Youth and Discipleship Announces KidFest 2013
Nearly 6,000 kids will participate in the Kidfest 2013 weekend experiences. Kidfest is sponsored by the Youth and Discipleship Ministries of the Church of God.
Before the tour ends at Smoky Mountain Kidfest in May, there will be three other opportunities for families, and kids groups to experience God in a weekend experience created just for them. Frontier will be the opening Kidfest experience for Season 2013. Held on April 12-14 at the Westin Hotel in Irving, Texas, Frontier Kidfest will attract children’s ministry leaders from churches in Texas, New Mexico, South Central Hispanic Region and the Heartland Region who will take their groups for a weekend encounter with the Holy Spirit. There will be four church services programmed for kids and geared to their liking, and will be an opportunity for children and families to enjoy uninhibited worship and praise in an environment with hundreds of their peers as they together proclaim their intent to follow Jesus.
“Teaching kids to know Jesus and tell others about Him is the focus of all that is done in the children’s ministry of Church of God Youth and Discipleship!” said Tony Lane, coordinator of children’s ministries for the Church of God. “International Youth and Discipleship understands the need to target those between the age of 4 and 14 and is doing everything possible to reach those within the 4/14 window. Ministry to children has been a priority in the department for many years.”
According to Lane, Kidfest has been a ministry of Youth and Discipleship since 2002. Since its beginning in Texas, Kidfest has expanded to five locations in the United States, as well as international. This year, the theme is, “Believe! Anything Is Possible,” encouraging the kids to understand that with God they can do all things.
Midwest Kidfest will be held April 19-21 at the Great Wolfe Lodge, just outside Cincinnati, Ohio. Each registrant will receive a three day indoor water park pass with their registration. Carolina Kidfest will be held April 26-28 at the Charlotte (NC) Renaissance Suites Hotel, where space is abundant for both the sessions and the hotel.
The Kidfest weekend experiences will climax with a big weekend for families and kids at the Smoky Mountain Kidfest which will be held May 3-5 at the Gatlinburg (TN) Convention Center, the previous site of Winterfest. At this location, each group is able secure their own lodging and lodging recommendations are available on the www.mykidfest.com website.
The guest speaker line-up includes a variety of people who love ministry to kids. They include The Lads, 4 Trinity, Tommy Toombs, Tim and Amanda Cowles, Compel, Chagy, BAM, Fritzy the one man circus, John Tasch and Justyn Smith.
“Winterfest has been happening for 31 years; Kidfest has been happening for 12 years. Don’t wait until they’re old enough for Winterfest when you can take them to Kidfest now and reach them before they have to be rescued,” Lane stated. “Families are encouraged to register together, if their church is not able to take a group.”
For a brochure or for more information, call 423-478-7229, or go to www.mykidfest.com.
