KBC’s mission is to mobilize the church to go outside its walls to take the message of Jesus Christ into the heart of its community, which is the local public elementary school. Thousands of volunteers from churches all over the country are busy preparing to kick off another year of connecting kids to Christ and putting Bibles in their hands.
Leadership Luau is an event designed to equip and inspire these dedicated volunteers to effectively reach kids with the hope of Jesus Christ and present the truth of God’s word. This year’s emphasis is on igniting passion to teach kids the truth of God’s word and included practical ways leaders can weave the gospel message into every element of Beach Club.
Volunteers were also reminded that Beach Clubs meet for one hour per week for 24 weeks of the school year. That’s 24 hours. It’s the equivalent of one day. Leaders are encouraged to make the 24 hours in Beach Club as impactful as possible by staying focused on our vision to give every child a Jesus experience in their public elementary school.
In the last few weeks, KBC has already hosted Leadership Luau events in Andrews, Texas; Augusta, Ga.; Bartlett, Tenn.; Devil’s Lake, N.D.; Frankfort, Ky.; Richardson, Texas; and, Weatherford, Texas.
Here’s what a few volunteers had to say about their experience at Leadership Luau:
“I liked the way that the components of the program were introduced to the new and returning leaders so that each group was able to see the ‘what, why and how’ of the program.”
-- Linda, Southaven Intermediate, Southaven Miss.
“Passion for this ministry on display by the speakers was contagious. I have a genuine opportunity to make a difference in children's lives. I need to pray more about my role and prepare better every week; stay attuned to opportunities that may be presented each KBC day.”
-- Diana, Austin Elementary, Sunnyvale Texas
“I loved seeing the numbers from all other clubs! I was truly amazed at how God has His hand of favor on Kids Beach Club! That in its self was awesome, but the stories that Brother Jack shared were so encouraging. I also love the new curriculum. I really like the new layout and I think for a lot of people it will be easier to follow. The leadership manual is definitely a plus!”
-- Michelle, Bon Lin Elementary, Bartlett, Tenn.
“It was a blessing to hear all of the information that the leaders shared, and a delightful encouragement to see everyone there and hear the testimonies that were shared.”
-- Jone, Mohawk Elementary, Richardson Texas
If you haven’t been able to attend a Leadership Luau yet, do not worry. KBC is hosting more Leadership Luau events in the coming weeks. Make plans to attend and register for the Leadership Luau nearest you: Atlanta, Ga.; Baytown, Texas; Biloxi, Miss.; Ennis, Texas; Orlando, Fla.; and, Southlake, Texas.
Even if you have attended a similar KBC event in the past, you won’t want to miss this event this year! For more information and to register for one of these events, visit kidsbeachclub.org/luau.
Published on Aug 30 @ 4:28 PM CDT
Back to School, Back to Beach Club
Nearly all of our kids are back in school or will be very soon. That means Beach Club is about to start, too. Be sure to contact your child’s school or the sponsoring church to find out when your child’s Beach Club will meet for the first time this fall. You will again need to fill out a permission slip in order for your child to attend.
We hope all of our returning Beach Club kids will help to continue making Jesus cool at school®. Check out this helpful advice:
- Carry your Bible with you to school.
- Behave in ways that are pleasing to God.
- Wear your KiDs Beach Club® t-shirt.
- Tell your friends what you learn about Jesus.
- Read your Bible during your free reading time.
- Go to a church that teaches about the Bible. Invite a friend to go too!
- Pray to Jesus during your "moment of silence" and before you eat lunch.
- Show love to everyone... just like Jesus did.
- Come to KiDs Beach Club® and bring a friend with you.
We encourage you to pray for your children as they start a new school year. Pray that your children show love, compassion and respect and for them to be a light to others. Ask God to surround them with friends and teachers who will be good influences in their lives and be supportive and encouraging. As for God’s protection and to keep them free from evil.
While you’re praying for your children, remember to say a prayer for all educators and our Beach Club volunteers. Take the time to thank God for their dedication and ask for them to have a positive impact on your children. Ask the Lord to give them an extra-special blessing with the start of school.
Published on Aug 30 @ 4:24 PM CDT
North Texas Giving Day is September 22
September 22 is North Texas Giving Day, the annual event when thousands of people from across the Dallas-Fort Worth area and beyond rally around various non-profit organizations to help financially support their mission. It’s a day when you can help KiDs Beach Club® continue to Teach KiDs Truth.
We want to thank you for coming alongside of us in teaching children the truth about God’s word. It’s a challenging time in our country trying to figure out who you can trust. From presidential candidates to Olympic athletes, the messages are confusing. If you think it’s tough for you to figure out, how do you think your kids feel? Aren’t you glad to be able to trust in God’s word because it is true and reliable?
Great Treasure Day will take place the fifth week of Beach Club, usually in October. That is the day when we provide the truth, a KiDs Beach Club® Explorer’s Study Bible, to every child in club who hasn’t received one already. Then, throughout the school year, our incredible volunteers will teach each child every week where to find truth about forgiveness, courage, confidence, kindness, respect and humility, just to name a few. As you know, KiDs Beach Club® is non-denominational so these truths aren’t coming from the opinion of any particular religious organization but solely from God’s word.
In John 17:17, our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, while praying to our Heavenly Father, interceded on our behalf asking Him to “Sanctify them by Your truth, Your word is truth.” God’s gift to us is His word, which we have given to 40,320 children during a decade of ministry. There is no better gift to give our children than God’s absolute truth. Please help support us as we connect kids to Christ and put Bibles in their hands.
