Pioneer Clubs eNewsletter Printer-Friendly

June 2004

Dear Christian Leader,

Welcome to the latest edition of the Pioneer Clubs eNewsletter, where we provide resources to help you build your Pioneer Clubs ministry.

We'd like to send out a big thank-you to all you club coordinators and leaders for all the time and effort you spend in working with the children and youth who make up our Pioneer Clubs!

This month we want to give you ideas for ministering to your kids over the summer months.

Start a round-robin e-mail or letter, letting club members share what they're up to this summer. Include prayer requests, too, and encourage kids to type (or write) their prayers for these requests right in the e-mail or letter. Actually seeing others' prayers for them in print can be a real encouragement to the ones in need.
Hold a gym time for current club members and “incoming” kids. Consider inviting parents, too, to get acquainted. To tie in to the "gym" theme, use the devotional "Sneakers" from the Talks That Teach book (catalog #2725).
Make a poster. Gather up the kids who are going to camp and help them make a giant "We're Going to Camp!" poster for the church narthex. Have them write on it things they want to do and learn, plus a request for people to pray for them. List kids' names and the dates they will be at camp. Include a pocket on the poster to hold postcards (catalog p. 26) that church members can take, write a message on,and send to a kid at camp. (Be sure to specify when the postcards need to be sent to arrive on time.)
Give kids a copy of one of two Daily Watch books—-Adventures with God (#6795) or Exploring God's Word (#6793). These fun, daily devotional guides include puzzles and creative games to get the kids involved in God's Word each day. Follow up during the summer by asking them what they've learned.
Take a hike! Schedule a half-day hike. Depending on where you live, you could walk by a river or lake, hike to an interesting place in your community (such as a nature center or historical landmark), or hike to a wildlife area. Walk alongside different kids to find out how their summer is going.
Clean up the community. Work with your local authorities to see where your club could provide the most help. For example, some areas have "Adopt a Highway." Have the older kids help the younger ones. A service project helps the children engage in meaningful community issues that are oriented to the well-being of others.
Pray for your club members. The most meaningful way of all to show interest in your club members is to pray for them over the summer and let them know it. Call them or their parents and ask for specific prayer requests. Then e-mail them or drop them a note to let them know that you did pray for them.

Changed Lives
"We recently had a new family bring their four children to Pioneer Clubs. They were new to the community and to our church. After a couple of weeks, the parents began telling me how bad things were at home and how hard life was. The mother told me that it seemed like they were on a downward spiral. I asked if they had ever accepted Jesus Christ into their lives. They said no. We went into the sanctuary, and they gave their lives to Christ for the first time. It was an awesome moment that may not have happened had they not been bringing their children to club!" –Deb Parker, Fowler United Methodist Church, Fowler, Indiana

Today’s Kids...
. . .may commune more with technology than with God. Encourage the kids to appreciate God's creation this summer and want to enjoy it more.

Announcements

Congratulations to these churches which participated in the 2004 Pioneer Clubs Kids for Kids Hike:

Blue Rock United Brethren, Waynesboro, PA
Calvary Chapel, Fredericksburg, VA
Calvary Chapel of Old Bridge, Old Bridge, NJ
Cascade Camp Cherith, Belfair, WA
Christian Fellowship, Holland, OH
Charlton Baptist, Charlton, MA
Church of the Living Water, Deer Park, TX
Columbus First Free Will Baptist, Columbus, OH
East Brookfield Baptist, West Brookfield, MA
Grace United Methodist Church, Delaware, OH
Hillcrest Baptist, Columbus, OH
Hope Lutheran Church, Rochester, NY
Ivy Creek Church, Lawrenceville, GA
Millbrook Presbyterian, Millbrook, AL
Perry Presbyterian Church, Perry, GA
Ridge Road Wesleyan, Queensburg, NY
Second Baptist, Akron, OH
Sure Foundation Baptist, Bakersfield, CA
Tecumseh Evangelical Friends Church, Tecumseh, MI
Towering Oaks, Berryville, AR
West Hopewell Presbyterian, Hopewell, VA
Westside Baptist Church, Zephyrhills, FL

If your church hiked, please let us know so we can add you to the list. Call us at 800-694-2582 and ask for the development department, or e-mail Carlene Smith at csmith@pioneerclubs.org. And remember to send in your hike report and your hike donation as soon as possible. If you include a photo, we'll post it on Pioneer Clubs' Web site.

Does your employer have a "Dollars for Doers" program? If so, the hours you volunteer at club program could mean a financial contribution for the national ministry of Pioneer Clubs. Many companies make charitable contributions based on hours their employees, spouses, and retirees volunteer for nonprofit organizations. Please see if your employer has such a program, and if so, sign up! Your employer's gift will help kids across North America make Christ Lord in every aspect of life through Pioneer Clubs.
Many thanks to all who pledged to one of our recent phonathons! If you haven't had a chance to fulfill your pledge, please do so as soon as possible. Sending your gift by June 30th will help Pioneer Clubs end the fiscal year on sound financial footing.

Reflections

"For what is our hope, our joy, or the crown in which we will glory in the presence of our Lord Jesus when he comes? Is it not you? Indeed, you are our glory and joy." –1 Thessalonians 2:19-20

Lighter Side

A Sunday school teacher was discussing the Ten Commandments with her five- and six-year-olds. After explaining the commandment to "honor thy father and mother," she asked, "Is there a commandment that teaches us how to treat our brothers and sisters?" Without missing a beat, one little boy answered, "Thou shall not kill."