Clubs Blog

Chart the progress of your children in the Discoverers program using our new Discoverers Progress Charts.  These charts are available as a free download on the EquipU site (http://equipu.kids4truth.com/files/folders/progress_charts/default.aspx) and not only includes a column for each doctrinal theme but also columns for each Memorize It! component.  This is helpful for teachers as they can mark on the chart as the child says each part of the curriculum. 

Choose the chart you need according to the TruthBook you are using.

Several churches contacted us recently asking how they can advertise their club in their local newspaper using Kids 4 Truth graphics.  We welcome you to use our free downloadable flyers, postcard, or posters as part of your newspaper ad.  This makes creating your advertisement quick and easy, and gives the same look as your club materials. 

1. Determine what information you want to give in the ad:
   1. Church name and/or Logo
   2. Contact information
   3. Club meeting time
   4. Grades/ages you serve
   5. Cost - if you are charging a participation fee
2. Go to the EquipU site and download the file template you want to use (http://equipu.kids4truth.com/files/folders/artwork/default.aspx).  There are several files available:
   1. Generic Postcard
   2. Flyer
   3. Promotional Poster #1
   4. Promotional Poster #2
   5. Promotional Poster #3
3. Using the computer program of your choice (Word, Publisher, InDesign, etc.) insert the jpg file into the document. 
4. Resize the graphic to the size of your advertisement space.
5. Insert a Text Box and add your text adjusting the font size as needed. 
6. Add a church logo if you wish.
7. Tip: Zoom in/out to check placement and spelling.
8. Save the file in the format desired by the newspaper.

You can use these same techniques to create flyers and handouts for door to door visitation or for children to use to invite their friends to your club.

If you have additional ideas how to advertise or promote your club, please share them with other churches by posting on the online forums (http://equipu.kids4truth.com/forums/).  We look forward to seeing your ideas.

Recently we sent out a survey to many who are using the Kids 4 Truth curriculum  We want to make sure that everyone has the opportunity to participate in this survey and update our records with information about your ministry.  This information will help us to communicate with you and serve you better.

As the Kids 4 Truth Team, we would like to personally thank you for pouring your lives into grounding boys and girls in essential Christian truth! We also want to make sure that we are doing everything in our power to assist you in this endeavor. If you have not answered the survey below, please help us update our records to make sure that we are fully equipped to assist you by taking just a few minutes to send us a response to the following questions: 

1. Church name (with city and state)
2. Senior Pastor
3. Main Contact/Director
4. Your name
5. Your role in the program
6. Number of children in the program
7. Length of time you have used the program
8. Service(s) in which the program is used (please check all that apply)
   1. SS
   2. Junior Church
   3. Sunday Evening
   4. Wednesday evening
   5. Another evening
   6. Other_____
9. Learning style you have implemented
   1. on their own pace
   2. stay together as a group (Focused Group Study)
10. Do you use the Discoverers Program?
    1. Would be a help to have the Discoverers Program in a book 1/book 2 year just as the older levels with only 6 themes per year?
11. What would you like to see added to the program?
12. What changes would you like to see to the program?

Please be sure to let us know if/when your email or mailing address changes.  This helps us keep our records up to date.

You may email your survey responses to me at marrena@kids4truth.com. 

Thank you for allowing us to minister with you in teaching the Truths of God's Word.

Fall is quickly approaching, and many of you will be starting up your clubs again, or for the first time!  How exciting!  We at Kids 4 Truth have been preparing for the new year as well, adding support staff, purchasing inventory, etc.  We hope you'll find that some of our improvements are a big help to you.

In order to be invoiced through our on-line store, the Kids 4 Truth staff will need to add your account to the invoicing group.  Please contact clubs@kids4truth.com if you'd like to have this option added to your account.

As note earlier this year, many of our items are now being shipped from different locations across the country.  You will need to keep this in mind as you place orders.  Here's a quick refresh of what has changed since last fall, and some standard shipping timeframes for UPS Ground (our default shipping option).

