I can’t keep silent about the exciting opportunities before KFCUSA in the Tulsa area this year any longer. In addition to the huge projects before us in Tulsa, another well run club is scheduled to kick off in Bettendorf, IA this fall. Then there is the realization of a nine year dream with the door God has opened in Tampa, FL. The dream wasn’t specifically “Tampa”, but a group of youth and kids ministers who regularly meet together are ready to take it to the next level and work together to reach the schools in their community. I was thrilled by the results of the four days of meetings I had there in June. There is also a similar opportunity brewing in Brooklyn, NY.

I expect the "40 Day Revolution" program to be the beginning of a radical move of God in the Tulsa area schools this year. Few times have I "known in my heart" that "this concept" is God’s heart for Kids for Christ this year in Tulsa. This however is one of those times. At the moment I am preparing to go forward even though we still have not yet seen the manifestation of the funds to buy these books. I am writing a simplified version of the program to train team members with because I WILL follow what I believe to be God’s leading me to do whether men buy in or not. I feel “mandated” to go forward with or without the 1500 books I estimated we need to buy, so that each child has a book of their own.

God is giving KFCUSA some unique opportunities in Tulsa for the 2010-11 school year. We have become district partners with Tulsa Public Schools through the Partners In Education program. This will ultimately open the doors for many new schools and give us the chance to speak into the lives of kids in a more relational way -- through tutoring, eating lunch with them, and in essence mentoring them. Our hopes are to draw manpower from many of the churches, schools and organizations with which we are already in some level of relationship in this city. 

The last item to share is the biggest fundraising event we have ever done. KFCUSA will be the beneficiary of a week long auction on www.pennyrama.com. Rather than me attempt to explain this to you, I urge you to visit their site and read thru it. Then register so that you can be a part in this event. The items that will be available are amazing; everything from movie passes, oil changes, and grills, to trips and even a new car. If you live in the Tulsa area, you’ll hear more about it on KXOJ in a couple weeks. The rest of you stay tuned to our fan page for more info on the program between now and the end of the month. The auction is set for August 2-7. This will be cool!

FYI: The email list on www.kfcusa.org is presently not functional so if you are a Facebooker, please “Like” the page “Kids for Christ USA,” to get regular short updates on all things KFCUSA. 

In His Service,
Bob Heath

*Don't miss the online version of this story from Community Spirit's website.  The story is on page 30 of the May 2010 issue. 

On April 20, 2010 I was ministering to a group of children in an elementary school Bible club when suddenly I was blindsided by the comment made by a child.  I was teaching kids on the Great Commission.  I wasn’t teaching them the typical “go give tickets to heaven to all of your friends” message, but rather a message of “live like kids who love and are loved by Jesus,” or some might call it lifestyle evangelism.  All of a sudden a little girl to my left raised her hand.  My custom is to gently tell the child to come talk to me afterwards because usually their comments will have nothing to do with what is being said.  Earlier this year while teaching on prayer, I acknowledged a little girl’s hand, “Yes Chloe” and very quietly from the back of the room she said, “Mr. Bob, you’re handsome”.  Thinking I didn’t hear her I said, “What was that?”  She responded louder, “YOU’RE HANDSOME”.  (This is why I don’t usually “take hands”, but for some reason on Tuesday I did -- and God educated me.

 The little girl said, “My cousin took her Bible to school and her teacher told her that she can’t bring her Bible to school.”  I barely got the words out, “That’s not right.”  And another child blurts out, “Everybody knows you can’t talk about God at school.”  Then another made a similar comment.  In my heart I heard my own quote “If you want to effect long term change, reach them while they are young.  You can ‘build’ men, but if you wait till they are teens, you are doing damage control.”  I was stunned, because I have never thought of teaching elementary age children about this.

I want to give you who are parents, grandparents and /or children’s pastors some simple points you can share with elementary age children about what is legal to say or do at school.  That is a good place to start with the difference between At/To or IN school.  You see “at/to” has to do with the school as a PUBLIC place one may go to, and “in” school refers to instructional time.  A child may take their Bible to school.  They may read it during “free” time, such as free reading time, lunch, before or after school.  The same is true of religious literature such as books, flyers for events, even tracts during free time.  A child may also share their faith during such a time. 

However, “in” school these things are not permissible with the exception of expressing an opinion in response to a topic in an open classroom setting.  A student has the right to express their opinion regardless of whether it is religious or not.  If a child bows their head and prays silently before a test or lunch, no school official can stop them.  However, a school official can not lead children to pray. 

The part that we (or any other religion) struggle with is that children of other religions have the same rights that CAN NOT be infringed on.  Students have first amendment rights as American citizens, regardless of age.  All too often an administrator infringes on a child’s rights out of fear or ignorance.  NOT BECAUSE THE ARE BIG BAD ADMINISTRATORS working for the big bad un-Godly Public school system as we have said in our churches and Christian television shows. In fact, it’s time we in the church stop promoting what I consider the biggest lie in America in the past 47 years.  More lawsuits have been caused and filed because this lie is so deeply ingrained in our society. 

Judges have ruled based on what they “knew” rather than law and constitutionality. 

I could lay out every detail of the law for you all, but just like the study of God’s word, I believe we all learn better if we study for ourselves.  What I have listed above is basics, simple enough for an elementary student to understand.  We have so much more freedom than most of us know.

