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OUTLINE to The "100 Club" Handbook        Example of The 100 Club

124 pages, illustrated.  Described in detail are all the steps to setting up a "100 Club" in your congregation.   In the 100 Club, kids sit up front on Sunday, take notes to the sermon, and if they wish write short essays at home on Thought Questions to the talk.   This book is a clear, lively, and challenging guide for successfully adding this excellent system to your congregation's "best evangelism" outreach program.

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“And people kept bringing their children to Jesus so that he could touch them and bless them.  

But the disciples reproved the parents, telling them not to bother Jesus.        

When Jesus saw what his disciples were doing, it caused him pain.  

Very much displeased with the disciples, he said to them: ‘Let the little children come to me.  Do not forbid, prevent, or hinder them!  To such as these belongs the kingdom of God!        

Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child shall not enter into it.’        

Then Jesus took the children up one by one, into his arms, placing his hands on their heads, and fervently blessed them.”

Mark 10:13-16     (paraphrased)

The AIM of the “100 Club” is to help the little children come to God, as in Jesus’ example found in Mark 10:13-16.        

Typically, a preacher or other religious speaker talks “over the head” of children.  For thirty minutes or more, children are often bored stiff.  The “100 Club” gives a closely-supervised environment where children can be together in the main service (rather than being taken elsewhere), visually be presented the “take-home messages” of the sermon or talk, and have a physical activity that helps “burn in” the main points of the lesson.

Furthermore, the children are each and every week encouraged to:  1) be the best that they can be (“industrious”);  2) give their feedback and responses to the talk (they are honored as individuals with ideas and observations worth listening to);  3) go home and study the talk and write a Bible-based essay on it, often with the input and help from their parents (rather than simply forgetting the talk within minutes); and 4) be recognized up in front of the congregation when they reach certain milestones (receiving a Biblically-based Prize at each 100 points accumulated).  

Thus the children are helped to understand the talk, think about it, and have their ideas on the talk deemed valuable.  Additionally, the kids have the opportunity to see the entire congregation loving and honoring them.        In this “handbook” I describe exactly how to set up this sort of continuing situation, using the “100 Club Master File” as an easy, well-organized system.  

I have listed the things that I’ve found to work well, as derived from years of experience in originating, implementing, and running this program.  You, however, do not have to follow any of my suggestions.  My ideas are presented only for your reference.  Please change anything you wish to whatever will work best for you and your group in accomplishing the overall AIM.

It’s very sad when the #1 focus and hope of a congregation of religious people (its children) is not inspired and enthused by a weekly lecture who’s purpose it is to inspire and enthuse.  A talk aimed at adults will, however, by its very nature often be just irritating noise to children.  The “100 Club” system breaks down that noise to interesting specifics, presents it to the kids in an easily-grasped way, and gives them a physical activity to help “engrave” it into their minds. 

In short, it makes the “boring” lesson “fun.”

There are a few negatives.  Papers and pencils are used, making a little noise.  Sometimes whispers occur as directions are given or questions are asked.  Papers are continuously passed to and fro.  In other words: it might bothersome in the congregation.

My experience is, however, that the positives far outweigh the negatives.

After all, what is the point of our gathering together?  Is it not to worship (“give loving honor to”) our Creator?  And why does God desire that---because He’s a Grand Egotist that needs us to tell Him how great He is?  No.  It is for our good that our Father in heaven has us gather together to praise Him, in that it draws us closer to Him.  

I seriously doubt that God is displeased with the “100 Club,” which helps even the little children to draw closer to Him.  To the contrary, I suspect He finds it quite pleasing.

Sit in a group up front on Sunday morning.  Take notes to sermon (easy, we’ll help you if you’d like.) [Paper and pens will be provided.] Each Sunday toward’s the end of the sermon you’ll get a “thought question.”  Then, if you have time and wish to do so, you can write a short essay (at least one good paragraph) that contains a scripture reference (some from the sermon notes will work) on the “thought question” and turn it in.  You can get up to 10 points for your essay (see page on that.)  You can get anyone, including your folks, to help you figure out what to do for the Thought Question essay.

Each Sunday there’s small prizes for everyone, and a big prize (“carrot”) for someone that’s “industrious.”  A person’s name is picked by chance (but not revealed), and the 100 Club Facilitators decide if that person was “industrious” (not talking or goofing off, but listening and taking notes.)  If the person was industrious, their name is revealed and they get the big “industrious person carrot.”  If not, a new name is picked by chance (but not revealed) to see if they were “industrious.”  And so on until there’s a winner!

When you get up to 100 points, and for each 100 points thereafter, you’ll receive a big big prize!  This is the real prize, the “100 Club Prize.”  It's sitting there waiting only for you.  You don't have to earn it, just "qualify" to receive the free gift.  You Qualify by thinking and writing about important Questions on the Bible, that help you better understand Jesus, the Bible, the Church, and God.  You can take as long or fast as you want to get to each 100 points, no pressure at all.  And when you get there, you get a really great prize!

[for more discussion on the Rationale to the above, click on the following:    Why take Notes at all?     Why Kids should take Notes.     Why do Essays?     Why give Points for Essays?     Positive and Negative Incentives.     Why give Prizes?     Why give the 100 Club "Prize"?]

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