Good News Clubs^®

New Report of Church Sponsored Good News Clubs 2007-2008

Gaithersburg Nazarene Church sponsored two Good News Clubs during the 2007-2008 school year. The first club met at Mill Creek Towne ES, co-taught by Heidi Chaney and Judy Grolig (a friend of Heidi’s). The club met for 25 weeks from October through April. Nathan and Carl Chaney were teen helpers in this club. The second club met at Clearspring ES, and was taught by Terry Sweeney and Rebecca Carroll. Jo Burrows served as a helper and prayer warrior for this club. This club met for 14 weeks from January through April.  Here are some combined highlights from the clubs: 

•  58 children heard the Gospel message at least one time and were given an opportunity to respond to the Message. 

• 15 children prayed to receive Christ. 

• 40 NIV Children’s Bibles were distributed; several to homes that previously had no Bible in them. 

• 3 families have started to attend church directly as a result of the Good News Club. One to GCN, and one family to each of two other Bible believing churches.

 While I am thankful for the numbers, they tell only a small portion of the story. In both of our clubs we have children attending with some challenging behavior, social and home issues. It is an incredible thing to be able to tell the children about Jesus and that He wants to help them make wise choices. We have had children come dressed in the “Sunday best”, because they think of the Good News Club as their Sunday School. We have had children share their testimony via a writing assignment in their classroom. In one of the classrooms at Clearspring, they were having a social studies lesson and were talking about Honduras. One of the children raised their hand and shared that they knew about Honduras from Good News Club and that they were sending baggies of toys over there and a message that Jesus loves them. We can go on and on about how the lives of children are being changes because of this ministry.

I am thankful to a church that emphasizes and is enthusiastic about this “outside the walls” ministry. Truly we are going where the children are, meeting them at their point of need and inviting them to follow Christ.

As the Lord leads, it is our desire to continue these clubs next year. We will need leaders and helpers for both clubs. My desire would also be to expand this program to additional school. Could we begin a club at Goshen Elementary, or another elementary school? My hope and prayer is that we could.  Submitted by Heidi Chaney   How Can You Help?

   There are over 800 Public Elementary Schools in Maryland with 378,000+ children attending.  It is our goal that each child in Maryland has the opportunity to hear and respond to the Gospel and truths of the Word of God. Right now we are focusing on the school clubs. Clubs can be held in neighborhoods, housing developments, churches, as well as day-cares.

What is a Good News Club^®?
   Good News Clubs^® are a time when children can learn more from the Bible. It is an exciting fun-filled hour held once a week in the school following the school day or wherever children can be gathered. The hour includes Bible Lessons, learning activities, inspiring missionary stories, meaningful songs and life-changing Scripture memory.

Who teaches a Good News Club^®?
   Christians who are concerned for boys and girls work together volunteering their time and energy to teach Good News Clubs^®. They are trained by Child Evangelism Fellowship^® to have a club that is exciting and informative so that children will want to keep coming. Teachers and helpers are asked to sign the CEF^® Statement of Faith and agree to abide by the policies of the organization. Adults working with the program are screened according to our child protection policy

Thomas Point Shoal