Not Just Kid Stuff

Carmen Kamrath

THE FUN DESIGN

On Sundays before KidStuf, many kids meet in small groups for the UpStreet Kids program. At the start of KidStuf, kids come in and gather on the floor up front for a good view. Parents enter the KidStuf theater and wave at their children as they find seats along the side aisles. Other families enter the theater together, and younger kids crawl up in their parents' laps to prepare for the show. Bright lights, a captivating set, cameras capturing every moment, an emcee greeting and interacting with the kids -- all are unexpected thrills that lift families' spirits each Sunday morning.

Then the lights flash as a cast consisting of kids and adults enthusiastically appears on stage singing the KidStuf theme song. Kids and parents sing along, and smiles aren't hard to find. Each song complements the value taught that day.

Reggie and co-host Lanny Donoho run out on stage after the music, and their familiar voices warmly introduce the topic of the day -- the value of kindness. They set up a problem that's presented in a humorous skit. I find myself laughing at the characters and appreciating that, as an adult, I can relate to the humor in this program.

The skit ends in a cliffhanger, and our co-hosts greet families once again as they introduce the Good Book Look portion of the morning. Wait, who's that dude who just interrupted Reggie from the back? The spotlight hones in on a surfer-type character named Todd who interacts with the parents and the co-hosts to reinforce the topic of kindness in all his crazy antics with the audience.

Cartoon Man, the Good Book Look storyteller, is up next. He draws caricatures of the Bible people he talks about. He presents the Bible story in terms everyone -- the regular attendee and the visitor -- can understand.

A video comes next, once again affirming the value of kindness. The characters from the skit emerge to solve the problem they created earlier. And the solution involves using kindness. Families definitely walk away with the value for the day.

The closing music includes a song about kindness, and then Reggie and Lanny wrap it up for everyone with a life application for the week. The 45 minutes fly by. As the cast sings "Hey, hey, hey...goodbye," families come together and talk about what they experienced in KidStuf. I chat with families, who welcome me into their conversations about the morning's topic, showing kindness. They're applying it already.

A DIFFERENT PHILOSOPHY

What makes KidStuf so different? "KidStuf was created so that parents and kids could have a shared experience learning about faith and character. It has a 'no drop-off' policy," says Greg Payne, director of KidStuf.

This is where KidStuf is significantly different from most children's programs -- parents are required to come. KidStuf's family-centered focus helps the entire family grow spiritually.

"At North Point we've discovered that it's a lot easier to get parents excited about learning something with their kids than it is to get kids excited about sitting in an environment designed for adults," says Greg.

KidStuf also opens the door for better communication. "How many churches can creatively cast a vision for their children's ministry to adults every Sunday?" asks Jennifer Tamborello, KidStuf associate director. "KidStuf is a consistent platform that can be used to communicate with parents about volunteer needs and to remind parents that the church doesn't exist to replace the family but to partner with the family."

KidStuf has given the ministry significant representation in the community. People in the area know that KidStuf teaches kids and parents about values -- something that even the unchurched community cares about. The KidStuf team works at making the ministry "user-friendly" by constantly thinking about reaching the unchurched community. Each week, families come who aren't really interested in getting involved in church, but who want their kids to learn the values that are taught at KidStuf each month -- values such as honesty, courage, respect, and patience.

And the KidStuf team makes the environment and program a place that's easy to invite friends to. Each week, KidStuf averages 40 families who visit for the first time.

"We also have countless stories where kids came first with their neighbors and then talked their parents into coming," Jennifer says. One family brought an entire birthday party to the KidStuf program because the family heard it was fun and had a message about values.

KidStuf is an entry point into the church for many of these families. Almost immediately, they're asked to help with the program in areas that are non-threatening, such as greeting or helping serve meals at the Grill & Grubs lunch after the 12:30 KidStuf service. Connecting visitors in these entry-level areas gets them involved and connected with the North Point community. The KidStuf team often sees families list KidStuf as their "church" on school applications or reference forms.

THE IMPACT

The KidStuf philosophy is making an impact in Alpharetta with a reputation of teaching values that kids need and can believe in. KidStuf is also impacting a larger community, partnering with other churches to help launch the KidStuf program in those ministries.

Zion Baptist Church, a small rural church in Clarion, Pennsylvania, started a KidStuf program nearly a year ago. They launched their program with 250 people attending, and in six months their KidStuf attendance increased by 100 attendees. That's amazing because Zion averages 500 people in their regular adult Sunday worship services!

This past May, the staff of KidStuf hosted its second Grow Up conference to teach nearly 1,000 church leaders about this exciting way to minister to kids and their families. The KidStuf staff is passionate about reaching kids and their parents and helping them grow in faith together.

KidStuf reminded me once again that ministry to families is incredibly valuable. KidStuf is a program that is inspired by a vision and a passion to do something different, and it's living proof that dreams do come true.

Carmen Kamrath is the associate editor for Children's Ministry Magazine.

THE VALUES

KidStuf has six values that guide the program.

1. Family-Centered-One of KidStuf's weekly goals is to establish a shared experience for parents and kids. KidStuf aims to get adults excited about what kids are learning and to complement what the family is doing, not replace it.

2. Kid-Focused-The KidStuf program is designed to target the everyday issues kids face in their world. The team designs the production so kids aren't bored, and kids are waking their parents to come each week! Success is measured by this simple question, Do kids want to come to KidStuf?

3. Value-Driven-The emphasis is on biblical values that help kids develop faith and character. The program connects with and meets the heart of a child.

4. Creatively Wired-KidStuf uses creative and innovative tools to deliver a message that's timeless. The cast employs music, drama, and storytelling to entertain and inspire families.

5. User-Friendly-The KidStuf staff works hard to create a predictable and non-threatening place for families to bring friends.

6. Volunteer Fueled-The KidStuf strategy is to involve and connect volunteers by offering a variety of entry points to involvement.

To learn more about KidStuf, log onto www.kidstuf.com.

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