When I started KFCUSA I never intended to do Jr, high or High School, but a funny thing happened as we grew: so did the Kids. As they grew they asked us to come with them to the next level and the next. Now we are involved in the campus Bible Clubs of 8 different schools.  What is awesome about this is that I and other team members do our jobs over coffee or chicken.  In other words we meet with teams of students at the coffee shops or Chick-fil-a once a week. They plan their meetings and events. My job (and I LOVE IT) is to steer them, helping them to become the leaders God gifted them to be and they are VERY gifted leaders. 

When they asked me to meet with them weekly and train them to lead there was just one humble overwhelmed girl named Abbie. At her request we grew the team to include 13 students from 7th grade-Seniors. Some could speak, some were musically gifted, some had a knack for marketing and socializing. As they matured into their roles they asked me if we could have a “Worship” event led by students with other area schools. The result was “Tulsa Night of Worship”.  The first year we had over 100 students from at least five area public high schools. We said we are not going to bill this as an annual event, but now we are about to have our third one.

This year’s event will take place in the concert room at Agora Coffeehouse in the Fontana Shopping Center (At 51st and Memorial) Good Friday night (3.29.2013) from 7-9 pm.  I promise you if you come you will not soon have another night so unified and focused on Jesus.  Come worship and pray with us for our schools.

I’ve been asked many questions since Kids for Christ USA, Inc. was formed. Without a doubt, the one I’ve been asked the most is: “How are you doing that?”

This most practical of all questions is usually followed closely with, “What about separation of church and state?” And we can’t forget my personal favorite of all questions: “Wasn’t the Bible banned from the public schools?”If I had a dollar for every time I've been asked these questions, I could fund a ministry at least twice the size of this one!

My personal journey began January of 2001. Since then, I have taught, learned, experienced, rejoiced and sacrificed much in order to bring this ministry to the children and families of this great nation. My team and I have worked hard to build a ministry that will annihilate the myth that “God isn't welcome in America's public schools.” 

I have said many times, “If there is one child in a school that has given his or her life to Jesus, then Jesus is in that school.” More than once Jesus said, “I will never leave you or forsake you.”  You may have noticed that He didn't say: “I will never leave you or forsake you unless you go into a public school in America.  That's it, that’s where I draw the line.”  It makes the whole “Godless school system” concept seems a bit ridiculous when you hear it like that, doesn’t it?

What is really amazing is that in my research I have uncovered evidence that proves that much of our belief regarding the Bible and prayer in the public school system is based on hearsay and media spin. Are you shocked? Let me explain the common foundation. For over forty years, we have talked about, preached about and complained about the Bible and prayer being removed from America’s Public schools. BUT THAT DIDN’T EVEN HAPPEN! (I will explain what I mean in a later chapter).

My book "Reaching a New Generation of Kids for Christ is meant to equip you with all of the tools and information you’ll need to go out and launch a Before or After School Bible Club in any school in America. My goal is to inspire you and eliminate the intimidation you might feel when preparing to launch an endeavor.

One of the goals of this ministry is to have a hand in planting or facilitating a thriving Kids for Christ USA-style Bible Club meeting every week in every school in America. Should you buy my book, read it you feel inspired and illuminated after reading it, then I have done my job.--Bob Heath

This is the second excerpt from Bob Heath's book "Reaching a New Generation of Kids for Christ" available in paperback or all three major digital formats. (Kindle, Nook and iBook) If you feel God leading or you just want to you can make a donation to KFCUSA we consider it an honor to have you in our corner. 

“Mom! Dad! Wake up!” These words boom out of your child’s mouth as he races into your bedroom.

“Please get up!” Your son gently nudges your side and pushes into your arm.  “You’ve got to get me to school early today!”

Your eyelids slowly open and your eyes start to focus. You’re shocked with what you see first. Your son is already dressed for school and is even holding your car keys!

“It’s Kids for Christ day,” he says emphatically. “And I don’t want to miss it!”

Does such a scene sound impossible? I’ve lived the normal reality with sleepy-headed children who refuse to get dressed for school. I’ve fought the endless morning battles just to get a child out of bed and ready for the day. I know how ridiculous this may sound to you, yet I also know after talking to hundreds of parents that a scene just like this one happens all across America as kids prepare to attend their weekly Bible Club meeting.

