King's Kids El Paso History

King's Kids is an international youth organization involving young people from 140 nations. It is the child and teenage department of Youth With A Mission. Since its beginning in 1976, King's Kids has affected the lives of countless thousands of young people with its message of hope, God's love and new life through Jesus Christ.

Vision

King's Kids El Paso, founded in 1988, involves local young people in evangelism, discipleship, community service, positive peer influence, multi-cultural education programs and leadership training. We teach youth to serve others and provide them with opportunities for serving the elderly, poor, homeless and orphans. King's Kids promotes development of young people's skills in the arts including music, drama, puppetry and dance. Youth from El Paso conduct programs at detention facilities, homeless shelters, hospitals, convalescent homes, schools and churches. We host wilderness challenge events and help youth find direction and purpose in their lives through personal life vision and goal setting. King's Kids seeks to instill and encourage the high moral and ethical standards found in the Bible.

In each King's Kids activity, youth are given responsibilities to lead their peers, with adults acting as facilitators. This approach fulfills one of our primary purposes, which is mentoring young people and equipping the next generation for leadership. King's Kids also actively supports parents of the children involved in the challenges of raising their kids.

Local ministry

Since 1988, King's Kids local team youth ranging in age from 8-18 have been involved year round in youth rallies, youth coffee houses, cooperative youth camps and activities with local church and civic groups. Parents and other adult volunteers from the community are actively involved in every King's Kids activity. Young people in King's Kids come from a wide variety of denominations and churches.

Opportunities for involvement include weekly small group meetings, at which young people can discuss their faith and receive input from caring adults.

Camps in Juarez

Since 1994 King's Kids El Paso has sponsored 60 week-long camps in Mexico hosting youth groups, civic groups and families from El Paso and other parts of the United States. Groups ranging from 175 to 240 people have joined King's Kids El Paso in serving the needs of the people of Mexico. King's Kids provides training to adults who accompany their youth, as well as a full program for youth and leaders alike. A major emphasis is programs of practical service for the poor in Juarez, Mexico, including building homes, construction projects for churches, orphanages, schools and drug rehabilitation centers.

Training

King's Kids staff are available as guest speakers for churches and community organizations, and as a resource for information on various cultures, developing young leaders and conducting effective youth programs. We have trained youth workers and have begun new King's Kids programs in Canada, Panama, Jamaica, Haiti, St. Croix, Grenada, Barbados and Mexico.

Summer outreaches

A highlight of our program is the annual summer missions outreach. Teenagers from El Paso have been involved in many cross cultural events, service projects and missionary work in 66 nations.

Future summer outreach plans include a special emphasis on Asia and a summer missions internship program.

What Teenagers are Saying...

About King's Kids camps in Mexico

• "I will be more sympathetic and appreciate what I have more. I have learned to be less wasteful."
• "I learned God could be fun!"
• "This was one of the best experiences I have ever had in my life."
• "It was awesome and I can't wait to come back!"

About Summer Missions outreaches

• "God really showed me that I need to be a servant to others and think of their feelings just as much as mine. And He really showed me that He loves me a lot. My life is not based on what other people think about me any more. God showed me how to accept myself as I am and find security in His love, not the world."
• "I think the day we went there I really stepped into the real world. I saw how incredibly needy the people were and how much they really needed God! I feel that day was a big turning point in my life!"

76 Countries where King's Kids El Paso teenagers have shared the Gospel

North America:
US
Canada
Mexico

Central America:
Nicaragua
Costa Rica
Panama
Honduras
Belize

Caribbean Islands:

Jamaica
Grenada
Trinidad
Puerto Rico
Haiti
Dominican Republic

South America:
Paraguay
Brazil
Argentina
Chile
Ecuador

Eastern Europe:
Russia
Latvia
Poland
Ukraine
Lithuania
Estonia
Belarus
Macedonia
Azerbaijan
Romania

Northern Africa:
Egypt
Morocco

Europe:
Scotland
England
Germany
Finland
Denmark
Switzerland
Wales
Holland
Northern Ireland
Ireland
France
Italy
Spain
Cyprus
Greece
Albania
Turkey

Middle East:
Israel

Asia:
Malaysia
Japan
China
Taiwan

Thailand

Nepal
India
Philippines

Mongolia

Indonesia
Bangladesh

 

 

 

Africa:
Zimbabwe
Madagascar
South Africa
Kenya
Mozambique
Mauritius
Zambia
Sierra Leone

Ethiopia
Benin

Togo

 

Pacific Islands:
Australia
New Zealand
Papua New Guinea
Fiji

King's Kids International Purpose

King's Kids International is a world-wide ministry of Youth With A Mission, committed to giving children and teens of all nations the opportunity to be established in a proven knowledge of God through participation in fulfilling the Great Commission of Jesus Christ. This is accomplished through a partnership with the family and the local church. King's Kids International is a non-profit Christian organization staffed by volunteers.

