’s not just an investment in the kids’ lives for one hour once a week. It’s an investment in their lives that impacts so many other areas.”

Motley Elementary Principal Dr. Shawna DeLamar excitedly interacts regularly with the Beach Club that meets in her school, and she notices the difference in kids even away from club during the school day. “Our kids that are involved in Beach Club, it really molds their hearts to make wise decisions, just to be good friends, to be kind, to be respectful to adults. And so, our discipline has actually been reduced. You can see it in our interaction with our kids. You can see it from the adult to the student; from the student to the adult. It’s changed kids' lives. It plants the seeds for their future.”

Jimmy Draper, President Emeritus of Lifeway Christian Resources,points out that KiDs Beach Club® not only has a huge impact on the kids and volunteers involvedbut reaches way beyond that. “To have this open door that is legal and equal access. The law allows this in the schools, and it’s a way for the church to take advantage of that to reach the community and show what the church is all about. This is one of the most important things in the life of the community, in the life of the church and of the family. So it’s very significant.”

Another important step to understanding KBC’s impact on kids' lives is learning that many kids in Beach Clubs have no church home and would have no idea who Jesus is without being in KiDs Beach Club®. Former KBC Employee Michelle Gregory says, “There’s so many kids that if we don’t walk in those doors they’ll never hear the name of Jesus. Church is not something that they do as part of their life. We can’t count on that to draw them in, so we have to go where they are.”

And going where they are is what KBC will continue to do. KBC staff are excited to be returning this fall and being able to offer clubs in public schools. To see more about the impact of KBC, please enjoy the video below from our “An Evening with the STARS” 2021 fundraiser.

With KiDs Beach Club’s vision of spreading the Gospel message to pre-teen students in their public schools and putting Bibles in their hands, Hobby Lobby President Steve Green was a natural fit as the featured special guest at our annual fundraising event, “An Evening with the STARS”. Steve Green comes from generations of strong believers. Not only that, but Steve and his family established the Museum of the Bible in Washington DC.

KBC President Jack Terrell took advantage of the opportunity to ask Steve about several things including the Museum of the Bible. Steve explained the museum this way, “Our family has been blessed by this book (the Bible) in many ways. It blessed our family first of all as we were raised in Christian homes. It has served our family well. And then in our business. We strive to operate our business according to Biblical principles. And it has served us well in our business. And we have been blessed to be in a nation that has been built on principles found in scripture. Because we have been blessed by it, we want to encourage as many and all people to consider this book, and the museum is a way of doing that. The purpose of the Bible museum is to invite all people to engage with this book.”

One of the big topics of conversation between Steve and Jack was Hobby Lobby’s controversial stand against portions of the Affordable Care Act in 2012 that eventually ended up as a Hobby Lobby victory in the United States Supreme Court. Steve shared that a three-generation family meeting filled with discussion and searching for guidance from scripture, led them to the lawsuit. In the end, it came down to their worldview of truth revealed in God’s Word. “We love God’s Word. We believe that it is true, that it is what we should build our lives around. It's also how we operate in our business. We say in our very first Statement of Purpose (Hobby Lobby) we want to build our business according to Biblical principles, and we strive to do that. We’ve never done it perfectly, but that’s what we strive to do every day.”

Recognizing the connection between the Green’s worldview and the mission of KiDs Beach Club®, Jack asked Steve when he first started to see a moral shift in our country, a country that Steve stated earlier in the interview was founded on principles found in scripture. “I think one of those (moral shifts) was when schools took scripture out of schools and prayer out of schools, where it was just a part of the school. Some of the original textbooks were laced with scripture. We were teaching scripture just in learning the alphabet. So as we have systematically taken God out of our schools, it has I think led to disastrous results in most cases. And so the more we can infuse our schools and our society with God’s Word, it will only serve our nation well.”

The studio audience during Jack’s conversation with Steve inside the CRM Studios in Irving, Texas was enthralled. You could hear a pin drop listening to Steve and Jack discuss other topics, such as Steve’s favorite verse (Psalm 1), how Steve first came to lead a Sunday school class (his youth pastor asked him), and Steve’s retelling of the Mephibosheth story and how it so closely mirrors the overarching story of the Bible and God inviting us to sit undeservedly at His table. In the end, Steve wrapped it up with this golden nugget. “if we can encourage people to open the book and start reading it, I believe God will show up and do His work.” KBC agrees, Steve. KBC agrees. If you’d like to watch Jack’s entire conversation with Hobby Lobby President Steve Green, click the video below.

When people think of KiDs Beach Club, they might consider the students having a great time, the powerful message of salvation burning like a lantern on a hill in our public schools, KiDs Beach Club TV which provided virtual clubs during the pandemic known as Beach Club at Home!, our newsletter, community, volunteers, and so much more; but how often do we consider the impact all these factors have on the many friends of KiDs Beach Club? 

