The school was so hospitable to the project and they had no trouble setting them up in the "Commons" area. The volunteers, both Christian and not Christian, were requested by word-of-mouth and through Facebook and as they began to arrive, smiling and excited, we got started. Students coming in through the only main entrance to the school were greeted by a team of friends and a tasty fried treat. Faculty and staff made their way out to see (and taste) what was going on. As class was getting ready to begin, the donuts were just running out. God has perfect timing. A cleaning crew of students was organized as J.J. and friends attempted to leave the grounds as clean as if it never even happened. 

The implications of that morning go far beyond a student Christian club. "To me," J.J. said, "it is a glimpse into something that God has in store for Christians in the United States.” When Jesus said that we would do His works and greater works also, I am convinced He was prophesying of the use and impact of Facebook and Twitter. He (Jesus) preached to 5000; by God’s power, Tim Tebow reaches tens of millions by simply writing John 3:16 on his eye black. The world’s economy is a greedy one, storing up money and resources in places where they are doing nothing but rotting.  But when we, with hearts after Christ and His purposes, get creative and let go of every attachment to the “way things are done”, entire public high schools can be treated to a free breakfast and an opportunity to share God’s love to individuals. Let’s do it!".

At first blush "Prayer Walking" may sound a bit odd to you. What is the significance of walking around a building and praying? Perhaps is patterned after marching around Jericho...NA! "It is simply a point of contact for me, If I can see the building then all kinds of prayer needs flood into my heart" says Heath. "It seems as though things come to mind that simply wouldn't have without being there".

On this particular day these students and Bob Heath walked 4 fours schools and stood in the parking lot of 1 elementary school praying for the other 13 in that district.  On August 20th another KFCUSA affiliated prayer walked six more schools.

We reccomend that you go Prayer Walk as many of the public schools in your area as possible.  As this new school year kicks off its importatnt that we cover our schools in prayer. Please be conscience to do this early in the morning or after school hours. (Weekends are perfect because you have all day.) 

I told you that story to illustrate a point: Any youth or kids minister who understands his role in the Kingdom of God realizes that the job has little to do with him/her and everything to do with the kids. Your purpose IS NOT to be remembered by the kids -- it's to pour the love of God into them. If by some fluke they grow up and call you and tell you a story about something you taught that impacted them, that is awesome, but in truth you need to have enough faith to sow seeds of love and the concepts of God's word into them and know that words of affirmation have little to do with how effective you are.

Over the course of the ten years of Kids for Christ USA, I have had the privilege of working with thousands of extraordinary kids, many of them since they were in second grade.  One of the goals is to raise up kids to become leaders in the body of Christ. Even though that is one of the goals, when it actually happens it is still overwhelming. 

At the high school level our ministry takes on a significantly different form than elementary schools:  the students lead the clubs. Earlier this school year one of my senior leaders (Sr. as in class of 2011) asked me to meet with her every week.  That quickly became meet with her and the other four leaders from her school.  That grew into meeting with the leaders from her school and the intermediate high school just under them every week at Starbucks.  It has been a high point to my week all year.  What has been really amazing has been watching them develop and love their schools.  They are astounding!

Back in January the girl I mentioned above asked me if it would be possible to bring the kids of the other high schools we work with together for an evening of worship and prayer.  I loved the idea and we began working to make it happen. It developed into having faith enough to take my hands off and let it be student-led. 

This past Saturday (5.7.2011) at Camp Loughridge we had over 90 students and adult leaders from sixth grade up come together for a night of worship that far surpasses ANY worship service or concert I have ever experienced.  I have never seen unity like that in my life! The worship team was made up of mostly students from Union High School "Fuse".  There were kids from five high schools, two junior highs and even a couple of home school coalitions. It was so powerful that I and the other adult leaders spent a great deal of our night walking around with our mouths hanging open and crying.  It was so powerful and so humbling to just join in the worship and let God use these amazing kids -- kids who don't care which schools or which denominations were represented. They only cared about lifting up the name of Jesus! They sang, they jumped, raised their hands, fell on their faces, cried out to God, and prayed together for about two hours nonstop.  My friend Sam Mather exhorted them all at the beginning and once in the middle and I closed in prayer. Even though there was a worship team on the platform, you could feel the unity of the whole group and the power that I have always imagined in Acts Chapter Two in the Upper Room.

