Meet Abby Martin, one of KiDs Beach Club®’s newest team members, serving as the School and Ministry Support Coordinator.
Abby grew up in a strong Baptist home and was no stranger to KiDs Beach Club®. She was first introduced to Beach Club® in fifth grade at Bedford Heights Elementary. When she reflects on those years, she remembers worship, Surf Team groups, and the excitement of earning treasure prizes at the end of each meeting. More importantly, she remembers being encouraged to share her faith at school. Beach Club® gave her the confidence and comfort to talk about Jesus with friends and classmates.
A pivotal moment in Abby’s faith journey came during high school when a student in her choir passed away in a car accident. The tragedy reminded her that each day is a gift and strengthened her desire to spend time in God’s Word. She often thought back to her days in Beach Club® and how it had given her the courage to live out her faith publicly. Inspired by that foundation, Abby and her best friend committed to reading the book of James together every day until graduation. While some students looked at them curiously as they carried their Bibles into the choir room, Abby remembers that what mattered most was not the opinions of others, but the life-changing truth found in Scripture.
Beach Club® helped lay the foundation for Abby’s faith, and as she grew older, she became increasingly involved in her church. She sang on the praise team, participated in mission trips whenever possible, and continually sought ways to grow closer to the Lord.
Later, Abby attended Dallas Baptist University, where her faith continued to deepen. During that time, she served as a Young Life leader, learning how to disciple students and point others toward Christ. Through that experience, she discovered the power of sharing her testimony and often says, “God uses my mess and turns it into a message.”
Before joining KiDs Beach Club®, Abby worked as a P.E. Coach at Walnut Grove Elementary. She loved working with children and bringing joy to their day through games and activities. Yet she sensed God calling her toward something more. Unsure of what that next step would be, she began searching for nonprofit opportunities. That’s when she came across a position with KiDs Beach Club®.
The moment she saw the opening, she remembered the impact Beach Club® had made on her own life. She immediately felt God was placing the opportunity before her. Throughout the interview process, she felt a growing sense of peace and belonging.
Today, Abby is excited to help create the same life-changing experiences for students that once helped shape her own faith journey. Through her work with KiDs Beach Club®, she is helping the next generation discover the hope, confidence, and love found in Jesus Christ.
Published on Jun 24 @ 9:42 AM CDT
Betty Baxter: Faith In The Great Physician
Little Betty had never been well. From the time she was a toddler in the late 1920s, she suffered from a progressive, degenerative spinal condition that crippled her legs and arms. Every day of her young life was a day of pain and agony.
At nine years old, Betty was listening to her preacher talk about Jesus and His sacrifice on the cross. The words about Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection were seared into her mind. As she prayed for Jesus to forgive her and save her, she said she saw a clear vision of Jesus calling her to tell everyone about Him. When she saw the vision, she told her pastor she was going to be an evangelist for her Lord and Savior.
By the time she was 12 years old, Betty was immobile, and suffering in great pain every day. Doctors had nothing to offer her in terms of treatment. But her faith in Jesus sustained her. Her disease, however, progressed. At 15 years old, her body twisted and immobile, she fell in and out of comas. Doctors prepared her parents for the worst. But Jesus had other plans!
Betty told the story that while she was in a coma, she again saw Jesus. Thinking He was there to take her to heaven with Him, she said to Jesus, “In a few minutes, I’m going to join that heavenly band and the moment I step on the other side, I will straighten up and be well and strong.” But she said the Lord replied, “No Betty. It’s not your time to cross yet. Go back and fulfill the call I gave you when you were nine years old.” He told Betty the exact day and time she would be healed: August 24, 1941, at 3:00 p.m.
On the afternoon of August 24, Betty feebly asked her mother to carry her to the living room and put her in a chair having faith that Jesus was true to His words. Friends and family surrounded her and prayed. Betty said as she drifted in and out of consciousness, Jesus again appeared to her, placing His hands on her broken body. In an instant, everything changed. In the presence of multiple eyewitnesses, Betty suddenly opened her eyes, straightened in the chair, then leaped to her feet! Her body was completely healed. The time was 3:00 p.m.
Betty Baxter became one of the most prolific evangelists of the 20th century. She traveled across the U.S. and around the world telling people about Jesus until her passing at age 86 in 2012. Her monumental faith in Jesus the Great Physician was an inspiration to millions.
