Betty Hardin talks of GodÕs love to the first and second-grade classes at First Free Will Baptist Church Team Kids program on Wednesday night. Photo by Jason Harville

First Free Will Baptist Team Kids expanding

By Greg Miller
STAR STAFF
gmiller@starhq.com

   The Team Kids program, held each Wednesday from 6:30-8 p.m. at First Free Will Baptist Church, is expanding. The program ministers to pre-school through the eighth-grade.
   When the program first started about one year ago, some classes were too large, according to Aaron Lloyd, Team Kids director. "Kids can learn better in smaller classes," he said. "We're now getting ready to divide the seventh and eighth grades into boys and girls classes." Grades three and four will also be split into smaller classes.
   The ministry has "grown considerably in number" since its inception, Lloyd said. "We started out with 25-30 kids. We now average about 68-70 kids.
   "We try to help all the aspects of their lives. We try to encourage spiritual, emotional and physical well-being. We also have an upcoming class on oral hygiene."
   Two vans provide transportation to the program, with each van running two routes. "When we started, we only ran one route," Lloyd said. "The van drivers, Richard Nelson and Aubrey Brown, are here religiously."
   The program's teachers do a great job in communicating the weekly lessons, according to Lloyd. "They're here every week," he said. "They go over their lessons and always have them ready.
   "Everybody in the church has been very helpful, as far as financial support and donating snacks and drinks. That is a tremendous help to the program. A variety of fund-raisers also help."
   Team Kids features Bible lessons, games, snacks, Bible verse memory, and Team Kids Dollars. The "dollars" can be redeemed for a variety of merchandise at the Team Kids Store once each month. The "dollars" are earned by reading the Bible, bringing visitors, etc. The program also offers sleepovers and trips to such places as Fun Adventure and Laser Storm in Johnson City.
   "This past Christmas, we helped several children who would have had very little," Lloyd said.
   Lloyd asks that local Christians pray for the program.
   For more information, call 542-8702.