• Books, Entrance Exams, Songbooks, Banners, Shirts, Totes, Bible Covers, Award Certificates - Kansas City Warehouses
• Standards, Patches, Misc. Items, Tracts, Award Pins, Parallel Documents - TN Office
• T-Shirts, Posters, Postcards - SC Warehouse

- From Kansas City Area

• 1 Day - IA, KS, portions of MO, NE, OK, IL
• 2 Day - Most of the Midwest and Southeast
• 3 Day - New England, West Coast, Florida
• 4 Day - AK, HI

- From TN Office

• 1 Day - TN, KY, portions of OH, NC, AL, GA, VA
• 2 Day - Southeast, Midwest, FL, PA
• 3 Day - New England, Northern Midwest, CO, NM, most of TX
• 4 Day - AZ, portions of ME, WY, MN, PR, AK
• 5 Day - Pacific Northwest, West Coast
• 6 Day - HI, portions of OR, CA, ID

- From SC Warehouse

• 1 Day - SC, portions of NC, AL, GA, VA, TN
• 2 Day - Rest of the Southeast, Ohio Valley, FL, PA
• 3 Day - New England, Midwest, CO, TX
• 4 Day - AZ, NM, Dakotas, PR, AK
• 5 Day - Pacific Northwest, West Coast
• 6 Day - HI, portions of OR, CA, ID

As we approach the fall, many churches will all be placing orders at the same time.  The earlier you get your order in, the earlier we can get it to you.  Please allow at least 2-3 weeks before your club begins for your order to arrive.  The goal of the Kids 4 Truth staff is to ship orders 24-48 hours after the order is placed; however, during the busy fall ordering season, we cannot guarantee this.  Orders will be shipped on a first come-first served basis.  Also, please remember that banners take up to two weeks to be shipped, and shirts take up to four weeks.

As always, please feel free to contact us anytime you have questions.  We are here to serve you.

Are you ready to begin a club and don't know where to start?  We recommend that you begin by going through one of the Director's StartUp Manuals (http://equipu.kids4truth.com/files/folders/director_start_up_manuals/default.aspx).  Kids 4 Truth has kept the curriculum as flexible as possible so that churches can choose how they want to use the program and not have to fit our mold.  Ministries have different preferences on teaching (learning) methods.  We have addressed this by writing two different Director's StartUp Manuals to use when setting up a program:

• Director's StartUp Manual: Traditional Club/Individual Study = for churches who like the "traditional club approach" where children work through the TruthBook on their own pace.
• Director's StartUp Manual: Focused Group Study = for churches who prefer to keep children learning on the same pace within the same unit (question/answer).

The teaching (learning) method you choose to use is not limited by the service in which you plan to use the curriculum.  Either method will work in almost any setting.  Therefore, neither of these methods are tied to one particular type of service.  It is also important to note that churches do not need to feel tied down to just one method as some clubs choose to use both methods.  For example:

• Some use the Traditional Club/Individual Study for their older children while they use the Focused Group Study for younger children who do not read well and/or need more help.
• Some use the Traditional Club/Individual Study for their regular church children and the Focused Group Study for children from unchurched homes.

Need help setting up a program for your church?  Please do not hesitate to contact our office at: clubs@kids4truth.com or 866-754-4272.  We will be happy to help you customize a program that is unique to your ministry's individual needs.

If you have ordered standards in the past you may be aware that the standards come in two sizes per color.  In the past we would split your order and send half one size and half the other.  Now you get to choose the size you want.  We trust this will make it easier for you to know you have the sizes you need for the children in your club.

Standards are measured folded and from the top fold of the standard down to the point.

Sizing Chart

As always, if you have any questions please do not hesitate to contact us via the online chat, email (clubs@kids4truth.com), or telephone (866-754-4272).

We are pleased to announce that we have started our July sale a little early.  Now through July 31 save 10% on all curriculum.  This sale includes all printed Entrance Exams, TruthBooks, Awards Standards, and Award Patches (both individual and sets).  Place your order before the August rush and save a little money for your church.

If you have questions regarding what you need to order for your church, please contact us.  We are available via online chat (see chat line link at the top of this page), email at clubs@kids4truth.com, or toll free at 866.754-4272.  This is our busy time of the year and are often on the phone working with churches.  If we do not answer your telephone call, please leave a phone message.  Phone messages are delivered direct to our email address so please leave a message and we will get to you as quickly as possible.

We are pleased to announce that the pins arrived in our offices today and we will begin shipping backordered pins tomorrow.  If you are waiting on an order, please check your store account next week for your tracking information.

Our sales for year-end award pins were much higher this spring than we anticipated.  The gold and silver year-end award pins have been on backorder for the past few weeks.  We apologize for the inconvenience this may have caused your ministry. 

