Neighborhood KidZ Club

Neighborhood KidZ Club History

In late 2006, ladies from a local church began to pray and ask God to provide a ministry for the children and families living in the Western Pines Mobile Home Community in Katy, Texas. Meanwhile, God was also working on the hearts of families from churches across the Katy area and they began to perform community service projects in the same neighborhood.

After two years of consistent prayers and outreaches, the ministry team invited the children living in Western Pines to a Vacation Bible School near the community’s playground. The VBS was a success and the team saw their prayers being answered. Realizing the potential for an ongoing ministry, the Norwoods founded Neighborhood KidZ Club in 2009 and in 2001 established the ministry as a 501(c)(3) non-profit.

Each week, four large tarps were laid out next to the playground; and as the children got off the school bus, they came to listen as the love of Christ was shared with them. The club grew quickly and soon 50 – 75 children would come to play games, sing, rehearse Bible verses, and learn Bible lessons. Children were divided into four teams for the Bible lessons so they could learn at their grade level, soaking up the material like little sponges. Most of the children were not attending church and really looked forward to the weekly Bible Club event.

Many of the parents in the community were not fluent in English, making it extremely difficult to help their children with homework. To meet this need, KidZ Club purchased a mobile home next to the playground and bus stop, so that children could have easy access to a safe place to do homework and attend Bible club.

KidZ Club Learning Center officially opened in Spring 2010, offering free tutoring and homework assistance for up to 30 children three days a week during the school year (this successful beginning has led to after school tutoring for 100+ children in 3 communities.) The Learning Center operated at full capacity most of the year, often with many students lined up outside waiting for their turn for homework help. The kids have been blessed to study under many devoted volunteers, including active and retired school teachers, local businessmen and women, and high school students, all who want to serve and help these “at-risk” children.

Because of the mobile home purchase, KidZ Club is able to have a full-time presence in the community, keeping the children actively involved year round. During the summer months, we provide activities such as Vacation Bible School, summer reading clubs, block parties, day camps, and age-specific Bible Clubs.

Over the past eight years, NKC has seen God change lives in many communities. Parents in various neighborhoods share with the leadership how KidZ Club has made a huge difference in the lives of their children and the atmosphere of the neighborhood. Through many outreaches, KidZ Club has been able to minister to hundreds of children and families in multiple communities.