his past school year, we launched the Good News Club at Coventry Elementary School, right down the street from our church. Every Tuesday, a group of seven or eight of us would head over there from 3:30 to 5:00 PM to engage with around 30 kids from kindergarten through fourth grade. We had crafts, music, stories, snacks, and games—all centered around introducing these kids to Jesus in a pre-evangelism environment. Many of them had never heard of Jesus, and it was a joy to teach them the basics of faith and share God’s love with them.
Starting this program wasn’t without its challenges. Initially, we didn’t know how many kids would show up, and our interactions with the school were a bit tense as they were unsure of our intentions. We were placed in a less-than-ideal classroom, and I often felt like we were making things up as we went along. But our volunteers were incredibly patient and adaptable, making every child feel loved and welcome.
The successes we experienced made all the challenges worthwhile. We saw six families come to our church directly because of their children’s involvement in the Good News Club. Some of these families even started attending our Vacation Bible School, and several intend to continue being part of our church community. Throughout the year, over 20 kids accepted Jesus as their Lord and Savior—a testament to the impact we were making.
Our connection with the school grew stronger, too. By Christmas, the school trusted us enough to ask for help with families in need. Our congregation stepped up, providing Christmas gifts and support to those struggling. It was amazing to see the tangible difference we were making in our community.
The Good News Club aligns perfectly with our church’s mission to engage with our local schools. Just as we support the preschool within our building, we have a responsibility to the surrounding schools. Building bridges between the school and our church is at the heart of this ministry, and I’m excited to see how these relationships will continue to grow.
Todd Hixenbaugh
Children's Ministry Director