KBC understands the importance of a faith in the life of every believer. We are blessed by our many faithful ministry partners who stand proudly and support KBC with their monthly gifts to help us achieve our mission.
Donors who Give Every Month (KBC GEMs) provide the backbone of support we need to share Jesus with countless children every year. Would you please join us as a ministry partner by signing up to give to KBC monthly?
Signing up to be a KBC GEM is easy and quick. Simply scan the QR code below or go to www.kidsbeachclub.org/donate today. Your monthly gift, no matter how small or large, will be a tremendous blessing to KBC.
Published on Apr 29 @ 10:53 AM CDT
Lives Changed on The Last Day
On the last day of Beach Club®, something truly unforgettable took place.
It was already a meaningful day. Club Leader Marykay Aguilar prayerfully chose a character word for every student and attached the full list to the back of their certificates so each child could understand the truth being spoken over them. As the celebration continued, students took turns sharing what Jesus meant to them.
That day, three students gave their hearts to Jesus. One moment, in particular, will stay with us forever.
When leaders asked what they had learned throughout the year, one sweet girl immediately jumped up and said, “I have to talk to you right now.” She walked straight to her leader, Mrs. Sherry, and in that moment, she gave her life to Jesus.
Week after week, she had shown up eager to learn, never missing a club, always ready to listen.
Later, we discovered that she struggles in the classroom. But at Beach Club®, something was different. She was focused, engaged, and fully present for every lesson.
What the world may label as a struggle, God saw as a heart ready to receive Him.
Her story is a beautiful reminder that Jesus meets us right where we are. He quiets every fear, calms every anxious thought, and makes all things new.
This is why KiDs Beach Club® does what it does.
On a day filled with celebration, truth spoken, and lives impacted, her yes to Jesus was the greatest victory of all.
God is good all the time, and all the time God is good.
Published on Apr 29 @ 10:00 AM CDT
Staff Advance Recap: A Year of Faith
There is something powerful that happens when a team steps away from the day-to-day to refocus, reconnect, and realign around a shared mission. For four impactful days, the KiDs Beach Club® team gathered at our corporate office for our annual Staff Advance, centered on one defining theme: Faith.
Throughout our time together, we leaned into what it means to walk by faith in every area of our work. Team members led presentations that provided deeper insight into their unique roles, creating a greater understanding of how each part of the organization works together to reach children with the Gospel. These moments strengthened not only our knowledge, but our appreciation for one another and the mission we share.
While the Advance provided valuable time to grow professionally, it also created space for meaningful connection. One of the highlights was exploring downtown Grapevine together. Stepping outside the office allowed us to slow down, share laughter, and build relationships that extend far beyond our day-to-day responsibilities.
We also spent time engaging in team-building activities that brought energy, encouragement, and unity to the group. Whether through games or shared experiences, these moments reminded us that strong teams are built not just through strategy, but through trust, joy, and genuine connection.
Most importantly, we prayed together.
In a year focused on faith, we were reminded that everything we do is rooted in our dependence on the Lord. We lifted up the children and families we serve, our church partners, and the vision ahead for KiDs Beach Club®. Those moments of prayer were a powerful reminder that while we are called to be faithful, it is God who brings the growth.
As we move forward, we do so with renewed vision, strengthened unity, and a deeper commitment to walk by faith in all that we do. We are grateful for the time spent together and excited for what God has in store in this Year of Faith.
Published on Mar 25 @ 3:47 PM CDT
Meet The Staffer: Hunter Pierce
Hunter Pierce joined the KiDs Beach Club® team as Chief Operating Officer on March 2, 2026, stepping into the role with deep gratitude and genuine excitement for the ministry ahead. From the moment he arrived, it was clear he carried both a servant’s heart and a leader’s mindset, qualities that fit seamlessly into the mission of helping every preteen boy and girl experience Jesus.
Hunter grew up in Keller, Texas, and his roots there shaped much of who he is today. Outside of ministry, he is a devoted husband to his beautiful bride, Emily, and a proud dad to three young children: Barrett (5), Caroline (3), and Charlotte Grace (1). When he is not working, you will likely find him spending time with family and friends, enjoying the outdoors, admiring old cars and trucks, or cheering on the Texas Rangers and the Baylor Bears. Those who get to know him quickly discover a down-to-earth, genuine guy whose joy is contagious.