I assure you my dream of pouring the love and life of God into kids and them developing a personal relationship with God for themselves and developing into leaders was manifested before my eyes. It was an awesome night. If you missed it, YOU MISSED IT!--Bob Heath, Founder/Director KFCUSA

I am not sure if it was the "coming snow", full moon or just plain rowdy kids, but lets just say they were wired! I just about pulled the plug and sent them home, IT WAS NUTS!! As I was reaching wits end I was praying under my breath, "God HHEELLPP!!!!"  As always he was faithful to do just that.  I was leading worship (poor kids) normally I would do a fast song then slower song.  Since my voice isn't that strong (Actually I think a horse sounds better) I usually don't do a true worship song because I need to cover my voice.  When I looked at the iPod I hit "Here I am to Worship" by Chris Tomlin before I realized what I did.  I just went with it and led the kids in that song.  It was a live version and when Chris hits the line "I'll never know how much it cost to see my sins up on that cross" he repeats it several times.  Instantly I remembered a dream I had over 14 years ago.  I knew the Holy Spirit was leading me to share that dream with the kids. 

I had the kids sit down and began to share the dream.  In the dream my two sons were the same age as they were in reality (At the time of the dream Baylor had not been born yet.) The doctors had informed us that Boston (14 months old) had some sort of radical blood and would die very soon without a “suitable” donor. The disease was incurable. After an extensive search, it turned out that the only acceptable donor was my oldest son Brayden (4 years). There was a catch though; the donor would not live. Brayden wanted to help save his little brother from certain death, knowing that he would have to die in his brother's place. The doctors and we were concerned that a child that young could not possibly grasp the seriousness of what he had committed to do (Please remember this is a dream). We had him examined by several psychologists. Each one stated that he definitely understood the situation. They told us, “This child is amazing, (I knew that, he’s my son.) he really understands. So we went ahead with the process. 

Once the "donation" had been taken from Brayden he began to fade quickly. Boston was injected and improved equally as quick.

Shelly and I found ourselves with Brayden at some sort of amusement park (he had been released but would likely die within a few hours. However, they hadn't realized the grotesque changes his little body would go through before our eyes). There were many of our close friends from church there at the park. The overwhelming atmosphere among us was peaceful and joyous, yet utterly horrible if you can understand that. We were standing in some long line, as I began to watch my son change in my arms. His hair had turned dark (he is blonde), and eventually white. He was feeling really rotten. His little face began to twitch, and with each passing minute, I saw him slipping away. I watched the life being sucked out of him to the point that he barely looked human (psalm 22). I thought, "Certainly there has to be something I can do", but all I could do was stand there helpless and proud that I had been able raise such a caring, giving son for even just a few years. I even turned around and set him on the floor for a moment because I just couldn’t bear to watch anymore. Shelly and I watched as his face became disfigured, and his eyes rolled back into his head. Then it hit me, “Raise the dead”! The price will be paid with his sacrifice and death it would be totally legal to raise him from the dead. (In the dream I for some reason the donor had to die in order for the donation to be effective.)

As I awoke from the dream I catapulted from my bed, uttering the words “Father, What in the world was that?” No sooner than I said that, I heard God answer (not audibly) me, “You just saw the crucifixion, and my plan of salvation in a way you could understand and relate to. I can tell you that based on what I experienced through that dream: I could never doubt any promise in God’s word. 

I told the kids "HE IS LOVE!!, He is a good father and He will go to any length to reach us.  I then proceeded to give an altar call.  I was shocked at the number of hands that went up.  I was also shocked by the silence in the room as I shared the dream with them.  I realized that sharing that dream was totally God's lead.  My plan for that day was to talk to them about "The Faithfulness of God", but his plan was to utilize my mouth and willingness to follow His lead to bring between 9 & 11 kids to a decision point for Him.  There is nothing like wrapping up a meeting and knowing that God truly was in control of that meeting.

