Pioneer Clubs eNewsletter–Evaluating Your Club Program

June/July 2005

Dear !*Address1*!,

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

This month we want to provide you with tips for building relationships with kids in club.

"By teaching that God created people to be interdependent, the club program leads children to develop healthy relationships with both peers and adults." —Pioneer Clubs Goal 2b

Tips for Building Relationships with Kids

1. Model Christian behaviors and values. Children will more likely follow and develop relationships with leaders who display character and integrity. Display these qualities while interacting in small groups, working on activity awards, and spending time together at special events. Good relationships enhance learning. In Pioneer Clubs' informal format, the club leader serves as a guide, mentor, coach, friend, and advisor. As the old saying goes, more is caught than taught.

2. Be sensitive to children's needs. Recognize the variety of backgrounds and situations your club members come from. Be sensitive to what the kids say (or imply) about their home life or personal relationships. When appropriate, ask questions that will help you assist kids whose families are struggling.

3. Listen to children with care and respect. Listening to children builds their sense of worth by communicating, "I think you're important" and "What you say is important to me." Visit http://www.myministrybuilder.com/listenquiz.pdf, for a "Test Your Listening Skills" self-quiz. To learn more about listening—and getting children to listen to you—read through the outline "Listening to Children" in Leader Training Outlines. (http://www.shoppioneerclubs.org/store/product.asp?ItemID=1208&CategoryID=208&HeaderCategoryId=29&returnUrl=&RandomSeed=T5E05).

4. Help children feel they belong. Children need to feel that they belong to a group and that their contributions are important. Include them in helping to make decisions. Welcome them back after a break. Their identity grows as they develop relationships with adults and peers.

5. Create a caring, constructive club discipline plan. If discipline is going to work, club members must feel truly cared about. Base your acceptance and approval of children on who they are, created in God's image, not on their performance. Communicate to the child that you like and accept him or her but can't accept inappropriate behavior. When children feel cared about, even discipline situations can help your relationships grow stronger.

6. Challenge children who may be advanced. Certain children in your club program may be developmentally beyond the others in your group. Challenge these children in extra ways. Perhaps you could help them learn to lead part of a club meeting for younger kids. Whatever the case, provide high achievers opportunities to grow spiritually, mentally, or socially.

7. Get involved in the kids' special activities. Try not to miss a club camping outing or bike ride. Get involved in painting those Pine Car Derby cars.(http://www.shoppioneerclubs.org/store/product.asp?ItemID=949&CategoryID=188&HeaderCategoryId=29&returnUrl=&RandomSeed=T5E05) If your church holds the Kids for Kids Hike (http://www.pioneerclubs.org/lrc/HikeBook-Index.asp), march alongside the others. And don't forget the kids' other interests and activities. When you're able, show up for their youth league basketball game, school play, or birthday celebration.

8. Begin the Pal program in your church The Pal program is Pioneer Clubs' way to match up adults and children for relationship-building and prayer. Adult Pals do things like attend club events with their club member, pray for him or her, keep in contact by phone, and perhaps give small birthday or Christmas presents. Making Your Pal Program Work can help you get started. (http://www.shoppioneerclubs.org/store/product.asp?ItemID=1185&CategoryID=185&HeaderCategoryId=29&returnUrl=&RandomSeed=T5E05).

9. Stay connected with the kids over the summer. Once you've built relationships, it's important to keep them going over the summer months. Pray for your club members, and let them know that you prayed for them. Plan an outing with your kids or do a project together. Write to them while they're at Camp Cherith (http://www.pioneerclubs.org/campcherith.htm). No matter what you do, the important thing is that you are communicating your continued interest in their lives whether in club or outside of club.

Changed Lives
“I remember a sense of excitement and anticipation the night of the Pioneer Clubs awards ceremony at my new church in May of 1983. I was eight years old. I remember wanting to finish the last [award] that I had the opportunity to get that night--after all, I got a cool badge for it. At the end of the [award] in my handbook, I remember reading something that led me to pray a simple prayer inviting Christ into my life. I would never be the same.” –Scott Linhart

Today’s Kids...
...want to develop trusting relationships with adults. But trust takes time, and the time it takes to develop trust depends on the individual child. Some—because of their background or personality—will be more cautious. Show concern and interest and treat each child as an individual.

Pioneer Clubs Announcements

The 2005/2006 Pioneer Clubs catalog will be available soon

Watch your church's mailbox the beginning of July for your copy. If you would like one mailed to your home, please call us at 800-694-2582 or e-mail info@pioneerclubs.org with your request. Be sure to include your name, church name, home address, home phone number, and e-mail address.

Help your club members continue to grow spiritually this summer at Camp Cherith! Camp Cherith is the official camping ministry of Pioneer Clubs. There are 23 Cherith^® camps in North America. They all provide a Christ-centered, Bible-based outdoor program designed to help children and youth learn about Jesus Christ and how to make Christ Lord in every aspect of life. Both club members and club leaders are encouraged to sign up for a week at camp. For more information and to find the camp nearest you, visit http://www.pioneerclubs.org/campcherith.htm.

Kids for Kids Hike

Congratulations and our thanks to all who participated in the 8th annual Pioneer Clubs Kids for Kids Hike. For a list of churches that participated, go to www.pioneerclubs.org and click on "Kids for Kids Hike."

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 info@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.

Be sure to mark your calendar for the 2005 Autumn Kids for Kids Hike on October 15 and the 2006 Spring Kids for Kids Hike on April 22.

Dollars for Doers

Does your employer have a "Dollars for Doers" program? If so, the hours you volunteer at club 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^®.

Please Fulfill Those Pledges!

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 30 will help Pioneer Clubs end the fiscal year on sound financial footing.

Reflections
“Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen”. –Ephesians 4:29

Lighter Side
A mom had been teaching her three-year-old daughter, Caitlin, the Lord's Prayer for several evenings at bedtime. She would repeat after her mom the lines from the prayer. Finally, she decided to go solo. The mom listened with pride as Caitlin carefully enunciated each word right up to the end of the prayer. “Lead us not into temptation,” she prayed, “but deliver us some e-mail.”