Pioneer Clubs is a mid week Bible-based, relationship-focused, fun filled club that offers award badges for boys and girls to earn along the way. Please check back in the Fall for information on when Pioneer Clubs will start up again.
Pioneer Clubs include :
- Skippers: ages 2-3
- Scooters : ages 4-5
- Voyagers: grades 1-2
- Pathfinders: grades 3-4
- Trailblazers: grades 5-7
The mission of Pioneer Clubs is to serve God by providing the most effective and educationally sound programs to help children follow Christ in every aspect of life.
For further information contact Club Coordinators:
Major Marlene George at marlene_george@can.salvationarmy.org
Mrs. Jackie Williams at Jackie.williams@hotmail.ca
May E-newsletter for Pioneer Clubs:
Our goal is to provide what you need to grow kids in their relationship with Jesus and develop leaders with maximum impact on the next generation of kids who want to follow Jesus.
Hoping in the Lord: You may be in an area where things are starting to get back to “normal.” Or maybe you have no idea when “normal” will return, or if what we used to consider “normal” will ever be normal again. While we don’t know what the future holds for our families, our churches and ministry, or our businesses and places of work, we do know that no matter what mountain or valley we are currently facing, we can hope in the Lord’s steadfast love. Read Psalm 33:20-22. Have you found comfort in God as your help and shield during this season? How is this season shaping your trust in the Lord?
Introducing DELTA Year 6 – Living Like Jesus: For the sixth and final year of DELTA, we really wanted to dive into what it means to know and follow Jesus. How do we grow in our relationship with Jesus? What challenges might we face as we follow Jesus? How does my relationship with Jesus change the way I think and act? What are the fruit of the Spirit and how can I grow them? Kids will discover the answers to these questions and more as they go through this year of DELTA. Here is a general overview of the Bible Explorations your kids will dive into this year:
• Growing Spiritually
• Fruit of the Spirit Part 1
• Fruit of the Spirit Part 2
• A New Way of Thinking
• Forming Spiritual Habits
• The Cost of Following Jesus
This year of DELTA offers opportunities for kids who are encountering Christ for the first time to build a relationship with Him and will challenge kids who are already following Him to dig deeper in their faith.
Kids will:
• Discover more of God’s character and why we want to follow Him.
• Develop an understanding of each fruit of the Spirit and desire to grow and develop each fruit.
• Evaluate what they think about and how to change their thinking to be more like Christ’s.
• Learn practical skills and understand basic tools to help them grow in their relationship with Christ.
• Recognize the challenges that come with following Jesus and the reward that comes from knowing Him.
The skill awards and game awards are really fun and build confidence in your kids! Take a look at what we have developed this year to help kids grow and develop in life skills:
• Orienteering
• Videography
• Science Lab
• Designs in Art
• Money Management
• Cooking Outdoors
• Games from Far Away
• Bowling
• Games for a Group
• Games in the Round
• Silly Sound Games
• Minute to Win It Games
We are so excited to see how God will move in the lives of kids and leaders this year through DELTA as we discover together what it means to live like Jesus.
Research shows that several reasons motivate a person to volunteer his or her time. Considering these common reasons will give you an edge in the recruiting process.
• Achievement – A person might be looking for an opportunity to participate in an effective ministry that is changing lives. Children’s ministry naturally meets this need. As the year progresses, adults often see a child learning more about the Bible or God’s plan for salvation.
• Job Recognition – For some, knowing that they have successfully completed a task and are valued for their contributions makes the volunteer effort worthwhile.
• Using God-Given Skills – Often, an individual realizes that a passion he or she has—working with children, teaching, cooking or organizing—can be put to use in the church as a way to serve God.
• Sense of Responsibility – Adults who are naturally dependable and conscientious look for opportunities to serve where their traits are valued. They enjoy taking on a task and seeing it to its completion.
• Desire to Grow Personally – Volunteering is an excellent way to develop new skills or sharpen existing ones. For some, these skills might be transferred into opportunities for advancement in the workplace or within the ministry itself. Perhaps they are eager to learn new skills alongside the club members, like sewing or woodworking. Or perhaps they are hoping to grow their interpersonal skills or deepen their walk with the Lord.
• Opportunity to Experience God in a New Way – When a mature believer is asked a question like “Is God really in the clouds?” or gets to explain the Easter story in terms a kindergartner can understand, they may experience the joy of learning something about God for the first time as they witness their club members’ joy. They might take away something from a story that they had never seen before or be challenged to dig into Scripture to find biblical support for their answer to a child’s question.
Regardless of what factors motivate someone to volunteer, each person is ultimately motivated from within by things he or she finds meaningful and satisfying. If such different factors motivate someone to volunteer, different approaches need to be used to recruit.
To discover what makes someone “tick,” start by listening. As you gain insight and understanding through listening, show how your program can meet an expressed need. For instance, if you hear, “I think an event calendar and regular emails to parents are important,” they may show a gift for organization as well as a sense of responsibility as a motivator.
Remember, it all starts with something as simple as inviting them to serve. So ask, listen, respond, and enjoy how God is using you to fill the needs you have in His children’s ministry program.
Do you know a college-bound high-school senior or current college student who has participated in Pioneer Clubs and/or Camp Cherith? Maybe you know a few. As a Pioneer Clubs’ member church, any of your church’s young people who have been active in club can apply for the Virginia C. Patterson Continuing Education Scholarship.
Scholarships are awarded based on an applicant’s:
• participation in Pioneer Clubs and/or Camp Cherith
• involvement in church, school, and community activities
• future plans
• letters of recommendation
• and financial need.
We hope you will encourage your college-bound seniors, graduates or current college students to apply for these scholarships. All they need to do is visit our website page Virginia C. Patterson Continuing Education Scholarship. The process is very simple and can be done completely online.
The deadline for applications is May 31st. But we encourage everyone to submit their applications as soon as possible.
In these days of increased isolation in many areas, kids may have family members facing serious difficulties. Whenever you can . . .
• Help kids understand that they are not responsible for, or capable of fixing adult problems. Let them know you will listen if they want to talk. Know your church’s policy and be prepared to refer kids to appropriate help as necessary.
• Pray for your kids and their families regularly. Consider recruiting members of your church to pray for club kids.
