Congratulations to Ethan Gillespie for winning the Kids 4 Truth Award at Tri-City Baptist Church (this is the church where I help with the program)! Each year, the Kids 4 Truth Club at Tri-City presents a special award to the 5th or 6th grader who has memorized the most curriculum during the curriculum year. This child must also earn the gold award (earned for completing a total of thirty patches). Not only did Ethan memorize all of the verses possible within the curriculum, but he also was able to recite all of the verses within a theme at one time along with the key truth and key verse of each theme.  Ethan completed all of this work within 8 months time rather than the 11 month time frame scenario that Tri-City utilizes. Wow!

This award is not a Kids 4 Truth specific award, but rather a Tri-City specific award. In other words, at Kids 4 Truth we desire for churches to be creative and unique in their approach to club time and awards. The Kids 4 Truth curriculum is designed to be flexible enough so that local churches can this ministry tool in the best way possible for their children, families, and workers. Although Kids 4 Truth comes complete with all of the patches and awards necessary, we are always thrilled to see local churches putting their own unique spin on this part and all parts of the ministry. 

I know there is much debate about the use of rewards/awards in children's ministry. But I contend that awards are the language of children. They get it. By giving out an award you are communicating that what they had to do in order to receive the reward was important to you. So important that you spent your effort, energy, and money to acknowledge it with an award. Furthermore, awards demonstrate honor. Frank Hamrick says: "You get what you honor." In so many churches we honor kids that can play an instrument well, or kids that can kick a ball skillfully, but we fail to honor boys and girls that are working diligently to learn the most important truths about God in a memorable way. Oh that local churches would put more emphasis on the doctrinal rearing of youth. Good theology is what will save and grow the upcoming generation and yet it is so often neglected. 

(note: the tall guy on the right side of the photo is Will Cover. Will is now the official director of the Kids 4 Truth Club at Tri-City and is doing a fantastic job.)