One of our dear friends is actor Zach Colmenero for KiDs Beach Club TV. Zach’s acting career began when he saw his first movie, The Peanuts Movie, six years ago, and it was as he watched the escapades of Snoopy and Charlie Brown that he felt his passion for filmmaking ignite into his earthly calling. 

In the years following, Zach fell in love with the acting industry, especially the comedic arts, taking several acting classes along the way before arriving at his audition for KiDs Beach Club TV.

In the weeks leading up to this audition, Zach had been reflecting on what type of acting he wanted to do. “Well, I really liked comedy,” he said. “I was like, ‘If I go into acting, I want to be a comedian.’ So I like comedies. But I also liked that film acting has life-changing stuff with a purpose.” 

This passion for changing the world with his acting helped land him the job with KiDs Beach Club and a wonderful friendship began. 

As Zach built friendships with his fellow cast members, he started making his impact on kids all across the United States through his portrayal of Alex, the wise-cracking character he portrays in KiDs Beach Club TV. But Alex’s impact isn’t limited by his age or his acting; he’s already started a foundation to assist in cancer research and to provide fun things to do for cancer patients who are kept in quarantine due to their fragile immune systems. 

Zach's passion for cancer patients is rooted in his friendship with Kacey, a young lady battling cancer. Zach’s foundation has provided stories, Legos, and even KiDs Beach Club Explorer's Study Bibles to his friends in cancer wards across the United States. Zach’s passion for inspiring others with life-changing stories is the driving force behind his desire to reveal those who are sick or injured to the wonders of their Forever Friend—Jesus Christ. 

Zach’s ministry of spreading hope and joy to those less fortunate than himself is an inspiration to his fans, old and young alike. 

His devotion to his faith, calling, friends, family, and community is an inspiration best reflected in 1 Timothy 4:12, “Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity.” (NIV) 

Zach’s story tells of a boy who loves his Savior and His Kingdom. If you’d like to see Zach’s acting in action, then go check out KiDs Beach Club TV right now. All the episodes can be seen by clicking here.

Though he is only eleven years old, Zach’s story can be the story of anyone in the KiDs Beach Club community. We all have special talents and gifts to put to the work of the Kingdom; the question is will we be like Zach, who multiplies the influence of the talents God has given, or will we bury our talents away until the Lord’s return? 

KiDs Beach Club is excited to announce that KiDs Beach Club TV has been honored by the 42nd Annual Telly Awards with Bronze wins in four different categories: Online General - Children, Online Craft - Writing, Online General - Religion/Spirituality, Online General - Not-for-profit & Fundraising.

"It's an incredible honor to be recognized by this prestigious organization," said KiDs Beach Club founder and President Jack Terrell. "It's amazing to think of the journey on which Father has taken KiDs Beach Club TV. It has gone from concept in a staff meeting to now being recognized on a national platform. God is good!"

“In the face of a year like no other, KiDs Beach Club has continued to defy the limitations of our new world, in continuing to create compelling and engaging work,” says Telly Awards Executive Director Sabrina Dridje. “This year’s submissions doubled down on what we already know about the industry. Creativity cannot be stopped. Collaboration will always prevail. New ideas and stories will always find a way to break through to an audience.” The full list of the 42nd Annual Telly Awards winners can be found at www.tellyawards.com/winners.

KiDs Beach Club TV started as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic in March of 2020 as our 10,000+ Beach Club students were forced to leave their schools for at-home learning. Beach Club at HOME! provided an online platform for these students to continue learning about Jesus, in their homes, for the remainder of the school year. Through the incredible generosity of GMI Commercial Contractors in Southlake, Texas, who sponsored season 1, Beach Club TV became a network quality show by moving to CRM Studios in Las Colinas. After seeing the show, executives of newly formed Christian TV entertainment network, PAX-TV added KiDs Beach Club TV to their lineup and is now airing episodes to millions around the world in five different languages.

KiDs Beach Club TV - Season 1 has been seen by thousands of children and features character education through the lens of scripture. It includes all the fun elements that kids experience in their after-school Bible club and is now available as a DVD set in the KBC Surf Shop

"While we remain prayerful that KiDs Beach Club will be able to fully return to all of our public schools in the fall, we are excited to be able to share the gospel with potentially millions of children through KiDs Beach Club TV," said Dr. Frank Banfill, KBC's Executive VP for Strategy and Organizational Growth. "Please pray with us that the episodes we are currently taping in Season 2 will have an even bigger impact for the Kingdom than Season 1 did."

For more information on KiDs Beach Club and sponsorship opportunities for Beach Club TV - Season 2, please contact us here.

In the heart of Central Florida hangs a T-shirt. The T-shirt has been hanging on Pastor Jack Parrott’s door, waiting for the day it will be worn again. You might not think a T-shirt would be an abnormal sight for most who enter the office of a church pastor, but for Pastor Jack Parrot, it’s a symbol of the resolve he has for returning to the students in KiDs Beach Club. 

