Pioneer Clubs coordinators eNewsletter

December 2005

Dear Christian Leader,

Welcome to the latest edition of the Pioneer Clubs^® Coordinator’s eNewsletter, where we provide resources to assist you as you plan, recruit, and train—enabling others to share God’s Word with children. This month we would like to give you tips to help your club leaders talk about salvation with their club members this Christmas season.

Helping Leaders Present Salvation

Talk with your club leaders about advantageous times in the coming weeks to introduce discussions about salvation. If your club holds an all-club Opening or Closing time, maybe one week you will sing carols. You could transition from the singing into a salvation presentation by asking club members why Christ was born in Bethlehem (or something similar connected with a carol). Then talk about how that applies to each child, and encourage club members to speak with you or their leader if they want to know more or want to accept Jesus as their Savior.

Other times that lend themselves to salvation discussions:

while preparing for a Christmas program or play (“Why did the angel say that Jesus’ birth was ‛good tidings of great joy’?”)
while presenting the Bible Exploration in the special Christmas meeting provided in leaders’ plan books
after a Christmas service project
during a devotional for a Christmas special event (perhaps friends have been invited)

Suggest to leaders that, after a salvation discussion, they may want to pray aloud a prayer for salvation that interested kids can repeat silently. Brainstorm such a prayer together. Then leaders can encourage any child to come tell them before the end of club if he or she prayed the prayer or wants to learn more.

You may want to review with your club leaders how to lead one-on-one salvation discussions. Direct Trailblazer leaders to the “Explaining Salvation” section in the front of their new plan books. Consider routing the How to Lead a Child to Christ video (catalog #2780) to all your leaders. Order at the following link: http://www.shoppioneerclubs.org/store/product.asp?ItemID=1010&CategoryID=79&HeaderCategoryId=76&returnUrl=&RandomSeed=T6EC5

Also, the Leader Training Outlines book (catalog #2754) contains a training session called “Presenting Jesus as Savior and Lord.” Order at the following link: http://www.shoppioneerclubs.org/store/product.asp?ItemID=1208&CategoryID=208&HeaderCategoryId=29&returnUrl=&RandomSeed=T6EC5

Some key points from the training session to include in your review:

Find a place to talk privately with the child. (For safety reasons, follow the “2-adult rule” and have another leader nearby.)
Make Scripture verses personal. Let the child read key verses from his or her own Bible. Have the child substitute his or her name for words such as all, whoever, the world, and so on.
Get feedback. Have the club member explain the verses in his or her own words. Explain unfamiliar words.
Invite the club member to say his or her own prayer. If needed, help the child know what to say, or let him or her repeat after you.
Make sure the club member understands what happened, and give assurance of salvation. Ask the club member to explain what happened. Consider giving a Pioneer Clubs brochure that explains the significance of a salvation decision:
- Belonging to God's Family (catalog #6790) for grades 1-2
  Order at the following link: http://www.shoppioneerclubs.org/store/product.asp?ItemID=1254&CategoryID=254&HeaderCategoryId=51&returnUrl=&RandomSeed=T6EC5
- Learning More About Jesus (catalog #6792) for grades 3-6. Order at the following link: http://www.shoppioneerclubs.org/store/product.asp?ItemID=1255&CategoryID=255&HeaderCategoryId=51&returnUrl=&RandomSeed=T6EC5

Action Ideas for December

Ask your club leaders for some examples of how their club members are responding to Bible Explorations and Salvation Challenges. This may give you an idea of which leaders may need more guidance in presenting these parts of the meetings.
Discuss with your club leaders which of their club members have accepted Jesus as Savior and which have not. Give ideas on how to follow up with the ones who haven't yet made that decision.
Remember to keep up-to-date on each club’s plans, current units, and awards being worked on.

Ideas for Encouraging Leaders

Post leaders’ photos and brief bios on the church Web site. Invite people to pray for them. Or recruit specific prayer partners for them.
Ask your pastor to write a personal note to each club leader.

