How to Start a Neighborhood Bible Club

The summertime is a great opportunity to reach out to the children in your neighborhood with the Good News of Christ. Several summers ago I, along with some friends at church, began a Bible club at a local park. This outreach gave us the opportunity not only to teach children about Jesus, but also to reach into their individual lives and make an impact. We also got to meet and develop relationships with parents. This ministry proved to be a great addition to our church and helped us develop a reputation as a church that cares about people. Here are several tips to help you if you are ready to begin reaching kids in your area for Jesus.

1. Recruit volunteers to help you. Good candidates can be found in your small group Bible study, Sunday school class, or from amongst your Christian friends and neighbors. Look specifically for individuals who have a heart for children's ministry. It is also advantageous if volunteers have children whom they can bring with them to the club.

2. Plan your lessons. The themes you use for lessons will depend upon the composition of your audience. If the children are from semi-religious backgrounds, you may do a series on the life of Jesus, or miracles and parables. However, if the children have had no Christian instruction, begin with basic lessons such as, "Who is God?", "Who is Jesus?" and "What is Sin?" When my husband and I started Bible clubs, we did a few lessons on Creation and The Fall, and then moved on to Jesus' sacrifice. Be sure to write down every week's lesson or Bible story idea before your first club so you know the purpose and place for each lesson.

I recommend purchasing a Betty Lukens "Through the Bible in Felt" set to use as your primary teaching resource. It includes over 300 story pieces, several backgrounds, and a detailed teacher's book.

3. Develop an itinerary. Do not plan your lessons and activities week by week. Children need structure and predictability in order to settle down and focus on the eternal truths you are teaching them. Have a regular schedule of activities, with each extending for a specific period of time. For example:

1:00-1:25 Games

1:25-1:30 Songs

1:30-1:40 Bible Story

1:40-1:45 Bible Verse

1:45-1:55 Counsel Time

1:55-2:00 Snacks and Dismissal
4. Delegate tasks. Running Bible clubs is hard work which necessitates shared responsibility. In our clubs one person tells the story, one person teaches the songs and Bible verse and two people plan and lead the games. These responsibilities can be rotated, but be sure that each person is comfortable and gifted to do their specific task.

5. Build from your lesson out. Each element of your club should be related to the lesson theme. For instance, if your theme is "Who is Jesus?" songs may include, "Jesus Loves Me" or "Who's the King of the Jungle?", and John 3:16 or Romans 5:8 might be the Bible verse.

Each team member should have the lesson order at the beginning of the summer so they can be prepared to do their job each week.

6. Prepare for follow up. Children need both salvation and discipleship. At the end of our first Bible club summer, several children wanted to start coming to our church to keep learning about God. From this outreach, some parents also came to church and made professions of faith in Christ. Be ready to use Bible clubs as a springboard ministry to whole family outreach.

7. Protect yourself. Ensure every parent signs a permission slip which allows their child to attend and absolves you from any liability if their child should be injured during an activity. Hold all activities outdoors in plain view of passersby. Contact a lawyer or the Christian Law Association for further legal advice.