SONLIGHT CLUB--Club members and staff gather for photo before the
evening's activities. [Photo by Thomas C. Hanson]
By Michael Morrison
PASADENA--How can we bring the gospel to children whose parents don't attend a church? By inviting them to a fun-filled weekly activity in which they learn scriptures, hear devotional messages and make new friends.
"Our club's main purpose is to reach children," said Janet Morrison, director of Pasadena's SonLight Club. "We are happy to help our own children, and we also want to make the club an effective way to preach the gospel to other kids."
The club began the '98-'99 year with 35 members and then grew 70 percent in nine months. During the year, 72 children visited the club, and of those, 25 joined. At year's end, 30 percent of the club were children not in the WCG.
Statistics for '99-'00 are similar: 50 visitors, of which 22 joined, and at year's end, 40 percent of the club members were not in the WCG.
How does the club grow? By children inviting friends from school and their neighborhoods. Some of these children already have a church affiliation (sometimes rather minimal), and others have no religious background.
Our club uses materials from SonLight ministries, with some adaptations for our doctrines and circumstances. The club is for children in kindergarten through grade seven.
Younger children are called Kings Kids; older girls are Angels and older boys are Knights. Each group has age-appropriate uniforms, games, activities, scripture memory and devotional messages.
Children earn rewards for attendance, crafts, learning scriptures, bringing friends and attending a children's church or Sunday School. Rewards include badges and pins for the uniforms, and points that can be redeemed for prizes in a prize store.
"SonLight club must be doing something right," said one parent. "Anything that makes children eager to learn scriptures is good in my book."
The program requires a lot of volunteers--parents, teens, college students and others. Some of the volunteers are not in the WCG, but they are glad to support the missionary goals of the club.
"We have a great group of workers. Each of them makes sacrifices to support the club and its goals. They make a difference in the lives of these kids," Mrs. Morrison said.
A high volunteer to child ratio allows the volunteers to build relationships with the children. Handbook groups are small so that children get individual attention. Personal relationships are important, since they increase the effectiveness of the gospel messages and help the children come back to where they are loved. Some children have a new interest in attending church because they have formed friendships in the club.
Some volunteers lead handbook groups, in which children learn scriptures and progress through the club sequence of books. Others help with games, refreshments and setup.
Other volunteers, equally important, are prayer partners for those who work in the club. Others have given financial support above what the local church fund gives. Dues cover only one third of the actual cost. The rest is subsidized as an evangelistic effort of the church.
We have a variety of activities--fun games, singing, costumes and parties. We've had Christmas and Easter dramas, bicycle trips, hikes, a choir performance and a campout. One goal of such activities is to help us meet the parents of the non-WCG youths. We've enjoyed making friends with them, and hope that the relationships will grow. It already has, for some.
This summer, we plan to have a Vacation Bible School. It will not only be a way to present the gospel to children, it will also be an opportunity to invite the children to our club and to our church.
For more information, contact janetmorrison
Our club has expenses. We have expenses for uniforms, handbooks, awards, prizes and snacks. Our club is funded by 1) a subsidy from the local church activity fund; 2) contributions from members; 3) membership dues; and 4) snacks brought by parents.
This year, we have begun to receive some funds from electronic scrip. After members register for the e-scrip program, 2 percent of all their Vons and Safeway purchases go automatically to our club. Members in other church areas can also participate.
SONLIGHT CLUB--Club members and staff gather for photo before the
evening's activities. [Photo by Thomas C. Hanson]
Copyright © Worldwide Church of God, 2000