So as I wrap this up I just want set those of you who would worry about sharing this dream with children that I padded it a great deal for them so as to make the point.  I have shared this dream many times in the last 14 years and the result is always similar.  I also want to encourage you who are ministering to kids at the schools to get out of the way and let God lead you in whatever you do. Your plan just isn't that important.--Bob Heath

One morning while waiting to speak at a church Bob Heath had an idea that he thought could be a "God idea".  As the pastor played a Youtube video for his congregation Bob realized that most churches in this nation now have internet access in their auditoriums. "My mind started racing as I had visions of 'Skyping' myself into multiple churches on any giving Sunday morning to pour this vision into them", said Bob. 

After researching this further the idea was presented that we will host on a private password protected page within this site a pre-recorded version of Bob's typical “Sunday Morning presentation”.  In addition, the legal and “How to” session he usually does on Sunday afternoons on the road will also be posted the same way.  Finally, he will be available to the groups churches via Skype or Google talk to do a training or question and answer session for the groups.

Well now the video is "in the can" and awaits editing.  We are hopeful that this will be done and posted on this site in the next couple of weeks.  "I love ministering to churches, but in the last couple of years fewer and fewer churches have felt comfortable spending the resources to bring guest speakers in.  This project will allow me to reach more people in more places than ever before with far less travel expense for KFCUSA or the churches.", says KFCUSA Founder/Director Bob Heath.  Bob is still willing to travel, but believes that this project will allow for he and KFCUSA to develop stronger relationships with groups and churches so that when "face time" avails itself the meetings are even more effective.  

We will post an update here, on our Facebook page and tweet from Bob's Twitter page when this project goes live.  This is going to be amazing!!

Sarah, 10 years ago, but a Sr. this yearOn January 3, 2001 after several weeks of planning, I walked into my son’s school toSarah Now set up for our very first Kids for Christ meeting.  I’ve told the story many times how I would have been thrilled if 45 kids had shown up that morning.  After all, I already knew this was not just going to be the first meeting of Kids for Christ at that school, but the first meeting of the big dream God have given me just days before: The first meeting of Kids for Christ USA. (Whatever that meant.)

To my surprise, seventy-seven children came that morning as we met for the first time in the corner of the school library.  My friend, Chris Yenni, spoke to the kids.  At the end when the altar call was given, twelve children responded and committed to serve Jesus with their lives!  We outgrew the space we were given in the library, and the following week we were moved to the Art Room.  Four weeks later we outgrew that room, and we were ultimately moved to the gym.  By this time we were averaging well over 100 kids a week.  By the end of that semester, 256 kiddos had made some form of decision to serve Jesus in that school of 650 plus kids!  In just a few short weeks, my friend Jennifer and I were working with kids in four schools and had begun to plan for the fall. 

One of the children who responded to that very first altar call was a first grader by the name of Sasha.  She was so excited that she shared with her mom, and her mom came to our meeting with her the next week.  At the end of that second meeting, that little girl’s mom gave her life to Jesus.  The following week her family went to church together and Dad also made a commitment to Jesus!  To this date that girl, now a junior in high school serves Jesus with the same enthusiasm she did as a first grader.  Both of her parents are teachers in different schools, and both are teacher sponsors of Fellowship of Christian Athletes at their respective schools.

Prayer time one Wed. 10 years agoKids from that first school 10 years agoWe always make it available for children to get prayer for whatever needs they have, whether it is them, a family member, or even a friend.  Through the years we’ve had multiple testimonies of family members healed as the children asked for prayer at Kids for Christ. 

I remember one morning a little girl came to the back of the room and asked me to pray for her mom who had cancer.  This little girl couldn’t have been more than third grade and as she told me, I was instantly ticked off at the enemy for trying to steal this little girl’s mom from her.  I asked her if she would mind if I had the whole group form a prayer circle around her and pray for her mom.  After she said yes we had the group pray.  It was one of those moments that I can’t explain other than to say, “You just knew something happened”.  The following week she ran up to me as she came in and said to me “Mr. Bob, my grandmother went to the doctor and he said the cancer is gone”!!  I responded, “That’s great, but what about your mom”? She said, “I told you my grandmother.”  “You mean I heard you wrong and you didn’t say anything?”  “Yes,” she said.  She told me that she didn’t want to embarrass me in front of all those kids so she didn’t correct me.  How about that one? We prayed for the wrong family member and God still healed her!

