It all started with a desire among members of the Bowdle Adventist Church in South Dakota to begin an outreach in their community—a place where parents could have a few hours to themselves while volunteers shared Jesus’ love with their children. The church decided to hold the event on the third Thursday of each month for three hours, from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m.
Over time, Kids’ Night grew in both age and number—from about a dozen young children to nearly 40 participants, ranging in age from three to 13. This growth has been a blessing, though it also meant adding more structure, planning additional activities, and making the most of the church’s space, especially during the winter months.
Each month brings something new. Much of the time, the theme follows the season or holiday of that month. In winter, the group celebrates the birth of Jesus and enjoys outdoor fun in the snow. Spring reminds them of God’s love through Jesus’ death on the cross. Summer brings sunshine, water and joy as they celebrate God’s presence in their lives. Fall fills hearts with gratitude for what God has done and brings the fun of a fall festival.
One of the most memorable gatherings took place last winter when the group split up the boys and girls. The girls enjoyed a special night of nails, foot spa, games and glam while learning about women of faith in the Bible.
Each evening begins with a group activity where everyone joins in for fun and laughter. After that, the children move into exercise time with “animal exercises” like jumping-jack starfishes, jumping frogs, bear crawls, and more. Then all the children come together to pray in a circle—one of the organizers’ favorite moments of the night, as it has encouraged some of the children to pray heartfelt prayers for the very first time.
Following prayer, the group enjoys a wonderful (and often very loud!) mealtime. After supper, the children are usually divided into two groups: the younger ones (pre-K through first grade) and the older ones (second grade and up). During this time, they sing songs, hear a Bible story, and the younger children also complete a craft project.
To close the evening, everyone joins together for glow sticks and to sing This Little Light of Mine—a reminder to shine the light of Jesus throughout the coming month and to keep shining until He comes again to take us home.
The church family continues to see many blessings through this ministry. None of it would be possible without the dedicated volunteers, faithful prayers, and hard work poured into each evening. Members ask for prayers that Kids’ Night will keep growing and sharing Jesus’ love with children, helping shape their hearts for Him. They also hope this ministry inspires others to reach out to the children in their own communities and find ways to share Jesus’ love with them every day.
“But Jesus called the children to him and said, ‘Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these’” (Luke 18:16, NIV).
Sarah Heinrich serves as the children’s ministries director at the Bowdle Adventist Church. She and her husband, Josh, along with their two children, are active in church life.