I have written this in detail in my book, “How Are You Doing That?” available at the Kids for Christ USA website: http://www.kfcusa.org.  I went to great pains to put the law in simple terms.  Also on my website is a link to information on Student and Teacher Rights from The Rutherford Institute.  The website for The American Center for Law and Justice (www.aclj.org) has a very complete “Student Rights Briefing” under the tab “On The Issues”.  I would even recommend (believe it or not) a brochure on “The Bible and Prayer in Public Schools” on the website of the Americans for the Separation of Church and State.  This brochure is very balanced and frankly just a “good read”.  On Teacher’s Rights please go to Christian Educators Association International (www.ceai.org).  In fact, if you are a teacher you should seriously consider joining CEAI instead of the NEA.  Your interest as a believer is well served by this organization.  There is a wealth of information -- all you need to do is read.  FYI: I have included and summarized all of these in my book.

If you are unwilling to do any research for yourself, these keywords should help you understand the law with regard to God, The Bible and Prayer, and the schools:  At/to, in, Free Time, Instructional time, Voluntary, Mandatory, Neutrality. 

I want to thank all of you who expressed what you or your child’s experience has been.  I wanted to incorporate those into this, but I after reading, thinking and praying about it I felt simple pointers and quality sources to study for yourself seemed more fitting.  I encourage you to not only study for yourself, but share the truth with your children.  It is important that we as believers understand the law and not participate in spreading the “Big Lie” anymore. To date knowing the word and being carriers of God’s love has been limited by our ignorance in this area. This could quite possibly be the single most important thing we could do to impact changing the spiritual climate of America’s schools.

(This came to us as a "Note for the Editor" of www.goodnewsdaily.net: The following is a letter we received from a 16-year-old, asking for our help in getting this message to U.S. Vice President Joe Biden.)

Brandon Halcomb
A Concerned Christian Youth of Today's America

Dear Vice-President Joe Biden: 

Today is a sad day for my fellow Americans and me when such a powerful figure, such as yourself, could so loosely use the “F” word on national television. I know you have to understand the powerful influence you hold on children’s lives across the nation. As a junior in a public school in eastern Kentucky, it is hard enough to try to escape or get through the school day without hearing such perverse words from my own peers. However, to hear such a prominent man who helps hold our country in his hands blatantly use such a word makes me worry about my country’s morals and values. 

My grandfather did not have half the education you have, but he taught me three things: An intelligent person listens more than he speaks, he also never swears in front of women or children, and he always wears a shirt in public places, unless he’s at the beach or the swimming pool. My grandfather always said, “I know in a society where anything goes a young guy has to take a stand on something; if he doesn’t, he will fall for anything.” Although I am only sixteen, I do try to honor my deceased grandfather’s words of wisdom. 

Vice-President Biden, you have offended some of your fellow Americans, myself included. It was wrong for you to have used such vulgarity in a public place, let alone at the taxpayers expense as you celebrated such an awesome landmark with our President. However, Vice-President Biden, to me, you cheapened that occasion with such tastelessness while congratulating the President on this event. 

Many may say, I am so young what do I know? I know that I have grown up in a wonderful country that has tremendously changed throughout the years. Although I love the changes America has gone through with freedom, it frightens me to think of how weak Her morals and values are beginning to become. Vice-President Biden, you owe your fellow Americans, or at least its youth, an apology for the use of such an inappropriate word. I, for one, refuse to think that this is what has become of the English Language, especially when there are more powerful words and ways to get one’s point across. 

In conclusion, some may call me old fashioned for upholding my grandfather’s good ole American morals and values. However, our ancestors founded this country on these very principles: hard work, integrity, and honor. What honor can a man have if he defiles his own name? Mr. Vice-President, please while holding our futures in your hands, do not allow any more of America’s morals or values to be lost. Please, I beg, leave the profanity behind closed doors, and enlighten today’s youth with the words of wisdom that YOU have to pass down to my generation. Thank you for your time. 

Sincerely, 
Brandon L. Halcomb
Junior, Athlete, Honor Student, and a Christian public High School student
halcombbrandon@yahoo.com

KIDS FOR CHRIST USA TOOLBAR, SIMPLY DOWNLOAD, SEARCH, SHOP AND KFCUSA GETS FUNDS FOR YOUR SURFING.  CRAZY!

We are so excited to share with you the Kids for Christ USA Inc Toolbar.  It will serve as a new way to generate revenue along with the Kids for Christ USA Inc Mall. With this Toolbar we will raise much needed funds for Kids for Christ USA, without you writing a check !

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By using the Yahoo search engine that is conveniently located on our toolbar, you are helping us raise dollars for our non-profit organizations! You will get the same information results that you receive using your current search engine.  Every time you click on a sponsored link (anything listed in the shaded area with bullet points or anything listed on the right side of the page) you are raising money per click for our non-profit organizations! NO PURCHASE NECESSARY.

Performing 2-5 searches a day on something you are interested in and clicking on sponsored links, because those links help you with the information you are looking for, will help us reach our goals faster! This should only take 5 minutes. It’s that EASY!  What are you waiting for? Click on the banner above to download our Toolbar and start helping us raise money.  Click Here to view an instructional video that will provide you with more details about the Toolbar.  If you have any questions or special support needs do not hesitate to contact OurGV Rewards at support@ourgvrewards.com

With a direct link on the Toolbar, you now have even easier access to the Kids for Christ USA Inc Toolbar Mall to Shop and Fundraise!   We invite you to visit the Mall for your everyday needs as well as for special occasions.  Remember that every time you shop at over 1500 stores in this Mall (to make purchases you are going to make anyway) you are generating funds for our non-profit organizations!

We are proud to have you as a Supporter!  We hope you are equally proud to have our Toolbar on your computer. We encourage you to share this toolbar with your friends and family so they can help our organization raise funds as well.