The story starts way back when Pastor Parrott and his church family got together to discuss an inspiring new vision a member of their church named Jannine had for future ministry into their community. A plan was devised, and an after-school program was drafted for the neighboring school. The staff would walk the kids from the school to the church and minister on the home front. 

But then they hit their first roadblock as a communications error led to the entire church being blindsided by the news that the school was being torn down and rebuilt from the ground up; in the meantime, the students would be bused across town to continue their studies. 

Jack and the team sought new ways to minister to the kids, including the option of renting the school on Wednesdays to find a solution—albeit an expensive one. It was around that time in late Fall of 2019 that they were introduced to KiDs Beach Club, and a solution emerged! As they began meeting in January of 2020, everything was smooth sailing, and the kids were loving every second of the club. 

Jack says when remembering those early days, “I would often reassure the parents that safety was our priority, and I would return them more equipped, learned, and happier than when they were left in our care. I upheld that promise week-in and week-out. We had an incredible time as the Father guided our ministry and brought smiles to all our faces.” 

As the lead pastor at his church, Jack would conclude his work at the church early on Wednesday afternoons and grab his KiDs Beach Club T-shirt, which always hangs in his office, and rush all the way across town to set up and lead the club. 

That is until COVID shut down the school, and the club meetings were suspended until further notice. Jack still keeps that T-shirt hanging on the door in his office, longing for the day when he’ll be able to throw it back on and head out the door to rejoin his KiDs Beach Club family in person. 

Though the school remains locked for now, and many of our volunteers await their chance to rejoin their students, it's important to remember that even in the trials of this pandemic, our mission isn’t aborted; we are still on call in this ministry, ready to rush back into it at a moment’s notice. 

As Jack says, “Listen, we're Christians. If you're an evangelical and really believe we must reach people with the love of Jesus Christ and the message of Jesus, then that particularly means we must reach the next generation. In my home state, 80% of Floridians don't attend anybody's church. They're not believers. These kids are experiencing a time of radical personal and cultural change. They're wiring themselves emotionally, spiritually, mentally, everything else, and kindergarten through fifth grade is our mission field for Christ!” 

We at KiDs Beach Club join those of our volunteers in fervent prayer that they will soon return to their clubs and receive those same smiles, laughs, and fun that accompanies our ministry every step of the way. Lord willing, many hangers will be vacant as our volunteers throw on their leader T-shirts and return with more passion than they left with as the Spirit spurs us back into action with KiDs Beach Club next semester! 

Allesandra Rufino and her family were living their daily lives in Orlando, Florida before the 2020 pandemic began. Allesandra’s daughters, Sarah and Clara, had just started attending a new KiDs Beach Club after-school Bible club at Westpointe Elementary, sponsored by Church of the Lakes. 

As Allesandra planned the many chores, events, and activities for the family, she and her husband struggled to find time to guide her daughters to dive into the Scriptures and commune with the Father as a family. 

Not only that, they wanted to teach their daughters how to get into the habit of studying the Word.

Allesandra was incredibly thankful for KiDs Beach Club offering an opportunity for the girls to engage Scripture. But once COVID hit, she faced a challenge. How could she get her girls into the Word consistently with kids being locked out of the schools? 

The short answer is: God works, even when we aren’t looking. While the world was being turned upside-down, God had already made a way to prepare a new generation. 

Allesandra discovered KiDs Beach Club’s interactive Summer Reading Program called Hang 10. With this program, she had a done-for-you Bible engagement curriculum for her daughters to get into the habits of reading scripture daily and communing with their heavenly Father consistently. 

The girls fell in love with the program and began delving into Scripture every day. She then extended the invitation to other mothers and soon had a small group of girls assembling weekly for Bible study. These “All-Stars,” as they call themselves, have become their own KiDs Beach Club in many ways, all guided by the Hang 10 Summer Reading Program. 

Today, the entire Rufino family eagerly awaits next semester when they can participate in KiDs Beach Club in person again, but until then, they love the Hang 10 program

Allesandra describes it as, “Discipleship for the kids, not only on Sunday. This is something they need for the week because evil is coming from all fronts: TV, the internet, phones, you name it. But when you make something like that, you can put the important things in the kids. You can remind them they need to know about the Bible. They need to know the good things, the right thing, the right time, the right place with the right person—Jesus Christ.”

Even though the world may seem a jumbled mess in many ways, God is making moves we cannot always fully comprehend, but He is still reaching kids for Christ and engaging them with His Word. 

Through the Hang 10 Summer Reading Program, kids are taught the incredible habit of spending at least 10 minutes in the Word every day. Each month contains a handful of scripture broken down and simplified while keeping the powerful lessons and values that will encourage the students to seek and maintain a strong relationship with the Father.  

Click here to explore more about the Hang 10 Summer Reading program and engage your kids in the Bible this summer.