SPIRITUAL OPPORTUNITY

Reaching more kids is critical to the future of the Gospel. Research by George Barna in Transforming Children Into Spiritual Champions concludes simply: Reach a person for Christ by their 13th birthday or chances are slim that you ever will. We call that the Gospel Shot Clock. How do we reach a lot more kids (and their families) for Christ during the Gospel Shot Clock?

Most American families today are either dual-income or single-parent households, meaning that children spend a majority of their time during the Gospel Shot Clock in childcare of some form, including preschool and then after school and summers during the elementary years. The childcare industry is currently dominated by secular companies.

We see an opportunity to empower the church to take leadership of this critical industry for Christ. The Church has the passion, goodwill, facilities and people to do just that! Lionheart Children’s Academy, a sister ministry of Skylark, helps churches reach more kids and families during the Gospel Shot Clock’s early years by operating full-time childcare academies in church facilities. Skylark focuses on helping churches reach elementary age kids and their families during the summer.

Strategic Summer

Strategic Summer

Summer for elementary age kids may be the most spiritually strategic opportunity within the GSC for the following reasons:

Summer for elementary age kids may be the most spiritually strategic opportunity within the Gospel Shot Clock for the following reasons:

1. Kids are old enough to understand the core elements of the gospel and respond.

2. Kids are available in the summer all day for up to 12 weeks – allowing time to cultivate deep relationships with them and their parents.

1. Kids are old enough to understand the core elements of the gospel and respond.

2. Kids are available all summer for up to 12 hours per day - allowing time to cultivate deep relationships with them and their parents.

Working parents struggle to put together a summer child care schedule that is conveniently located, affordable or attractive for their elementary-age kids. Traditional daycare is convenient and sometimes affordable, but often not fun and attractive for kids. Summer camps are fun but expensive and often inconveniently located. Most of the available options are secular. Currently the Body of Christ provides mainly one week options like VBS and summer camp, leaving parents to choose secular options for the remainder of the summer.

Working parents struggle to put together a summer childcare schedule that is conveniently located, affordable or attractive for kids. Summer camps are fun but expensive and often inconveniently located. Most of the available options are secular. Currently the Body of Christ provides mainly one week options like VBS and summer camp, leaving parents to choose secular options for the remainder of the summer.

Summer Childcare Market

Summer Child Care Market