I’ve also heard a related scenario: kids begging parents to let them stay at school late in order to attend a weekly after-school Bible Club program.

Perhaps you too will hear stories just like this as you begin your own Bible Club. But before you print up your flyers and set up your weekly schedule, it’s probably wise to start with a solid foundation that will prepare you for what you’re going to encounter. This book was written in order to help equip you with the knowledge, skills and insight needed to run an effective Bible Club in an American Public School.

Click here to order "Reaching a New Generation of Kids for Christ" or here to make a donation to this dynamic ministry to children and youth in our nation's public schools

Many years ago when I was new in ministry I was a kids’ minister in a local church.  That church was pioneered by a Pastor who had been there 14 years.  Many of the families whose children were in my "children's church" had been there from the beginning.  Suddenly, that pastor resigned and re-located to a church on the other end of town.  It was a truly tumultuous time for that little church.  Until that time I had only taught from curriculum, but when he left I felt as though God was directing me to address the situation with the kids by not acting as though nothing had happened.  I felt I was to take their suggestions on what I should teach for a while and I did.  It was amazing the things God allowed us to cover as a result.

This month I feel somewhat the same.  I was preparing a story about a young lady who had grown up in and around Kids for Christ and I will share it at a later date.  However after the events at Sandy Hook Elementary School on Friday, I like many of you got a bit of a reality check.  

For the last year and a half I have been nice and respectful of the state of the economy and its impact on the donations to this ministry.  After I realized we were "off" like many ministries I prayed and felt led to go back being "bi-vocational" to take care of my family.  God has truly blessed that effort.  I began to pour myself into my residential window cleaning business as well as Kids for Christ USA.  In fact I went from speaking in 6-9 schools a week last year to 2-3 this year.  The volunteers of this ministry in the Tulsa area have been amazing and God has truly been blessing this effort.  In hindsight, I probably should have made this shift sooner.  I felt I had been led to be "full-time" in KFCUSA for several years. I may have "missed it", but I missed it trying to follow the Spirit of God, so there was a certain level of grace in my mistake.

That said, I have been feeling for some time that I should be doing more to expand KFCUSA, but because I have been so busy with my residential window cleaning business and the oversight of KFCUSA, I have neglected that leading.  In light of yesterday, I can ignore that nudge no more! Please understand I don't at this time feel God directing me to abandon my business, but I don't think I am supposed to continue exactly as I have been.  I feel led that I am to begin "rebuilding the monthly support base back up" so that I can begin to spend the necessary time needed to expand the vision I was given nearly 12 years ago.  I can no longer let sensitivity to a weak economy supersede God's ability to provide.

I am "re-committed" to "Reaching a New Generation of Kids for Christ" and I am asking you to join me by becoming a monthly supporter or a "one time" donor to this ministry. We have preset buttons on the website from $3-$250 a month (Other amounts can be created upon request).  It's time to join together and use every available means to reach kids in America's schools with the love of God! I need to be able to administrate, travel, and develop virtual programs and leaders to reach the kids and youth of our Nation! 

The cause is great and after yesterday it is quite evident!! I am convinced that God's love in action, NOT religion, but love will bring change. I am fired up and ready to see clubs launch in schools all across the land during the second semester of this school year.  Please be sure to join our Facebook page for short regular update. 

In His Service,

Bob Heath
Founder/Director

About two years ago I walked into one of the high school clubs we assist and was taken back by the whole hearted worship of this one girl. Her voice and the passion were astounding to me.  I told one of the two young men leading that group that whoever she is she needs to be helping with worship. Over time Megan has become one of our student leaders.  Megan is a girl with a heart for God and it is evident. I asked her to share what this ministry means to her, the following are her words and honestly, I had never heard this before.

"When I was in elementary school, one of the biggest godly influences in my life was Kids for Christ in my school. I grew up in church, but looking back I can see certain things in KFC that I didn't see in regular church. There are lessons we learned that still stick with me today. It had a huge impact on me that I can recognize now that I look back. I wouldn't say that I really knew Christ for real at that point in my life, but KFC was instrumental in planting the initial seeds of my faith.