Co-hosted by Kids 4 Truth International and Tri-City Ministries

We are excited to announce that we will co-host our third Camp Logos Training Event at Tri-City Ministries in Independence, MO on May 15 & 16, 2008. 

If you have ever used the Libronix Digital Library System, we are sure you will agree with Bob Roberts that this is one of the best resources available to Christians.  He highly endorses the Morris Proctor Seminars by stating: "I cannot recommend Morris Proctor’s Camp Logos highly enough! Anyone who teaches and preaches the Word will benefit greatly from this awesome “Camp.” After the first 20 minutes of day one, I could hardly contain the newfound energy to study God’s Word using the superior tools Libronix affords. After day one of the seminar was over, I anxiously began putting my new found “Libronix” knowledge to work and heartily dug into Scripture. Wow! What a wonderful time it was to begin to use the Logos/Libronix software to a fuller capacity. I couldn’t imagine that there could be more to learn on day #2 – but there was! In fact, it got even better.

Register or find out more about this event at: https://www.mpseminars.com. 

While you are in the area, please feel free to drop by our offices.  We are a short 20 minute drive from the seminar location.

A nice ending to the K4T curriculum year is an Awards Night.  We would suggest a special service to honor those who have worked hard in the program.  This is also a time that you can thank your workers by recognizing them.  Year end award pins and certificates are available for those who would like to use this option.

Year End Award Pins: These attractive pins are an option for those who would like to give out Bronze, Silver, or Gold level awards.  The Year End Award pins are available in three colors: bronze, silver, and gold for you to distribute as you see fit.  The Award Pin should be worn on the standard above the Kids 4 Truth embroidered logo.  We would suggest a "Year End Award Pinning Ceremony" where each child who has earn his/her pin is called to the front and the small group leader or director pins the Award Pin onto the standard in front of everyone.  A certificate could be presented to the child along with the pin if desired. 

Year End Certificates: are available to download or you may purchase pre-printed certificates.  These look real sharp with a gold seal sticker over the sticker logo on the center bottom of the certificate.  The certificate can be presented by itself, in a certificate matt holder, or in a certificate frame. They compliment the Year End Pin nicely.

Year End Plaques or Trophies: At this time we do not offer plaques or trophies.  If you want Year End Award Plaques or Trophies, you are welcomed to place an order for these from a vendor of your own choosing.

Recommended Award Scenarios:

Levels 2-4:

The children in levels 2-4 have the opportunity to earn bronze, silver, or gold each year.  The color of the award they earn depends upon how many patches they earn for every doctrinal theme in the book (not an average but every doctrinal theme.)  Therefore, we recommend the following:

• Bronze – earn 3 patches for every doctrinal theme in the book = total of 18 patches (patches on the front of the standard)
• Silver – earn 4 patches for every doctrinal theme in the book = total of 24 patches (one patch on the front and one on the back for each doctrinal theme)
• Gold – earn all 5 patches for every doctrinal theme in the book = total of 30 patches

Level 1 – Discoverers:

• Book A = all patches earned = Bronze
• Books B & C = 1 patch per doctrinal theme = Bronze
• Book B = 1 patch per doctrinal theme + bonus patch on the back for each doctrinal theme = Silver
• Book C = 1 patch per doctrinal theme + cutout path patch on the back for each doctrinal theme = Gold

(We recommend a difference between books B & C in earning the second patch because book C contains more content. In addition, a child who has been in the level all three years can earn all three year-end pins.)

Year-End Pin Order Fulfillment Timeframe:

With our current stock we have a week turnaround for most US areas (from order date to your hands).  However, if the demand is greater than we anticipate the timeframe could slow down so the earlier you order, the more we can make sure that they get them on time.

The Kids 4 Truth Team is pleased to introduce a new feature in the EquipU forums.  Each week we will have a "Topic of the Week" written by Sarah Roberts.  Sarah will write forums of interest such as "I can't get my child to take care of his TruthBook!", "How to get parents involved in your club - during club time and outside club time", "Club Schedules", "How to Keep Children Focused during Small Group Time", "Effective Use of Small Group Time", or "How to use K4T if I already have a Club Program."

Our team has made it easy to visit the "Topic of the Week".  Simply click on the button link on the EquipU Home page...and you will be taken to the "Topic of the Week" forum.   

