KIDS FOR CHRIST

The Kids for Christ program began in 1993 during an evangelistic series with Steven Vail. Bonnie Valez a former Oakwood member, developed programs for the children while their parents attended the meetings. This Oakwood ministry has continued, and has now been incorporated into the Sabbath School Department as a Branch Sabbath School.

Our program is held on Wednesday evenings in the Oakwood School gym. The average attendance is twenty-five children weekly, between the ages of 7-13. The children are picked up by volunteer drivers from a central location in their neighborhood, and brought to the school for approximately one hour. The program usually begins by having the children share with one another positive things they experienced during the past week. Some have used this time to tell how they were kind to others, how they helped their parents, friends, etc. They also share with each other how well they did in school. This exercise is introduced to help the children gain self esteem, to develop self expression, to provide positive reinforcement, and to give them a sense of responsibility. The program continues with prayer, and each week at least five children volunteer to pray. Some pray independently, while others request help. This is followed by singing songs, then a selected lesson from the Kindergarten quarterly. The evening concludes with either crafts or games.

At least once quarterly, the children prepare and present a program for the church service, similar to the thirteenth Sabbath program, this is followed by dinner with the church. As a direct result of this program, parents have taken bible studies, there have been at least three baptisms, and several children attend church on Sabbaths.

The Oakwood Seventh-Day Adventist Church is committed to this ministry, and sees it as a vital outreach to our community partners. We have a core staff of six dedicated volunteers working as a team with the church membership, to help accomplish our mission, of taking God's word to our children and their parents who live in our community.

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