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In 1997, a small group from Dayspring Church Leeds looked into setting up a Children's Church in East Leeds. Whilst searching for the way ahead a visit to Frontline Church in Liverpool, which had a Kidz Klub confirmed they were on the right track.
Liverpool introduced them to Metro Ministries International New York and its founder Bill Wilson, whose curriculum and principles Liverpool had adopted. Bill and Metro have been working in New York for over 20 years and now visit 20,000 kids every week.
Dayspring started a Children’s Church in December 1997 on the Metro model & principles and saw steady growth from the beginning. They regularly had over 100 kids and visited 170 in their homes every week.
In February 1999 after a visit from Bill Wilson to the city of Leeds several churches started to explore the possibility of a Citywide Children's Church. This grew from leaders being challenged by Bill's heart for the lost and an acknowledgement that God was calling the leaders of the city to work together. After a meeting with Bill in June it was decided to go ahead, and so a steering group was set up to pursue the vision. From this has come a Trust with a board of Trustees and a management team. After the launch of the Trust on the 4 December 1999 the first Kidz Klub Leeds took place on the 4 March 2000.
From the beginning all the churches involved recognized the importance of sacrificing the good for the best. Some have laid down successful works, some have paid the price financially. Others have been prepared to release their most gifted workers, all because the churches are committed to seeing the children of Leeds reached with the Gospel of Jesus.
-Satellite Kidz Klub’s
As the work of Kidz Klub expands across the city there is no longer room in the Saturday morning venue for more kids. A great problem to have! In October 2003 our first Kidz Klub ‘Satellite’ began in LS11 and in March 2010 our second started in Middleton.
-Kidz Klub in LS11
It all began after local congregations approached Kidz Klub because they felt challenged to work together to reach out to the children in their area. After a few oversubscribed children’s events it had become clear that the kids really needed something to do and that they wanted to hear more about God. Through working together and partnering with Kidz Klub Leeds, congregations have been able to reach out in a sustainable manner to 350 local children. Kidz Klub Leeds has been running in LS11 on Tuesday nights during term time at Beeston Hill United Free Church. The team of 28 volunteers come from 6 local congregations as well as from others around the city. On average 350 children are visited at home each week, and 110 attend the Klub. The children come from Beeston Hill, Cottingley and Holbeck, and walk to Kidz Klub or get on the bus that stops throughout these areas. The Kidz Klub Schools Team also takes assemblies in 11 local Primary Schools.
Having seen the opportunity to get alongside the parents a group of volunteers have also been running a café for the parents of the kids whilst Klub is happening. The café has been a great place for parents to have a space of their own and for positive relationships to be built. Some parents also come and sit at the back of the hall to experience Kidz Klub for themselves.
- Kidz Klub in Middleton
In 2008 congregations in Middleton approach Kidz Klub Leeds because they felt challenged to work together to reach out to the children in their area. After a few visits to the Kidz Klub in LS11, it became clear that having a MIddleton Kidz Klub would be a great benefit to the children in the area. Through working together and partnering with Kidz Klub Leeds, Middleton Kidz Klub was launched ini March 2010.
Kidz Klub Middleton has been running on a Thursday night during term time at Middleton Primary School, with around 70 children coming to Klub each week. The team of 17 volunteers come from 4 local congregations as well as from others around the city. Each week the number of children continues to grow with both new children coming for the first time and children who continue to come each week. Over 115 children in Middleton are visited each week and the Kidz Klub schools Team also take assemblies in 2 Middleton Primary schools.
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