Kids club programs are proving to be a great way of reaching the community these school holidays.
St George North will run a superhero-themed kids club this week, with the aim of teaching children about the ultimate superhero " Jesus.
Jana Koulouris, who is organising the club, says the children have been learning about different aspects of Jesus' power.
"They will see that Jesus has more power and authority than superheroes."
With over 100 children attending, Ms Koulouris believes about 40 percent are from non-church families.
St John's Maroubra's holiday club, which is running this week, is also following a theme " Kung Fu Pilgrim " which is based on a panda's search for the "right way".
Judy Adamson is helping serve food at St John's holiday club and says she sees children with no other church connection coming back each year.
"A lot of the kids from church go to schools locally and they invite their friends," she says. "It's a good outreach opportunity."
Mrs Adamson says it is a great way to make connections with families and build up a good reputation with the community.
"It is a way in which families without church connection can see that while we take God seriously, we don't take ourselves seriously and can have a bit of fun," she says.
Families meet church
St Mark's Pennant Hills children minister Jenny Flower agrees that kids clubs are a great chance to meet new families.
"We're not just wanting to tell kids about Jesus, but their parents as well," she says.
For the past eight years, St Mark's has been running its holiday club " Huge Awesome Week for Kids (HAWK).
The theme this week is called "Candyland' and teaches children that Jesus is the ultimate king.
When parents come to pick their children up, a café is set up with free tea and coffee.
"We have people there to talk to parents and tell them about what their kids are learning," Ms Flower says. "We use it as an evangelistic outreach and tell them about St Mark's."
Kids club paves way for church plant
Meanwhile, as part of Youthworks College's week-long mission in Sadleir, 10-second year students have been running a children's holiday program at Green Valley Public School since Tuesday.
Commencing at 8:30am each day, the three-day rescue-themed Holiday Club has involved talks and small group discussions focusing on the book of Daniel, as well as songs, games, and craft.
"I think it shows the parents that we care and makes it possible for them to have time to do what they need to do in the holidays", says Youthworks College student and Youth Ministry Coordinator for Sadleir Anglican Church, Susan Benson.
"It's also a long time we can spend with the kids " instead of being an hour and a half on Sunday mornings, it's a whole day over three days so the opportunity there is greater than we normally have" this also includes talking to the parents when they drop them off.”
Approximately 25 kids are attending the Holiday Club, of which 19 are from non-church families and either heard about the program through the school or doorknocking by the college students.
"The idea of doing the Kid's Club at the primary school is to connect with the families in the area in preparation for a church plant in Green Valley Public School", explains Ms Benson.
The church plant, an initiative of Sadleir Anglican, is planned to go ahead at the start of 2010.