Origins

King's Kids International began in 1976 in Hawaii under Dale and Carol Kauffman. Since then, hundreds of teams have ministered throughout Asia, the Pacific, the Americas, Western and Eastern Europe, Africa and the Middle East. King's Kids teams have reached out to serve the poor and have impacted the wealthy. They have proclaimed God's love in a wide variety of national and international outreaches and events.

Biblical foundation

The word of God speaks clearly about the spiritual capacity of children and teens and the important place which Jesus Himself gives them in the Kingdom of God.

• Matthew 18:1-6.
• Psalm 8:2, Praises of the children defeat the enemy.
• Jeremiah 1:6-7, Do not say, "I am only a child"
• Psalm 78, Truth passed on to next generation

Interested in King's Kids ministries?

King's Kids International welcomes your participation in the battle for the hearts and minds of the emerging generation. Please consider joining us through prayer, financial giving, personal training and outreach involvement.

Who can join?

These outreaches are open to Christians of all ages who complete the personal application process. Some teams have age restrictions and all teams encourage the following: Children under 10 must be accompanied by a parent, and young people between 11-12 may need to be accompanied by a parent or a responsible adult. Teens 13 years and older may attend without adult or parental accompaniment.

We welcome outreach staff applications from those whom God has called to work with children and teens in a discipleship and outreach context and who have an active relationship with Jesus Christ. Families are welcome! We encourage the entire family to discover their role together as they give to others. Parents who accompany their young people on team can participate in various staff responsibilities.

Go camps

These are exciting short-term training and outreach activities with the King's Kids ministry, for young people desiring to grow in knowing God and to learn how to share their faith with others.

Niko camps

Teenagers are challenged to discover the strengths and weaknesses of their leadership potential through a 3-5 day outdoor adventure experience. It will prepare them for life decisions in confronting issues of personal identity, facing and overcoming obstacles, and team work.

Family camps

King's Kids Family Camps are developing in certain nations, giving opportunities for families to:

• Learn together
• Worship and pray together
• Work and serve together
• Witness together

Types of teams

Every year, thousands of children, teens and families participate in King's Kids outreaches at local, national and international levels. Each team is a unique blend of ages, backgrounds and nationalities. Intercession, praise and worship and the study of God's Word have a central place in the life of these teams.

King's Kids HANDS (Helping a Neighbor Develop and Serve) Teams, with an emphasis on practical service and mercy ministries, have used their practical and technical gifts to serve others in many ways, including:

• Food distribution at a refugee settlement
• Building a pre-school on Manila's garbage dump
• Renovating an orphanage in Romania
• Clearing an airport runway in the Amazon jungle

International teams work on projects in others cultures and needy situations, showing God's love to people through "hands on" ministry.

Performing Arts teams communicate through music, creative movement, drama and personal testimonies. They aim to minister to God and take his message of love and hope to people in streets, schools, prisons, hospitals, shopping malls, at civic gatherings and on television and radio. These presentations have been warmly received at national and international events and by every level of society.

Sports teams communicate the love of God in countries where public sharing of the gospel may be restricted or not allowed, through fair-play, sports skills and friendship.

Daniel Prayer Groups

Young people of all ages discover the importance of their role in praying for the nations of the world. With exciting games and activities, children and teens learn about different people groups and develop their skills and talents through creative intercession.

• Small group prayer
• International intercession days
• Combined prayer and praise parties

Go network

The King's Kids GO Network is a partnership between YWAM/King's Kids and local churches. Churches have the opportunity to use the King's Kids model, principles and materials while retaining their localized ministry name, identity and leadership. The GO Network application process is a relationship-building time in which interested parties become acquainted with and committed to, the YWAM/King's Kids purpose, principles and values. The desired result of the GO Network is that a growing number of children, teens and their families would be led into a proven knowledge of God and together might make Him known to all peoples. In this way, the King's Kids GO Network serves as a bridge for missions-minded local churches, providing access to international missions resources:

• Curriculum materials
• Leadership training
• Strategizing with other GO Network teams
• Invitation to YWAM/King's Kids local, national and international events and outreaches
• Connection to global YWAM/King's Kids

Training

Workshops are offered to inform and train adults involved in Christian ministry among children, teens and families. Topics covered include:

• Spiritual Capacity of Children
• Leading Youth into a Proven Knowledge of God
• Discipling the Emerging Generation
• Families in Ministry

King's Kids conferences are held annually in every major region of the world. They provide training and strategizing opportunities. Principles in Child and Youth Ministries (PCYM) is a 3-5 month Youth With A Mission training course focusing on essential foundations, principles and strategies of ministry to children, youth and families. Schools are held in strategic locations around the world. A twelve month internship program is offered to PCYM graduates for further leadership training and a wider practical experience in the King's Kids ministry.