Before North Texas Giving Day, please pray about making a gift of any size that can be used to assist us in teaching kids truth. It only costs $20 for us to put a Bible in a child’s hand inside their public elementary school! All you have to do is go to our website: kidsbeachclub.org/givingday between 6 a.m. and midnight on September 22 to place your gift and help us continue teaching kids truth.
Published on Aug 30 @ 4:20 PM CDT
Suzanne Massey, Grace Husbenet Join KBC Staff
Suzanne Massey and Grace Husbenet have joined the KiDs Beach Club® staff. Massey, who also serves on the KBC board of directors, has been hired as the strategic growth senior director, while Husbenet, a sophomore at Abilene Christian, will serve as a club relations director.
Massey brings more than 26 years in the textbook publishing business and 20 years in education. Additionally, she has served on the staff as a bi-vocational preschool minister and children’s minister for 16 years. She joined the KBC board of directors this past January.
A graduate of Stephen F. Austin State University, Massey has experience both in the classroom with students as well as training educators in numerous areas of professional development, including KBC leadership teams.
While serving as the children’s minister at Grandview Baptist Church in Mesquite, Texas, she helped that church bring a Beach Club to Porter Elementary. The club debuted with 93 children and remains one of the largest Beach Clubs today.
While children’s ministry was always a priority, Massey worked closely with families. Family activities, including women’s ministries, are a part of her passion to serve others.
Suzanne, a resident of the Dallas area since 1976, has two children and three grandchildren as well as a close-knit extended family.
Husbenet is studying children and family ministry as well as marketing at ACU. She is a member of North Richland Hills Baptist Church where she has been heavily involved in children’s ministry. She has served in Kid Worship, Kids Camp, Day Camp and Vacation Bible School. This past summer she was the children’s ministry intern at North Richland Hills Baptist Church.
While in Abilene, she attends Pioneer Drive Baptist Church, where she is part of the college leadership team. This fall, she will be involved with children’s ministry in addition to helping with Beach Club.
KiDs Beach Club® is continuing to grow and is looking to fill several other positions, including a Strategic Growth Director in Bedford, Texas and Club Relations Director positions in Texas, including Beaumont, North Central DFW and Midland/Odessa. Please visit our employment website for a complete list of positions and to fill out an application.
Published on Aug 30 @ 3:43 PM CDT
KBC Study Bibles Being Used Outside of Beach Club
Karen King is a member of Trinity Bible Fellowship in Richardson, Texas and is a former volunteer at the Beach Club at Mohawk Elementary. She served as a KiDs Beach Club volunteer for one year before having to give it up to focus on other ministries with which she volunteers.
In her Prairie Creek neighborhood in Richardson, her 12 neighbors on the cul-de-sac gather once a week in front of her house. It’s a great way to meet and fellowship with neighbors. Through that activity a few years ago, one of her neighbors mentioned her son, Ben, did not have a Bible to take with him to church camp. She lent him an old Adventure Bible so he would be able to participate in the daily reading and devotional.
At the beginning of the summer this year, she asked Ben if he needed to borrow her Bible for camp again, but he had started attending the Beach Club at Prairie Creek Elementary.
“Nope, I go to Beach Club now, so I have my very own Bible,” Ben told her.
Thanks to your giving, KiDs Beach Club® is able to provide every child in every Beach Club with a Bible. With nearly half of the 40,320 total Bibles KBC has distributed to children having been passed out since January 2015, the Bibles are being seen more and more outside of club meetings.
Kids are taking their KBC Explorer’s Study Bible with them everywhere they go, including summer camps, Sunday school, Vacation Bible School, school and even to shopping malls.
Counselors at Pine Cove Camp in the City, a summer day camp program in several communities across the country, told KBC staff to say they had seen the Bibles when Pine Cove Camp in the City was at First Baptist Church in Richardson in mid-June.
A club leader in Tennessee shared a story about a girl who committed to reading the entire Bible and takes it with her wherever she goes. She would provide weekly updates about her progress until club ended and after graduating from Beach Club. When the club leader ran into her at a retail store recently, the girl ran out to her parents’ car to grab her Bible to show the club leader her progress.
Even Jack Terrell, the founder and president of KiDs Beach Club®, saw the KBC Study Bibles at a multi-church summer camp at the Riverbend Retreat Center in late July when he was there as the camp pastor. KBC Area Director Kristen Forejt sees kids bringing KBC Bibles to Sunday school, and her church, Trinity Bible Fellowship, had several children bring them for Vacation Bible School.
That would only make sense. During the final Beach Club meeting at Mohawk Elementary last spring, the club leader invited all children to attend VBS at Trinity. One boy, a rising fifth grader who had attended Beach Club in third and fourth grade, brought his younger sister (and his Bible) with him. On Thursday of that week, both children prayed to receive Christ!
Everyone at KiDs Beach Club is encouraged at the frequency people are seeing the Explorer’s Study Bibles and thankful for your support of the Bibles for Beach Club program. The Bibles you’re helping put in kids’ hands are making an impact and connecting them to Christ. Thank you!
Published on Aug 22 @ 10:25 AM CDT
Making Jesus Cool at School
Wanna be a KiD who makes JESUS cool at YOUR school?
Here's How!
- Carry your Bible with you to school.
- Behave in ways that are pleasing to God.
- Wear your KiDs Beach Club® t-shirt.
- Tell your friends what you learn about Jesus.
- Read your Bible during your free reading time.
- Go to a church that teaches about the Bible. Invite a friend to go too!
- Pray to Jesus during your "moment of silence" and before you eat lunch.
- Show love to everyone... just like Jesus did.
- Come to KiDs Beach Club® and bring a friend with you.
Published on Aug 17 @ 2:52 PM CDT