The early months of the year are a great time to think fresh and have a crack at some of those awesome opportunities out there to reach kids and families. I’m talking about holiday clubs, pupil free day clubs or even weekly after school clubs. Many of us can see the opportunities around us but struggle to imagine how we would get started as the obstacles to commencing a new outreach club for kids often scare us off.

Do any of these sound familiar?

• The church leaders are too busy

• You can’t think of anyone willing to take leadership other than those who are already too busy

• Your congregation feels unmotivated and dispirited and unlikely to support a new venture • You lack money to get things off the ground

• The overwhelming size of the task and lack of ideas stifle enthusiasm.

 Often it is the busyness of the church leadership whether it is paid or unpaid staff that limits the churches reach. As a leader you are a ‘control point’ and you easily become like a funnel, were only so much can fit down the hole at any one time. I remember when I was a children's and families minister a time when we I could see that we ought to start an after-school club for boys. However, I couldn't imagine myself being any busier. But this is the very problem; you see the maximum amount of outreach to kids that could be done was limited by me. What I needed to do was multiply the ministers; I needed to pray and inspire people to take on ministries that wouldn't require me to be the linchpin.

[caption id="attachment_171" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="What can you do to minister more like a sieve than a funnel?"][/caption]

Now the key to us commencing that kids club was some support and encouragement from somebody outside our church walls who knew how to do it well. Once I swallowed my pride and accepted that God may have other people out there eager to serve, I invited the external person in and very quickly the after school club came together. It has now been running well for about 7 years. However it would never have happened if I had waited to be less busy. God quickly raised up a few leaders eager to support the new venture and from the get go I was sharing the responsibility of the ministry so that the burden was light on me and the ministers were being multiplied. We didn't have a huge team, but you don't need one; remember David and his mighty men who fought great battles and outlasted the armies of Saul?

When it came to fresh ideas, how to run the club, some vision and structure, the external person that helped us gave us just enough to begin working things out for ourselves. But it was the getting started that was hardest. With this in mind Anton’s Antics has come up with a great way to help you start a new kids club, whether it be a holiday club, staff development day or one afternoon each week of term.

Anton’s Antics provides a comprehensive package to help you make your first foray into kids clubs. Providing leadership, live shows, all content including activities, games and craft, Anton’s Antics will motivate and inspire your team of volunteers. Costs of Anton’s services are covered by daily charges/child (school holiday clubs and pupil free days) with a minimum number required for each day. For weekly kids clubs, a fee is negotiated with the church depending on number of visits and level of training of the team that is required.

For more information contact Stephen: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and check out the website www.antonsantics.com