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Romans 8:28 states that, "And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose." When KiDs Beach Club® was faced with the challenges and hardships brought about by the COVID-19 Pandemic, three choices presented themselves; quit and walk away, freeze and hope the storm would pass, or embrace the storm and pivot toward the future. With much prayer, KBC decided to embrace the storm and pivot toward the future.

The idea of Beach Club at HOME! started as a response to clubs not being able to meet in schools. Beach Club at HOME! initially consisted of KBC staff and volunteers recording video segments of a normal club meeting in our corporate training room. After receiving many positive responses from club leaders and growing viewer numbers for the online videos, BCAH became a TV show in association with Jyra Studios. Finally, with the help of corporate sponsor GMI Commercial Contractors, KiDs Beach Club TV grew to a full-fledged TV production based out of CRM Studios in Las Colinas, the same studios where Barney and Wishbone were filmed. In the end, KiDs Beach Club TV Season 1 included 21 episodes based around the very same character words and elements as the KiDs Beach Club curriculum, and a new way to reach preteens with the Gospel message of hope was born.

But KBC-TV is no longer in its infancy stage. KBC-TV is growing and reaching new audiences every day. After attending the National Religious Broadcasters Convention, KBC learned that high-quality Christian TV shows for children are in high demand. KBC now has agreements with broadcast, streaming, and satellite stations all across the U.S. In fact, more than 300 stations reaching 54 million households across 34 U.S. states will be airing KBC-TV this fall. Some are already airing it, like KCHF TV-11 in New Mexico, which broadcasts KBC-TV every Monday at 3PM and Saturdays at 9AM. KCHF is available to 97% of the homes in that state—that’s 769,617 households that have the opportunity twice a week to turn on their televisions and watch KiDs Beach Club TV. 

But the growth of KBC-TV doesn’t stop at the U.S. borders. KiDs Beach Club® is going global. In September, KBC-TV will begin airing across all of sub-Saharan Africa and parts of Europe. In addition, KBC is working with a ministry that wants to dub the program into Russian and broadcast it into 20 million Russian speaking homes in Russia, the Ukraine, Europe and even the U.S.

It is estimated that by August 2022, KiDs Beach Club TV will be available to more than 100 million homes through satellite and broadcast TV, and that’s not even counting tens of millions more through internet streaming channels that are now carrying our program.

KiDs Beach Club® will always be based around offering after-school Bible clubs in public schools. But if more kids, parents, and potential volunteers all over the country can see what’s possible in their public schools, there’s no limit to the number of kids that KBC can reach with the Gospel message of hope. If you’d like to watch Dr. Frank Banfill’s presentation on KBC-TV’s growth and other new initiatives launching in fall 2021, please watch the video below from our 2021 annual fundraiser “An Evening with the STARS”.

With KiDs Beach Club TV going global, already being available in 31 U.S. states as well as soon being available in most of sub-Saharan Africa via satellite, it’s fun to think about the global impact of KBCTV. But we cannot forget about the local or individual impact as well. During filming for Beach Club TV Season 2 in June, we had the opportunity to talk with some actors on the show and parents of the child actors about being a part of the experience.

Pastor Mark Winter, who stars in the Bible Story segment of the showhad this to say about the importance of KBC_TV. “It’s so important to get God’s Word to kids in whatever medium we can. And so I think KiDs Beach Club® is doing a fantastic job of doing this, getting the Word into our schools, and then when the pandemic hit, you guys pivoted and started doing this on video, the after school video club. And I’m hoping the kids are loving this and getting God’s word in a new and different way.”

Though the child actors on set are indeed being paid to do a job, acting out characters and performing lines from scripts, many of the parents of our child actors agreed that the children were learning lessons that would stick with them for a long time. 

Solomon’s mom, Lisa, described it this way, “One of the things that we love is the Biblical values, these Bible based values. You know, where our kids can not only participate to help other kids learn more about God and the Bible and what it has to say but also personally be impacted by this as well, right? Where it not only helps them become better actors and have time on set and get to use their gifts for the glory of God, but also that they are impacted personally. Then they can use the things that they’re learning to impact their world and their community when they go back to school or to hang out with their friends during the summer or on the basketball court whatever it may be. So there’s so many benefits for our kids with this.”

Elyjah’s mom, Dilhya, also shared that she doesn’t see KBC-TV as a show exclusively for Christians. “As a Christian who has a lot of friends that aren’t Christians, I have actually told a few it’s really nice for them to watch it because the topics that they talk about are universal. I love that it has the Biblical element to it. But even for those who aren’t Christian, it’s just really good character. It addresses character and just how to treat each other in general. I would say that’s why you watch it. Because those are values that aren’t really getting taught everywhere, all the time anymore.” 

