Thoughts on Kids Club

Once every two weeks we spend an evening with a roomful of children. It's loud. It's chaotic. It's challenging. Sometimes it's stressful. Other times its pure fun, their laughing faces grinning up at us, their hearty voices belting out the songs.

The evening is full of singing, Bible lessons, crafts and games, and, of course, snack. The place throbs with energy.

We have them for a few hours. To short it feels in reaching out and trying to touch these little lives.

The temptation is there for the teachers to somehow think that they are truly great in this giving of their time and energy. And it is giving. It is a sacrifice. The day of Kid's Club is full of ride planning, last minute prep on lessons and crafts, and work off early to make it in time. But that short time with the children does not often build the trust and lasting friendships that they crave.

I know. Because some of those children lived with us for almost a year. There were four sister, two of which I knew through Kids Club. Suddenly the sacrifice became very real. We were givchance to show if we truly loved and cared about these children like we claimed. It was hard. Brutally, exhaustingly hard.

However, though Kids Clubs can tend to promote a superficial friendship with the students, it doesnt have to. Those four sisters we knew through Kids Club, and that's partly why we said yes to having them in our home. I have a coworker who at one time attended Kids Club, and he has a respect for me, even though he often disrespects others in his life. We as staff know many more people in our town and are given other opportunities to touch just one more life.

So I do not believe Kid's Club is an end in itself. It's a springboard to develop relationships with parents as well as children, to give the children one evening of wholesome atmosphere and Bible teaching, and to have just plain fun.

Sometimes we wonder if we are making an impact. Is the time and energy well spent? But our goal is to show them there is a better way. There is a God. And while their lives are in chaos and pain, there is hope. For them. For their parents. For life.