We need your help to make this successful! Please respond to these posts with your ideas.  What are you doing at your church?  Has something worked or not worked for you?  Is this an area where you struggle?  Responding to these forum posts not only helps other churches but also helps Kids 4 Truth grow and improve.  Your comments can make a difference to a ministry who is struggling in one of these areas.

Have an idea for a "Topic of the Week"?  Please email our team at: clubs@kids4truth.com.

Children love to receive mail, but how often do they actually receive a card or letter addressed to them?  Imagine the excitement you will create in your club if you begin using postcards on a regular basis. 

"Zebedee" and "Zeek" from the Kids 4 Truth website are now in print, appearing on our new line of postcards. Say "Good job!" or "We missed you!" in a memorable way with these colorful new postcards!  These postcards are regular size and can be mailed at the postcard rate (which is cheaper than the regular letter rate.J)

Send a postcard to:

1. Encourage a child who has worked hard
   
    
   
   
2. Welcome a new child to your club
   
   
   
3. Encourage a child who has missed several weeks of club
   
   
4. Tell someone Happy Birthday!
   
   
5. Send a note to a worker or parent
   
   

Postcards are available in packets of 10 of one design for $1.95 or a multi-pack of 60 (10 of each design) for $9.95.  These are in stock and available to begin ordering now at: http://kids4truth.com/store/Postcards---Pack-of-10-P647C0.aspx. 

Rob is our Technical Lead.   

Rob comes to us with experience in many areas including: sound guy for The Wilds for four summers, Network Engineer and computer teacher for Tri-City Ministries, “the tech guy” for a filtered internet company called Conserve-A-Net, and has worked for Planet Technologies as a consultant since April of 2000.  He holds a BS in Broadcast Engineering/Computer Science from Bob Jones University.  Rob volunteers his services to Kids 4 Truth, is a member of the Board of Directors, and he and his wife Julie are both members of the Executive Team.  He is responsible for the technical aspects of the ministry at Kids 4 Truth – primarily the web sites. He is supported by other developers and engineers who help keep the sites running. He also involved in the business and planning aspects of the ministry.

Please share with us your personal testimony: I was blessed to have grown up in a Christian home. When I was young, I accepted Christ as my Savior. I’ve been in Christian schools from grade school through college and have had the privilege of serving on the mission field in Mexico for two summers. When you consider my parents, teachers, various missionaries and others, I’ve been taught by, both formally and informally, some great men and women who love God and live it every day. By God’s grace, I hope to be that sort of testimony to those who I have contact with.

Tell us about your family: I’m getting ready to celebrate my 10^th anniversary with my wife Julie and have two children that we’ve adopted from Guatemala. Erika is 2 and Matt is 1. I thank God for the blessing that my family is to me and feel privileged to be part of it.

How long have you been a part of the Kids 4 Truth Team?  Since the Inception. Bob and I discussed the Creation Dynamation with Marie and launched the original Kids 4 Truth website together in May of 2000.

Why are you a part of the K4T Team?  That’s an interesting question… you ever hear of people who do what they do only because they can’t do anything else? I firmly believe that God has uniquely assembled this team and that, for each of us, there’s nothing else we could be doing.

What part of the K4T ministry is your favorite and why?  I enjoy working with our staff. I get to work with the staff on the planning and business aspects of the ministry and I am blessed by the people God has brought together. This team truly has a heart for ministry and constantly gives of themselves to meet the needs of the churches and individuals God allows us to come into contact with.

What K4T project have you enjoyed working on the most?  All of the websites… it’s a continuing project, and one that I don’t think we’ll ever completely finish

What K4T job would you NEVER want to do?  Customer Service – the job that Marrena, Sarah, Laura and Julie are involved in. It’s not that I don’t like people… well… J I do best with servers and lines of code.

If someone wanted to be in the ministry but did not know where God wanted them to minister, what advise or counsel would you give to them?  God needs smart people too. I often got frustrated while in college and high school hearing of people who wanted to be chemistry majors or doctors but “couldn’t hack it” and decided that God was using that to direct them to the preaching ministry. While I in no way want to question God’s working in the lives of others, I whole-heartedly reject the notion that the inability to do “hard” work is a sign of ministry suitability. Every ministry I’ve been involved with has desperately needed technicians, programmers, accountants, etc. – people who can do the “hard-thinking” even if they can’t necessarily stand up in front of a group of people and properly share doctrinal truth. Also, some of the best preachers I’ve been blessed to sit under have also been the most brilliant people I’ve known.