As you can see, KBC-TV is reaching a broader audience and having an impact on children’s lives even before production is wrapped. To view behind the scenes video and hear more from the child actors and their parents, please watch the video below.

One of the highlights of every KiDs Beach Club® year is the day beach clubbers receive their new Bibles. We call this Great Treasure Day, and it’s a BIG deal! Volunteers create a party atmosphere, remind the kids about the importance of the Bible and what it means, then call up the kids one at a time to receive their Bibles. Some clubs even go as far as wrapping the Bibles as presents, so that the kids can unwrap them as if they're birthday or Christmas presents.

You see, EVERY kid in EVERY club receives their very own Bible to take home, read, and keep as their own. But kids don’t receive their Bibles on the first day of club. Former KBC Employee Michelle Gregory describes it this way. “All year long you’re talking about the power of God’s Word and the treasure that it is and building up that honor and enthusiasm. It’s so sweet to watch them get so pumped in a public school about God’s Word. They are holding the greatest treasure in the world.”

The reactions are different for different kids. Some do a little dance. Some smile happily. Some clutch their new Bible as their greatest possession. Some can’t even believe that they now have a brand new book they can call their very own, much less one that holds the greatest treasure we can give them. And that’s why the KBC staff enjoys attending Great Treasure Days as well. It's an opportunity to see the fruits of our labors on the kids' smiling faces. But words cannot do this day justice. You’ll need to watch the this video from our "An Evening with the STARS" 2021 annual fundraising event to see the pure joy kids can find from receiving their very own Bible.

Unless you’ve volunteered in a Beach Club or heard the personal stories from volunteers or kids, it’s hard to understand what a difference Beach Club can have in the life of a child. Reaching that understanding begins with the realization that the impact is greater than simply the time the spent in Beach Club. Stark Elementary Club Leader Schalee Sanchez learned that lesson early in her time as a club leader. “It’s not just an investment in the kids’ lives for one hour once a week. It’s an investment in their lives that impacts so many other areas.”

Motley Elementary Principal Dr. Shawna DeLamar excitedly interacts regularly with the Beach Club that meets in her school, and she notices the difference in kids even away from club during the school day. “Our kids that are involved in Beach Club, it really molds their hearts to make wise decisions, just to be good friends, to be kind, to be respectful to adults. And so, our discipline has actually been reduced. You can see it in our interaction with our kids. You can see it from the adult to the student; from the student to the adult. It’s changed kids' lives. It plants the seeds for their future.”

Jimmy Draper, President Emeritus of Lifeway Christian Resources,points out that KiDs Beach Club® not only has a huge impact on the kids and volunteers involvedbut reaches way beyond that. “To have this open door that is legal and equal access. The law allows this in the schools, and it’s a way for the church to take advantage of that to reach the community and show what the church is all about. This is one of the most important things in the life of the community, in the life of the church and of the family. So it’s very significant.”

Another important step to understanding KBC’s impact on kids' lives is learning that many kids in Beach Clubs have no church home and would have no idea who Jesus is without being in KiDs Beach Club®. Former KBC Employee Michelle Gregory says, “There’s so many kids that if we don’t walk in those doors they’ll never hear the name of Jesus. Church is not something that they do as part of their life. We can’t count on that to draw them in, so we have to go where they are.”

And going where they are is what KBC will continue to do. KBC staff are excited to be returning this fall and being able to offer clubs in public schools. To see more about the impact of KBC, please enjoy the video below from our “An Evening with the STARS” 2021 fundraiser.

With KiDs Beach Club’s vision of spreading the Gospel message to pre-teen students in their public schools and putting Bibles in their hands, Hobby Lobby President Steve Green was a natural fit as the featured special guest at our annual fundraising event, “An Evening with the STARS”. Steve Green comes from generations of strong believers. Not only that, but Steve and his family established the Museum of the Bible in Washington DC.

KBC President Jack Terrell took advantage of the opportunity to ask Steve about several things including the Museum of the Bible. Steve explained the museum this way, “Our family has been blessed by this book (the Bible) in many ways. It blessed our family first of all as we were raised in Christian homes. It has served our family well. And then in our business. We strive to operate our business according to Biblical principles. And it has served us well in our business. And we have been blessed to be in a nation that has been built on principles found in scripture. Because we have been blessed by it, we want to encourage as many and all people to consider this book, and the museum is a way of doing that. The purpose of the Bible museum is to invite all people to engage with this book.”