That first year we grew from one school to 18 and saw 2500 hands go up as some form of decision for Jesus was made.  Please understand, only God knows the heart of those kids and I am well aware that many of those kids did as kids do.  What that means is I am certain that some of those hands went up more than once, but you can’t argue with tender hearts.  I quit counting after about five years for a number of reasons -- mostly because I think far too much hype has been made over “salvation decisions” and my heart is and always has been about reaching kids, not impressing people with our numbers.  Yet in an article, some numbers are needed to tell the story.  When we quit keeping a regular tally of decisions, we had seen over 10,000 in our first five years.  There had been over 4,000 kids from the clubs who prayed “The Ticket to Heaven Prayer.”  Entire families have been led in the Ticket to Heaven Prayer over the Thanksgiving table by children on many occasions. 

When we began, the intent was to focus solely on elementary schools, but as the kids grew they took us with them.  When I agreed to do that, the plan for middle and high school was to train those kids to become the club leaders, and they have.  They have been amazing to watch.  The last couple of years I have had such joy watching two teams of student leaders that I have worked with directly, conduct quite possibly the purest teaching I have ever seen in ministry.  They are so on fire for God, it is unbelievable at times.  In the early years I was asked by people about “long-term fruit.”  Now I just invite them to come watch these amazing student leaders.

This ministry is truly an equipping ministry.  I have watched people of all ages and skill levels develop into remarkable children’s ministers.  When I began, I thought only certain types of music and styles would work to reach kids.  Thanks to these wonderful volunteers, I have learned that authenticity is what ministers to children -- not just creativity, or skill.  Simply be yourself and the kids will respond.  It’s awesome to learn that you don’t know it all.  In fact, it’s down right freeing to know that The Holy Spirit within a believer is the teacher, and He will use the tools he placed within each of us to reach others.  It is such a privilege to see that first-hand in so many workers.

By the end of January 2011 there will be 102 clubs across the USA associated with this ministry.  Many of the people ministering in those schools bought my book, read it, and a thriving club was the result.  There are and have been clubs in Oklahoma, Texas, California, Kansas, Michigan, Tennessee, Indiana, Iowa, Massachusetts, New Jersey, North Carolina and Florida -- that we are aware of.  The dream was and always has been to have a hand directly or indirectly in seeing that a thriving Bible Club is in every one of America’s 60,000 plus schools. 

There are so many incredible successes and gut wrenching needs every year.  This school year has the potential to be the most astounding year yet.  As we begin the second semester, we will teach on God’s Faithfulness, Leadership and Prayer.  At present we are talking with people in Jacksonville and Tampa, FL about making a bigger impact than is already happening there.  There have been discussions with a couple of groups in New York City, as well as in Scottsdale, AZ. 

Your prayers and financial support are vital as we reach out into new cities and train more people to reach more and more kids than ever before. 

Just last week before I prayer walked 30 schools in the Tulsa area in 2 days, I felt as though God told me, “You don’t have a cash flow issue, you have a prayer cover issue.  If you had the prayer cover, you’d have the cash flow.”  As I pondered that, I became aware that I needed to sow seeds of prayer.  I felt impressed to drive to as many schools as possible and walk around them praying for the students, faculty and staff.  It was amazing. At four schools there was a map of the USA painted on the asphalt, so I walked to every state praying for every school in the nation.  It doesn’t matter if you consider yourself a giver or a person of prayer, just please stand with us in one or the other…or both.  Maybe you do see yourself as only one or the other.  I dare you to be bold enough to do the other one.  All I know is, in order to reach the nation we all have a role to play, and I want to ask and thank you for stepping into your role.  Together we’re reaching a new generation of Kids for Christ.  Thank you for doing your part in our next 10 years.—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.