His journey to KiDs Beach Club® is nothing short of a God story. Hunter began his career as a 6th-grade math teacher in Keller ISD, where the classroom became his mission field. He loved watching students experience those “light bulb” moments and took seriously the opportunity to be a positive male role model. After five years of teaching, and with a second child on the way, Hunter and Emily sensed the Lord calling her to stay home. They prayed fervently, and God opened a door for Hunter at GuideStone Financial Resources.
What followed was a season of unexpected growth. After less than a year in retirement operations, Hunter was accepted into the LEAP program, where he received leadership development across multiple departments. For the next two years, he served as a Relationship Manager, helping pastors and church administrators navigate their retirement and insurance benefits. It was during this time that he became the point of contact for KiDs Beach Club®. After meeting Craig and the team during an onsite visit, God began moving mountains and opened a path Hunter never expected. The possibility of stepping into the COO role emerged when he learned of Craig’s retirement, and with affirmation from both Craig and Jack, Hunter sensed the Lord’s clear guidance. They helped him see that his experience, combined with God’s calling, had prepared him for senior leadership in ways he never anticipated.
Through every step, God taught Hunter the truth of Matthew 17:20, that even faith the size of a mustard seed can move mountains. That promise has carried him into this new season with confidence, humility, and awe.
What excites Hunter most about his role is the opportunity to serve as a leader who equips others. His heart beats for empowering the staff so they can flourish in the ministry of giving every preteen a Jesus experience. Behind the scenes, he is someone who loves completing tasks and seeing tangible progress, but his deeper motivation comes from remembering the grace God has shown him. Saved at 11 years old, Hunter knows his life was headed toward destruction, but by God’s grace, he was redeemed and given hope for tomorrow. That reminder fuels his passion for serving others.
Of course, no introduction to Hunter would be complete without a few fun favorites. He is a sweet tea enthusiast, a lover of 80s and 90s country music, and always ready to encourage someone to do their best.
Hunter Pierce steps into his role at KiDs Beach Club® with gratitude, expectancy, and a heart fully committed to the mission. His story is one of God’s faithfulness, and he is eager to see what mountains the Lord will move next.
Published on Mar 25 @ 3:46 PM CDT
A Growing Faith In The Face Of Death: Scott O’Grady
In the early 1990s, the Bosnian War was raging, and NATO decided to intervene to enforce a no-fly zone across Bosnia and Herzegovina. The U.S. military began flying routine missions as part of the effort, and on June 2, 1995, a U.S. F-16 fighter jet was shot down by a Serbian surface-to-air missile.
The veteran pilot, Scott, said that as he was parachuting to the ground after ejecting from his jet, he could see Serbian fighters coming towards him in a truck. He knew instinctively that his life was in grave danger. He landed in a wooded area and quickly found a hiding place.
Over six days, Scott hid in the thick woods, eating anything he could to survive. He frequently heard and saw enemy soldiers hunting for him, and he had to remain perfectly still for hours upon end. Bullets frequently screamed past him and cracked into trees right next to him.
“I prayed constantly,” he said. “Not the casual prayers of my normal life, but desperate, intimate conversations with God. Even in the face of death, I discovered the greatest source of peace came through my relationship with God.”
After six long days, a strike force of U.S. Marines landed near his position after hearing very short radio calls from his emergency radio, and U.S. Air Force Captain Scott O’Grady was rescued. Scott exhibited extraordinary faith, a growing faith, in the face of his own death.
KBC understands the importance of a growing faith, regardless of circumstances. That is why we believe it is so important for children to establish their faith early, knowing that the testing of their faith WILL happen.
We are blessed by our many faithful ministry partners who stand proudly and support KBC with their monthly gifts to help us achieve our mission.
Donors who Give Every Month (KBC GEMs) provide the backbone of support we need to share Jesus with countless children every year. Would you please join us as a ministry partner by signing up to give to KBC monthly?
Signing up to be a KBC GEM is easy and quick. Simply scan the QR code below or go to www.kidsbeachclub.org/donate today. Your monthly gift, no matter how small or large, will be a tremendous blessing to KBC.
Published on Mar 25 @ 12:36 PM CDT