Changed Lives

“As a Pioneer Clubs coordinator, I get to see how club makes a difference in both kids and leaders. Kids are excited about coming to club. They have learned to pray for each other’s concerns and are not afraid to bring up prayer requests. Others are learning that memorizing the Bible can be fun and profitable, too. Our leaders are also bonding with the kids and each other and are excited about seeing the kids learn to make Christ Lord in every aspect of life.”—Tim Germain, First Baptist Church, Sycamore, Illinois

Pioneer Clubs Announcements

Year-End Giving

A gift to Pioneer Clubs at year’s end not only helps more kids come to know Jesus, but it also may result in income tax savings for you. Gifts to Pioneer Clubs can be mailed to PO Box 788, Wheaton, IL 60189-0788. Thank you for your support!

Pioneer Clubs Sunday 2006

Pioneer Clubs Sunday is a chance for your club members to shine! This year’s theme is “Walk in His Ways.” For suggestions on how to celebrate, click on the “Pioneer Clubs Sunday” link at www.pioneerclubs.org. While the official date is February 12, 2006, you are welcome to celebrate Pioneer Clubs Sunday whenever you wish. We’d love to hear about your plans. Please contact us at vbreckenridge@pioneerclubs.org.

Fall Phonathon

Many thanks to all who supported our Fall Phonathon. To date we’ve received $11,341—exceeding our goal by nearly $1,500! Even with this success, your partnership is still needed. If you pledged a gift but haven’t yet sent it in, it’s not too late. Simply use the envelope we provided, or address your own to:

Pioneer Clubs
PO Box 788
Wheaton IL 60189-0788

Join us for a Pioneer Clubs^® training teleconference! You may participate in these sessions from any location that has a telephone for only $20 per telephone line. These teleconferences are now scheduled throughout the year. Topics covered are:

Leader Recruitment and Retention
Promoting Your Club Program
Basic Training
Group Discipline

Pioneer Clubs training teleconferences will benefit every club coordinator and leader.

According to Christe McKittrick, Coordinator, First Baptist Church of Evansville:
“...The Basic Training Teleconference...was awesome! I have been leading and now coordinating and leading club for several years. I thought, ‘Oh, I don’t need to know this stuff. I’ll just get it set up for the others and go home.’ Instead I stayed and was really encouraged and re-energized by the training. I learned a few new things, but most of all I was recommitted to do the right things. And it really met the need of my new leaders.”

It's easy to register today! For a complete schedule and online registration forms, visit http://www.pioneerclubs.org/trainingwork.htm. We hope you can join us!

Reflections
How comfortable do you feel your leaders are with presenting the promise of salvation to kids? What further training might they need?

Lighter Side

Kids’ takes on Christmas carols:

“Good tidings we bring to you and your kid.”
“Sleep in heavenly peas.”
“With the jelly toast proclaim.”

Camp Cherith

Camp Cherith^® is the official camping ministry of Pioneer Clubs. Do your clubs know about this camping opportunity? The 23 Cherith camps in North America all provide Christ-centered, Bible-based outdoor programs designed to help children and youth learn about Jesus Christ and how to make Christ Lord in every aspect of life.

Cherith^® camps provide a unique setting away from a camper’s normal activities. Camp Cherith is a wonderful environment for teaching Christian values and life-skills, for evangelizing and discipling, and for changing lives. Camp Cherith has proven to be a mountaintop experience for thousands of young people over the past 60-plus years. Cherith is Christian camping at its best!

January is a great time to contact your local Camp Cherith director to schedule a camp theme night for your clubs. February and March are the peak months for parents to plan summer activities for their kids. Cherith camps can help increase your attendance for next school year's program by keeping your club members involved during part of the summer.

Find your local Pioneer Clubs Camp Cherith. Visit http://www.pioneerclubs.org/campcherith_locations.htm.