Welcome to our quarterly newsletter, The Good News, featuring stories of how God has been working through Kids Around The World. Enjoy!
The Good News
FULL hearts HALF-way through 2024!
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MEALS PACKED
This Quarter
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PLAYGROUNDS BUILT
This Quarter
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KIDS IN STORYCLUBS
This Quarter
WE CONTINUE TO “GO! Serve Others!” TOGETHER
God continues to draw partners and friends to the KATW mission, making a lifelong impact through FOOD, PLAY, and STORY. In the past quarter, God has ignited the hearts of many—both those serving and those being served.
YOUR SUPPORT ON SECOND SATURDAYS
We’re grateful for partners and friends who have come to help out this past quarter! If you’re interested in serving others there’s still plenty of opportunities. Check out our link for volunteer options at our Rockford IL location. We look forward to working alongside you!
FOOD
We extend FOUR MILLION thank you’s for the four million meals packed by our incredible partners! Whether you gave BIG from your hearts or contributed BIG numbers to the meals packed, we are grateful for every effort.
- In April we had partners such as Family Legacy in Texas, and both Harbor Point Church and Jazel Auto in California pack over 100K each.
- The month of May witnessed dozens of partners packing for impact including Rock Church, Su Refugio, Terra Nova, and Rise City Church all in the great state of California, along with Calvary Chapel Chester Springs Church in Pennsylvania packing over 270K meals and Stateline Church in Illinois sealing up over 100K meals.
- June concluded the quarter with phenomenal impact, bringing meal packing numbers to 2 million, thanks to partners Anchored Relief and the annual “San Diego Diocese Million Meal Event.” KATW spent two incredible days with the Diocese of San Diego, where parishioners packed 1.5 million meals in one weekend. Witnessing such large congregations unite at this scale leaves us inspired.
It was a successful STAND OUT quarter evidencing what happens when beautiful souls step out and GO! Serve Others!
PACKING AND BUILDING
Be inspired HERE by how this incredible team took their desire to “Serve Others” one powerful step further!
AMAZON VOLUNTEERS DELIVER
Our partners at Amazon volunteered at our Rockford warehouse location, showcasing the impressive teamwork and dedication often associated with their capabilities!
Experts at packing, they packed over 4,000 meals and loaded a container with playgrounds bound for Tanzania!
PLAY
STUDENTS BRING PLAY TO PERU
What an unforgettable trip to the Amazon in Peru with students from Santa Fe Christian! After packing meals with KATW last year, they stepped out in faith with energy and enthusiasm to bring the gift of PLAY to the children of Florido. It was a joy for KATW to accompany such a strong group of young leaders choosing to “GO! Serve Others!” We’re confident that it was a life changing experience for these young adults as their hearts grow in compassion.
CASCADING IMPACT
It’s incredible how friends influence one another! Read HERE on how friendship can be mighty influential when taking on an inspirational and compassionate twist!
EXPANDING IMPACT IN BEAUTIFUL NICARAGUA
Key alliances continued to amplify our impact on children in Nicaragua. In collaboration with RINO Global Solutions and Foundation, Feed the Hungry USA, Feed the Hungry Nicaragua, and Allegheny Center Alliance Church in Pittsburgh, teams united to bring the gift of PLAY to the Nicaragua Christian Academy and the Managua School for the Deaf.
The Nicaragua Christian Academy (NCA) preschool playground project was this year’s NCA senior project thereby blessing our team with assistance from senior students in its construction. These incredible partners continually strive for lasting impact on the lives of children, and we are so blessed to work alongside them!
EXCITEMENT IS “BUILDING” IN THAILAND
Heat and humidity didn’t dampen the spirits of the Manna Worldwide and Rock Harbor Church team in Thailand during the EXL playground build for the New Light Foundation. The site, which saw many lives lost during the tsunami 20 years ago, was transformed into a place of immense joy as children eagerly flocked to the new playground at its opening. This marked the first large playground in the region.
BIG PLAY GIVEAWAY WINNER!
Have you heard the news?!?
The winner of our BIG PLAY Giveaway is shared HERE and we’re celebrating!
Stay tuned for more exciting opportunities to partner with Kids Around The World!
STORY
WORKSHOP PARTICIPANTS SHARE FEEDBACK
We give thanks for the privilege of hosting a KIDStory Zoomin’ Workshop in May where a fantastic number of over 100 people registered from 37 different countries. Within the closing activity, the participants were asked to fill in the blank after one or more of these statements:
“I AM _”, “I BELIEVE_”, “I CAN / I WILL_”.
We were delighted to read these encouraging responses as an indication of how the workshop was received:
- I am Encouraged!
- I can do a better job listening
- I AM excited to learn this method
- I believe the Holy Spirit is the teacher and I am facilitating
- I am super excited!
- Thank you, I am refreshed
- I am hopeful
- I am in awe
- I am inspired to use storytelling
- I am refreshed
- I AM EXCITED!!!
- I am inspired
Stay tuned for future opportunities, whether through webinars or in-person workshops or conferences. KATW desires to help you and your ministry grow and be encouraged in sharing God’s Word with children. We’re excited to offer virtual, in-person, domestic, and international training sessions to help you disciple children in His Story through KIDStory! See HERE why it’s meaningful and effective!
FOLLOW US ON YOUTUBE
We are creating easier access to KIDStory! Our goal is to empower you with teaching strategies and equip you as leaders to disciple children in ways that work best for them. Throughout various clips, we will provide insight and training as we encourage you in how to share the Gospel with children through dynamic storytelling – directly from the Bible.
Subscribe to our YouTube Channel HERE!
STORY CLUB MIRACLE
Born with sickle cell anemia, read HERE of how young Peter, attending this StoryClub in the Congo, experienced a miracle!
NUMBERS TO GET EXCITED ABOUT
KIDStory training took place this past quarter in the Democratic Republic of Congo, reaching an impressive scale! With 95 leaders in training, who will collectively reach over 5,300 children, we are deeply grateful for our in-country partners. We rejoice not only over the large number of kids impacted but also for every single child who comes to hope in Christ through KIDStory!
GLOBAL COMMUNITIES
UNLEASHING HOPE IN UGANDA!
The team considered it a phenomenal week of serving others when members from diverse backgrounds and ages united to make an impact in Uganda this past month. In the heart of Africa, the group built a large playground for Layibi Ogony, right down the road from a school. One participating family, who had packed meals at a FOOD event earlier this year, experienced the distinct joy of realizing that the meals they were handing out came from the boxes they had packed themselves—a surprising and joyful moment!
Read HERE how one trip participant shared their heartfelt insight on how this outreach “GO! Trip” truly impacted not just the kids and the community, but them as well!
VISION TRIP TO THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC
Together, dedicated churches and businesses partnered to bring the gift of PLAY to the children of the DR who were overjoyed to see a playground replace their once rocky, weed-covered area. Despite challenges during the build, God reminded the team of Romans 8:28: “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are called according to His purpose.”
Their gratitude was so sweetly evident as they sang and gave speeches, with the principal sharing how their dream playground, initially denied in their budget, was made possible by God’s plan.
The trip also included visiting local Hope Zones, participating in Story Clubs, helping with FOOD distribution, and spending time in prayer with local mothers. Witnessing how a simple playground can revitalize a space and bring immense joy to children and families is always humbling for team members as they return home radically impacted by the experience!