When I came to really know the Lord in 7th grade, my entire life changed. I actually had just moved from one district to another, so it took me a while to realize that KFC was at Union. When I finally got connected to FUSE in eighth grade, I loved it. I love how you're around all these people who LOVE Jesus. It gives you this amazing sense of fellowship and inspires you to live for God with a passion. One of my favorite parts is the worship. It's just sooo real and genuine. I find myself looking forward to Fridays even more than Sundays sometimes, because it's the church gathering together and being completely real with each other. It gives me a feeling of unity, because we aren't divided on denomination or doctrine- we're just focused on worshipping Jesus. It has been SUCH a blessing in my life". 

I feel like I am sharing Megan's story a year too early since she is a junior this year, but I just couldn't wait. I have ministered to thousands of kids through the years, literally thousands: Megan has one of the purest hearts and personifies what it means to live a lifestyle of worship.--Bob Heath

This year I have been blessed by the amazing work the KFCUSA team members have been doing, especially here in Tulsa.  They have really stepped up and done an amazing job of allowing me to be more of an administrator than in years past. Last year I was speaking in 7-9 schools weekly as well as meeting with a group of junior high and high school student leaders.  This year with their help I have been "doing" 1-2 clubs a week and meeting with that same group of student leaders.  I can't even begin to tell you what a blessing it to have enough help that I can focus on administrating and expanding KFCUSA.

One of our student leaders, a Jr. named Kaitlyn.  She has been with us since she was in about fourth grade. She has always shown the two most important character traits I like to see in a leader: Humility and compassion.  I love sharing stories from the high school kids with you because these are the kids who have grown up in KFCUSA and to some degree you are getting to see the "fruit" of your support in their lives. 

They had a special event in their club and I asked Kaitlyn to share about it from her perspective.  The following is what she wrote. 

"These past three years I have had the absolutely amazing and humbling experience to be a FUSE student leader.  I have learned so much about what it really means to be a leader and to lead by example.  Also, I have learned the importance of being prepared! At FUSE this week, we planned for and advertised a “Special Event.”

The event this morning, consisted of stations set up around the classroom we use every Friday. Just like every Friday, we moved all the desks out of the classroom and lined them up along the wall outside the room we meet in.  Then, we really got to work.  One station was a table with broken bread and cups of grape juice, in other words communion.  Another was a cross in a corner, with a box for prayer requests and a stack for confessions (which we promptly threw out), still another was an iPod on a dock playing worship music.  Our last two stations consisted of one that just had a stack of Bibles for people to read, and take if they needed and then one was tables with paper and colored pencils where people could just draw whatever they wanted.  At each of these stations was a list of verses, which we wrote Monday night, explaining why or in some cases how to do the things at each of the stations.

At first, I was a little worried about how many people would come, because it was the day after the State championship, held in Stillwater, and about how people would react.  Soon, all my fears were laid to rest.  The first person that got there ended up walking into a room empty of people and heading straight for the cross and just laying down in front of the cross on his face. It was a beautiful sight. Then, more and more people came in and the atmosphere still remained incredibly reverent.  Everyone in that room knew God was there and He was acting.  After FUSE, I even got a text message from a girl who had this to say, “Recently I have just put my relationship with the Lord to the side. It didn’t seem that important to me… but taking that 20 minutes just to actually read my Bible and pray really reminded me of beautiful He is and how important this relationship is to me.” The realization that, through God, as FUSE leaders we got to impact someone’s life for the better, was so humbling, and so wonderful.  God is so good, and is doing AMAZING things in our school.  The time is now.  Prayer is needed".--Kaitlyn

I don't know about you, but that blew me away. I found myself blubbering like a little girl at the way God is moving not just in Kaitlyn, but in general through KFCUSA in America's public schools. When I say "Together we're reaching a new generation of kids for Christ" I am including you, our supporters. Thank you for the long term impact we are having on these kids.

In His Service, 

Bob Heath

The school was so hospitable to the project and they had no trouble setting them up in the "Commons" area. The volunteers, both Christian and not Christian, were requested by word-of-mouth and through Facebook and as they began to arrive, smiling and excited, we got started. Students coming in through the only main entrance to the school were greeted by a team of friends and a tasty fried treat. Faculty and staff made their way out to see (and taste) what was going on. As class was getting ready to begin, the donuts were just running out. God has perfect timing. A cleaning crew of students was organized as J.J. and friends attempted to leave the grounds as clean as if it never even happened. 

