by Karen Miyamoto

Summer always brings back fond memories…memories of spending time with friends, camp, beach and fun!  During the summer months at ZOE equals Kids Helping Kids. This program is often adopted during Vacation Bible School for churches as a missions/outreach tool.  

Kaylin Sugihara proudly showing her Kids Helping Kids Hero sticker!

This year, Cerritos Baptist Church, a local church in Cerritos, CA adopted ZOE during their July VBS as a part of their Compassion Project.  Steph Luna, their Children’s Ministry Director was so excited to share the Kids Helping Kids project with her kids! Their VBS theme this year was “Shipwrecked.”  Throughout the week, the kids learned that when you struggle, worry, do wrong, feel lonely or are powerless…Jesus Rescues! This year’s theme connected very well with ZOE’s mission of rescuing every child!

Below is a comment from Steph on how her VBS went…

Thank you for your prayers for this week! VBS was a success! The kids loved the treasure chest and filling it with money to help other kids. They were excited about helping other kids and my co-director’s son even put in his tooth fairy money!!! The parent letters were great information to give, because I think it really moved parents to give more than they normally would. On Day 3, I gave kids $1 if they could whisper the memory verse that was on our shirts (psalm 34:19)…one 5th grade boy listed it as his God Sighting for the day, being able to earn a dollar for ZOE! Our goal was to break $1,000 and we were able to raise $1,307.45!  We appreciate your support and the opportunity to partner with you! Praising the Lord for His goodness! 

Thank you Steph and the amazing team at Cerritos Baptist Church for adopting ZOE this year.  You guys are AWESOME!!

Written By:   Karen Miyamoto

I love highlighting our little heroes that are doing big things!  This months’ little hero is Hope Zazueta.   Hope is 11 years old and has always had loved helping others.  In the past, she and her family have attended ZOE’s Rescue Walk, raised money for ZOE International and donated items like socks during Christmas time.  I had the honor of interviewing this amazing little girl. 

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Hope Chapel Del Rey Westchester

Summer is coming to an end. Wow, what a great season it has been for ZOE’s Kids Helping Kids program! Supporting churches as well as brand new churches took part and had a great time teaching children about giving to others and learning how far their money goes in Thailand. The feedback from Children’s Ministry leaders all around the U.S. has been so positive. Thank you to all those that participated this summer!

Let’s take a peek into how Hope Chapel Del Rey Westchester used the Kids Helping Kids program during their 2015 Vacation Bible School.

Our church collected $371. We only had 70 kids so it was a success for us. The children really understood what they were giving towards.  We gave out gems for good behavior throughout the day and they were able to buy things at the store. Our church and members donated quarters. The kids had the option of trading in a gem for a quarter to give to ZOE and many would give all they had. Many of our children live in shelters or the like so this gave them the opportunity to still give to others even if they don't have the resources to give otherwise. Some of them were the most generous perhaps because they understood what it means to go hungry or to be abused.

Our days were always packed and our main emphasis is bringing the Gospel to the kids. 

Thank you for allowing ZOE to be our mission's focus. It was a blessing.

Thank you Hope Chapel Del Rey Westchester for not only helping those in need in Thailand, but also motivating and encouraging children here in the States!

Interested in Kids Helping Kids for your church or family? Contact Karen for more information.

by Karen Miyamoto, Donor Relations Manager

Oh the joys of Vacation Bible School!  It’s definitely a lot of work and man power, but when do you have a captive audience of children for an entire week where you get to share the gospel, play games, sing songs and eat snacks!  It’s also a great opportunity to share Jesus with children who would otherwise never get to hear His word.  That is powerful!  To have a successful VBS this year, follow the tips below.  Remember, you are changing lives!

1. Plan Early – Planning early for your VBS is crucial.  This will give you ample time to make any changes needed before the big day.

2. Round Up Volunteers – Volunteers are key to having a successful VBS.  You don’t want to over recruit so people are standing around but you want to have enough that all areas are well covered.  Inviting people to assist you during the week of VBS also empowers them to use their gifts and talents.  The youth at your church are great additions to your volunteer group.

3. Choose a Mission Project – Songs, crafts, stories and food are all great components of VBS but when you incorporate a mission project, it can bring your VBS to a new level.  Children want to help so why not allow them to make a difference!  ZOE has a great tool that can be used during your VBS.  Kids Helping Kids is a great outreach program where children are given plastic tubes to collect change. The change collected in these tubes goes towards the caring of the children at ZOE in Thailand.  The best part of the program?  It is free of cost to you! 

4. Communicate with Parents – Parents are entrusting you to care for their children for the week.  The more information you can give them, the better they can plan. 

Have Fun! – VBS equals fun!  This may require you to step out of your comfort zone but the kids will love returning!  If you are having fun, guaranteed, the children will as well.

To incorporate ZOE’s Kids Helping Kids into this year’s VBS, contact us today!

“Train up a child in the way he should go, And when he is old he will not depart from it.”  Proverbs 22:6

As children become adults, there are so many life lessons parents want to teach to them.  Being obedient, smiling, making sure to say “please” and “thank you” may be just a few things on the list.  But have you ever thought about what the world would be like if we taught our children from a young age to be cheerful givers?  The keyword here is “cheerful.”  If children learned to be cheerful givers perhaps there wouldn’t be so much need in the world.

Recently at ZOE, we had asked our supporters to donate Hot Wheels as well as Rainbow Loom bracelet supplies to bless the boys and girls at ZOE Children’s Homes in Thailand.  The response was out of this world! Not only did enough Hot Wheels come in but we collected above and beyond so that each boy could have several cars of their very own!  Amidst the supporters who donated were three very special children.  Hearing the need we had, Alexandra and Michael Espin set up a lemonade stand so that they could donate funds raised for ZOE to purchase Hot Wheels and Rainbow Looms. Joy Sugihara had Rainbow Loom supplies from past birthday and Christmas gifts that she wasn’t using anymore and decided to donate them to the girls at ZOE.  What a blessing!  Thank you so much!

Joy Sugihara | Alexandra and Michael Espin

Regardless of age, something happens inside of you when you give, something almost supernatural that cannot be explained.  You become happy.  You become excited.  You become grateful.  You become less focused on yourself and focus more on how you can help others that are in need.  Opportunities to give arise because you see things differently.  The joy of giving becomes a part of life that you cannot live without.  What an amazing life lesson to teach your child.  Not only will this change your child’s life even well into their adulthood but can cause a ripple effect to transform thousands of other lives.  What a wonderful world this would be!

If you would like information on our Kids Helping Kids program at ZOE, please call Karen at 661.255.7963 or email her.