One of the big topics of conversation between Steve and Jack was Hobby Lobby’s controversial stand against portions of the Affordable Care Act in 2012 that eventually ended up as a Hobby Lobby victory in the United States Supreme Court. Steve shared that a three-generation family meeting filled with discussion and searching for guidance from scripture, led them to the lawsuit. In the end, it came down to their worldview of truth revealed in God’s Word. “We love God’s Word. We believe that it is true, that it is what we should build our lives around. It's also how we operate in our business. We say in our very first Statement of Purpose (Hobby Lobby) we want to build our business according to Biblical principles, and we strive to do that. We’ve never done it perfectly, but that’s what we strive to do every day.”

Recognizing the connection between the Green’s worldview and the mission of KiDs Beach Club®, Jack asked Steve when he first started to see a moral shift in our country, a country that Steve stated earlier in the interview was founded on principles found in scripture. “I think one of those (moral shifts) was when schools took scripture out of schools and prayer out of schools, where it was just a part of the school. Some of the original textbooks were laced with scripture. We were teaching scripture just in learning the alphabet. So as we have systematically taken God out of our schools, it has I think led to disastrous results in most cases. And so the more we can infuse our schools and our society with God’s Word, it will only serve our nation well.”

The studio audience during Jack’s conversation with Steve inside the CRM Studios in Irving, Texas was enthralled. You could hear a pin drop listening to Steve and Jack discuss other topics, such as Steve’s favorite verse (Psalm 1), how Steve first came to lead a Sunday school class (his youth pastor asked him), and Steve’s retelling of the Mephibosheth story and how it so closely mirrors the overarching story of the Bible and God inviting us to sit undeservedly at His table. In the end, Steve wrapped it up with this golden nugget. “if we can encourage people to open the book and start reading it, I believe God will show up and do His work.” KBC agrees, Steve. KBC agrees. If you’d like to watch Jack’s entire conversation with Hobby Lobby President Steve Green, click the video below.

When people think of KiDs Beach Club, they might consider the students having a great time, the powerful message of salvation burning like a lantern on a hill in our public schools, KiDs Beach Club TV which provided virtual clubs during the pandemic known as Beach Club at Home!, our newsletter, community, volunteers, and so much more; but how often do we consider the impact all these factors have on the many friends of KiDs Beach Club? 

One of our dear friends is actor Zach Colmenero for KiDs Beach Club TV. Zach’s acting career began when he saw his first movie, The Peanuts Movie, six years ago, and it was as he watched the escapades of Snoopy and Charlie Brown that he felt his passion for filmmaking ignite into his earthly calling. 

In the years following, Zach fell in love with the acting industry, especially the comedic arts, taking several acting classes along the way before arriving at his audition for KiDs Beach Club TV.

In the weeks leading up to this audition, Zach had been reflecting on what type of acting he wanted to do. “Well, I really liked comedy,” he said. “I was like, ‘If I go into acting, I want to be a comedian.’ So I like comedies. But I also liked that film acting has life-changing stuff with a purpose.” 

This passion for changing the world with his acting helped land him the job with KiDs Beach Club and a wonderful friendship began. 

As Zach built friendships with his fellow cast members, he started making his impact on kids all across the United States through his portrayal of Alex, the wise-cracking character he portrays in KiDs Beach Club TV. But Alex’s impact isn’t limited by his age or his acting; he’s already started a foundation to assist in cancer research and to provide fun things to do for cancer patients who are kept in quarantine due to their fragile immune systems. 

Zach's passion for cancer patients is rooted in his friendship with Kacey, a young lady battling cancer. Zach’s foundation has provided stories, Legos, and even KiDs Beach Club Explorer's Study Bibles to his friends in cancer wards across the United States. Zach’s passion for inspiring others with life-changing stories is the driving force behind his desire to reveal those who are sick or injured to the wonders of their Forever Friend—Jesus Christ. 

Zach’s ministry of spreading hope and joy to those less fortunate than himself is an inspiration to his fans, old and young alike. 

His devotion to his faith, calling, friends, family, and community is an inspiration best reflected in 1 Timothy 4:12, “Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity.” (NIV) 

Zach’s story tells of a boy who loves his Savior and His Kingdom. If you’d like to see Zach’s acting in action, then go check out KiDs Beach Club TV right now. All the episodes can be seen by clicking here.

Though he is only eleven years old, Zach’s story can be the story of anyone in the KiDs Beach Club community. We all have special talents and gifts to put to the work of the Kingdom; the question is will we be like Zach, who multiplies the influence of the talents God has given, or will we bury our talents away until the Lord’s return?