The implications of that morning go far beyond a student Christian club. "To me," J.J. said, "it is a glimpse into something that God has in store for Christians in the United States.” When Jesus said that we would do His works and greater works also, I am convinced He was prophesying of the use and impact of Facebook and Twitter. He (Jesus) preached to 5000; by God’s power, Tim Tebow reaches tens of millions by simply writing John 3:16 on his eye black. The world’s economy is a greedy one, storing up money and resources in places where they are doing nothing but rotting.  But when we, with hearts after Christ and His purposes, get creative and let go of every attachment to the “way things are done”, entire public high schools can be treated to a free breakfast and an opportunity to share God’s love to individuals. Let’s do it!".

At first blush "Prayer Walking" may sound a bit odd to you. What is the significance of walking around a building and praying? Perhaps is patterned after marching around Jericho...NA! "It is simply a point of contact for me, If I can see the building then all kinds of prayer needs flood into my heart" says Heath. "It seems as though things come to mind that simply wouldn't have without being there".

On this particular day these students and Bob Heath walked 4 fours schools and stood in the parking lot of 1 elementary school praying for the other 13 in that district.  On August 20th another KFCUSA affiliated prayer walked six more schools.

We reccomend that you go Prayer Walk as many of the public schools in your area as possible.  As this new school year kicks off its importatnt that we cover our schools in prayer. Please be conscience to do this early in the morning or after school hours. (Weekends are perfect because you have all day.) 

I told you that story to illustrate a point: Any youth or kids minister who understands his role in the Kingdom of God realizes that the job has little to do with him/her and everything to do with the kids. Your purpose IS NOT to be remembered by the kids -- it's to pour the love of God into them. If by some fluke they grow up and call you and tell you a story about something you taught that impacted them, that is awesome, but in truth you need to have enough faith to sow seeds of love and the concepts of God's word into them and know that words of affirmation have little to do with how effective you are.

Over the course of the ten years of Kids for Christ USA, I have had the privilege of working with thousands of extraordinary kids, many of them since they were in second grade.  One of the goals is to raise up kids to become leaders in the body of Christ. Even though that is one of the goals, when it actually happens it is still overwhelming. 

At the high school level our ministry takes on a significantly different form than elementary schools:  the students lead the clubs. Earlier this school year one of my senior leaders (Sr. as in class of 2011) asked me to meet with her every week.  That quickly became meet with her and the other four leaders from her school.  That grew into meeting with the leaders from her school and the intermediate high school just under them every week at Starbucks.  It has been a high point to my week all year.  What has been really amazing has been watching them develop and love their schools.  They are astounding!

Back in January the girl I mentioned above asked me if it would be possible to bring the kids of the other high schools we work with together for an evening of worship and prayer.  I loved the idea and we began working to make it happen. It developed into having faith enough to take my hands off and let it be student-led. 

This past Saturday (5.7.2011) at Camp Loughridge we had over 90 students and adult leaders from sixth grade up come together for a night of worship that far surpasses ANY worship service or concert I have ever experienced.  I have never seen unity like that in my life! The worship team was made up of mostly students from Union High School "Fuse".  There were kids from five high schools, two junior highs and even a couple of home school coalitions. It was so powerful that I and the other adult leaders spent a great deal of our night walking around with our mouths hanging open and crying.  It was so powerful and so humbling to just join in the worship and let God use these amazing kids -- kids who don't care which schools or which denominations were represented. They only cared about lifting up the name of Jesus! They sang, they jumped, raised their hands, fell on their faces, cried out to God, and prayed together for about two hours nonstop.  My friend Sam Mather exhorted them all at the beginning and once in the middle and I closed in prayer. Even though there was a worship team on the platform, you could feel the unity of the whole group and the power that I have always imagined in Acts Chapter Two in the Upper Room.

I assure you my dream of pouring the love and life of God into kids and them developing a personal relationship with God for themselves and developing into leaders was manifested before my eyes. It was an awesome night. If you missed it, YOU MISSED IT!--Bob Heath, Founder/Director KFCUSA