I’d also say, that God can use anyone who is willing… regardless of your skill set… I’m not a public speaker… I don’t have a masters in theology… however, God has allowed me to be used even as a simple computer programmer. If you look across the Kids 4 Truth staff, you’ll see a veritable plethora of skill sets… math majors, accountants, educators, English people (bleck!), programmers, etc. God uses people who are willing… He takes care of the rest.

What do you like to do with your spare time? Write code – I know it is strange, but that’s what it is. Since I’m a volunteer and have a secular “full time job”, most of my spare time is spent with my family and/or Kids 4 Truth working

Tell us an interesting fact about yourself. I’ve spent time as an adjunct member of a software development team at Microsoft.

Do you have a prayer request to share?  Continue to pray that God will give us wisdom as we lead the Kids 4 Truth ministry through these years of growth and expansion. God has been *so* good to us, and we covet His continued guidance and wisdom

What is your favorite Bible verse/passage?  Psalm 63:1 - O God, thou art my God; early will I seek thee: my soul thirsteth for thee, my flesh longeth for thee in a dry and thirsty land, where no water is.

There are some changes that will be coming to Kids 4 Truth in the next few weeks.  In order to be the most efficient as possible, we will be changing the location from which many of our products are shipped. 

In order to assist you in your future purchasing, the list below will give you an idea of where certain items are shipped from:

• Books, Entrance Exams, Songbooks, Parallels Documents, Banners, Shirts, Totes, Bible Covers - Kansas City Warehouses
• Standards, Patches, Misc. Items, Tracts, Award Pins - TN Office
• T-Shirts, Posters, Postcards - SC Warehouse

I also wanted to give you an idea of how quickly items will come to you if you choose UPS Ground as the shipping option:

- From Kansas City Area

• 1 Day - IA, KS, portions of MO, NE, OK, IL
• 2 Day - Most of the Midwest and Southeast
• 3 Day - New England, West Coast, Florida
• 4 Day - AK, HI

- From TN Office

• 1 Day - TN, KY, portions of OH, NC, AL, GA, VA
• 2 Day - Southeast, Midwest, FL, PA
• 3 Day - New England, Northern Midwest, CO, NM, most of TX
• 4 Day - AZ, portions of ME, WY, MN, PR, AK
• 5 Day - Pacific Northwest, West Coast
• 6 Day - HI, portions of OR, CA, ID

- From SC Warehouse

• 1 Day - SC, portions of NC, AL, GA, VA, TN
• 2 Day - Rest of the Southeast, Ohio Valley, FL, PA
• 3 Day - New England, Midwest, CO, TX
• 4 Day - AZ, NM, Dakotas, PR, AK
• 5 Day - Pacific Northwest, West Coast
• 6 Day - HI, portions of OR, CA, ID

I also wanted to let you know that we will no longer have "Will Call/Pickup" available as a shipping option.  I know that many of our KC area churches have appreciated this option.  However, in light of the changes being made, it is no longer feasible for us to offer this at this time.

If you have any questions at all about these changes, or other shipping/financial issues, please do not hesitate to contact us at clubs@kids4truth.com.

Julie Gillen
Financial Manager

Kids 4 Truth is pleased to announce a Regional Training Event at First Baptist Church of Rockford, IL.

Saturday, May 17   Time: 9 AM - 1 PM
Cost: Free

Faith Baptist Church of Rockford, IL
5304 Charles Street
Rockford, IL 61108

Training by: Bob Roberts
RSVP: Kids 4 Truth Office at 866-754-4272 or marrena@kids4truth.com

Training Manual available at: http://equipu.kids4truth.com/files/folders/training_manuals/entry2248.aspx.  Feel free to make copies of this file for you and the workers at your club.

Kids 4 Truth does not charge a fee to churches to host a training day.  However, we ask for you to cover our traveling and housing costs.  If you want refreshments or anything special at your event, the planning and cost of that part of the event is yours.  You are welcome to charge a fee to those who attend to help cover your costs of bringing in the speaker and any extras you may offer.  We will provide you with a downloadable training manual and will post notice of your event on the EquipU site.

If you are interested in hosting a Regional Training Event, please contact me at the Kids 4 Truth office as I coordinate the scheduling of all of Kids 4 Truth events.  You are welcome to email (marrena@kids4truth.com) or call (866-754-4272) me with dates that will work for your ministry and I will see if they are available.