Pioneer Clubs leader eNewsletter Print–Attract more kids to your Pioneer Clubs group!

November 2005

Dear Christian Leader,

Welcome to the latest edition of the Pioneer Clubs^® Leader’s eNewsletter, where we provide resources to help you build your Pioneer Clubs ministry. This month we would like to help you with attracting more children to your Pioneer Clubs group.

Attracting and Welcoming New Kids

To attract more children to your club, both from your church and your community, use the most powerful promotional resource available to you—your current club members. Many clubs get most of their growth from simple word of mouth—excited kids sharing their excitement with their friends.

Sometimes kids are intimidated about asking their friends, so they’ll need your help. Suggest that they wear their Pioneer Clubs T-shirts to school (and Sunday school if your church allows casual attire). Other kids will be curious and ask them about club. Or give club members Pioneer Clubs stickers (catalog #6730) or bookmarks (catalog #6696 or 6692) to use, which could have a similar effect.

Order stickers at the following link: http://www.shoppioneerclubs.org/store/product.asp?ItemID=1199&CategoryID=199&HeaderCategoryId=29&returnUrl=&RandomSeed=T6EL4

Order bookmarks at the following link: http://www.shoppioneerclubs.org/store/product.asp?ItemID=903&CategoryID=47&HeaderCategoryId=45&returnUrl=&RandomSeed=T6EL4

Look through your leader plan book to find a Bible Exploration or award that will help club members practice inviting friends to club or telling them about Jesus. Examples:

Voyagers: requirement 3 of the Manners Activity Award
Pathfinders: Sharing My Faith Bible Award
Trailblazers: requirement 3 of the My Church Bible Award

Once you've paved the way, you may want to plan a meeting specially tailored with visitors in mind. Pioneer Clubs provides complete meeting plans for “Bring a Friend” meetings on several different themes. Go to “Creative Meeting Ideas” in the Leader Resource Center (password: kids) at www.pioneerclubs.org.

When visitors come to club, help them feel welcome. Assign a “buddy” to each visitor to explain things that are done in club. (Role-play “buddy duties” ahead of time so club members know what to do.) Encourage all club members to welcome newcomers and include them in activities.

Get visitors' names, addresses, and phone numbers so you can follow up with them. Give them a club information packet to take home. Include:

a welcome letter to the child
a note to parents explaining the program
a schedule of upcoming events

Children who have a good time and feel that your interest in them is genuine are more likely to come again.

Action Ideas for November

Recognition of achievement gets kids excited. Award badges give club members immediate recognition for the skills they've learned. Plan to hand awards out at the end of each unit, during a special Award Celebration time (see ideas in your leader plan book).
Have you given your coordinator a list of the units and awards your club will be working on this year? Do this soon so you get your awards when you need them.

Changed Lives

“I just had to let you know that one of my Trailblazers asked me to pray the ‘sinner’s prayer’ with her! We [were] on the Joining God’s Kingdom unit, and she had just seen the movie The Passion of the Christ and had all kinds of questions. So we spent time discussing that, and one thing led to another (by the Holy Spirit). She said she had never prayed the ‘sinner’s prayer’ and she’d been thinking about it for quite a while and she wanted to pray it. So we did. When we were done praying, she just beamed. Oh, what a delight it was to lead her to the Lord!”— Janice Knapp, Amherst Community Church, Massillon, Ohio

Today’s Kids...
Today's kids tend to be rewarded for participation rather than achievement. Pioneer Clubs’ award recognition system rewards your club members for both. Since award requirements are worked on in club, kids will earn awards just for participating. Club members also don’t need to wait to achieve a certain level of skill before receiving their awards—just trying is enough. Compliment your club members’ efforts in learning skills, especially ones they’ve never tried before.

Pioneer Clubs Announcements

Autumn Kids for Kids Hike

Congratulations to the churches which participated in the Autumn Kids for Kids Hike! If you hiked and haven't contacted us yet, please complete a Hike Report (downloadable at www.pioneerclubs.org/lrc/HikeRpt.pdf) and send it with your Kids for Kids Hike contribution as soon as possible.

If you weren't able to participate in the autumn hike, make plans now to join us for the Spring Kids for Kids Hike on Saturday, April 22, 2006 (or whichever date best suits your church). Planning checklists, forms, and other downloadable hike resources are available at www.pioneerclubs.org.

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.

Reflections
Is your club growing this year? What has attracted new members to your club in the past? If this is your first year of leading club, ask some veteran leaders this question.

Lighter Side
A minister is visiting his grown children to celebrate Christmas. When he walks into the house, he sees a beautiful nativity set. His granddaughter walks up to him, and he asks her if she knows what it is. She replies, “Yes...it’s breakable.”