Anxiety leaves the room at Aldinga Holiday Kids Club
Standing alongside local churches in service, we are all stronger
When a local Adelaide pastor approached SU Australia to help his church launch a holiday kids club to reach more children, young people and families in the surrounding community, SU Australia Senior Ministry Coordinator Chris Battistuzzi was glad to lend a hand . . . or two.
From meeting to brainstorm the event concept (a sport’s based holiday club), to training volunteers, to being present throughout the program and modelling the delivery of impactful daily Bible talks, Chris embodied key SU values: supporting the local church and community, and training up and growing the next generation of leaders.
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The theme over the three days was Jesus the ultimate hero, beginning with a study of Esther and her bravery and role. The focus then moved through the miracles of Jesus — children memorably split off into smaller groups for a fun activity to model Lazarus rising from the dead (what child wouldn’t want to wrap themselves up in reams of toilet paper) —- and discussion of the life-changing message of Jesus’ death and resurrection on the last day.
In total 63 children attended, with around 57 on average each day, a large percentage being from non-church families.
As well as the children’s pastor and adult volunteers, Chris also worked alongside a group of junior leaders.
“We had quite a number of the church’s teenagers that were there as helpers or junior leaders … They were great at the games, activities, and doing the action songs. I had a lot of the teenagers helping with doing that,” says Chris.
A standout moment was when an anxious child moved through initial fear on entering the program to confidence and enjoyment — a testament to the welcoming community built by the leaders and church, and to the impact of God’s love in action.
“We had one mum show up on the first day. She’d only signed her child up for the first day to see how they’d go . . .because the child is a very anxious child.
“In the first hour or so, the child sort of went back and forth to mum a little bit, but then by halfway through the program, they’d forgotten all about mum.”
“At the end of the day, she couldn’t believe how well her child had done,” says Chris.
No longer immobilized by anxiety, the child returned the next day, and the next, running off to join new friends they’d made and jumping into the activities.
“She [the child’s mum] was talking to one of the leaders, saying her son has never, ever done anything like that.”