Reaching Kids Where You Find Them Most
KiDs Beach Club® continues to make Jesus Cool at School!™ We celebrate incredible growth having 97 active clubs across seven states this school year. The vision “to provide every 3rd through 6th grade boy and girl a Jesus experience within the culture of their public school” is gaining momentum.
This goal is achieved with the help of generous donations from many friends and ministry partners. These contributions make it possible for the 7,500+ children enrolled to experience Jesus in the safety of their elementary school. In the 2012 - 2013 school year, our church partners have witnessed 727 children make Jesus their “forever friend.” Taking all the years of Beach Club into account, that number grows to almost 4,400. That is a lot of children coming to Christ! That is what transforms the culture of our schools.
Jack Terrell, Founder and President of KiDs Beach Club®, is often asked, “Jack, do you really give children in a school cafeteria or gym the opportunity to trust Christ? … How?”
Published on May 14 @ 3:22 PM CDT
Opening Doors and Changing Lives
Melanie Ekblad, Elementary Ministry Director at Brookhaven Church in McKinney, Texas shares with us how KiDs Beach Club® has infused their ministry.
“Beach Club has renewed a sense of our calling that we have as Christians to go to where the lost are. In a school system that had never allowed a Christian group to meet, the Lord opened a door through Beach Club for us to minister to kids that otherwise might not hear the gospel. It amazes me that some children today don’t even know who God is and have never been exposed to His love and grace. Through Beach Club our church and volunteers have seen many lives changed, including their own watching the transformation of children’s lives. In one semester of Beach Club we saw 23 kids give their lives to Christ. We have seen kids begin to desire to know the Lord; they are reading their bibles, attending Sunday services, going to camp and even leading friends to the Lord. It’s amazing what the Lord will do if we are faithful to His call. We thank the Lord for the blessings He has given us through Beach Club and letting us be a part of His work.”
Published on Apr 23 @ 11:27 AM CDT
Faithful Servant
Mike Ackerman has been involved with KiDs Beach Club® for several years. Mike has served as the worship leader at Shady Oaks Elementary School since Beach Club was introduced there seven years ago. Mike shares that he takes seriously his commitment to serve each week, but admits that sometimes when the kids get, well, lets say, a bit over-excited he finds himself asking, “Lord, why me?” He found himself asking that question on more than one occasion, but never really getting an answer. It certainly didn’t deter him from serving, but he really wondered “why?” sometimes.
Approximately four years into pondering that question Mike heard God’s response loud and clear. “He [God] said to me, ‘Kids need a positive male role model in their lives that will help lead them to Christ.’ I just sat there and said, wow!” Sometimes working with kiddos full of energy can be overwhelming. When we step back and see the big picture and remember the main reason why we do the things we do it makes even the challenging times worth it. Mike has said that he’s sure he does plenty of things in life that are probably a waste of time, but KiDs Beach Club® is not one of them.
A special Thank You goes out to Mike and all the volunteers who faithfully serve each week. You are welcoming kiddos into a safe place and showing them the unconditional love of Jesus Christ. You are making a difference!
Published on Mar 21 @ 4:12 PM CDT
Feeling Frazzled?
In our recent workshop led by Robin Dembicki of Dallas Bible Church, we learned that there is hope for ministering to high-need children.
Published on Mar 11 @ 10:58 AM CDT
Our God Provides
At the end of January, Jack Terrell, Founder and President of KiDs Beach Club®, was in Orlando, Florida meeting with a new church partner, First Baptist Orlando. He also visited area schools in preparation for the launch of Beach Clubs in the Orange County Public Schools.
As Jack visited with Dr. Eric Cantrell, Principal of Pineloch Elementary, he learned that their school was really struggling with resources, as do many schools in urban settings. Dr. Cantrell shared that his teachers spend a large portion of their own money to buy much needed supplies for their students. Along with leading children to Jesus, Jack has a strong desire to encourage teachers and school administrative staff.
Published on Feb 28 @ 11:20 AM CDT
Beach Club Leads to Community Group
The idea of reaching Beach Club families has been on my wife’s heart since we started doing a Beach Club at Stonegate Elementary in the Spring of 2004. We would often talk about the importance of connecting with these families but every time my wife, Michelle, would bring up the subject I always felt that we were too busy.
I had the privilege of speaking at a 6 Stones event at the school called “Night of Wonder” where I saw many of these Beach Club families hurting and in need of help. I told Michelle at that time I was on board with doing anything we could to help reach our neighbors.
Published on Feb 23 @ 9:18 AM CDT