Two months ago my family was reminded of how important affection is and how often it is taken for granted.

While at Green Hills for our normal Thursday Sidewalk Sonday School our volunteers were visiting the kids to invite them for the fun! We visit each child, do pre-service activities like coloring or hopscotch, and then many of the volunteers will sit on the tarp with the kids during our hour of Sonday School. One family of girls always wants to be held. They not only want to be held, but will climb one of ladies like a little monkey. When my oldest daughter is at Green Hills these girls climb on her back, intending to never get off. I have to admit, I’ve been a little irritated sometimes that they would not sit on the tarp.

Until . . . this past Christmas!

We were visiting this family of girls at home to deliver some Christmas gifts. While we were visiting, one of my daughters was holding their 6-month old. After a few minutes into our visit mom said, “Please put her down. I do not hold my kids much, so they do not get used to it. I’m a single mom, and can’t hold them all the time.” WOW! That explained why the other girls were starving for hugs and always wanted to be held. My eyes were opened and my heart broken.
Recently, I heard another dad explain why he doesn’t hold his kids (As they were climbing up Rob’s leg to be held!). I am still puzzled by this mindset, but I know that I know you cannot give too much love. So, if you have a lap available or can give a hug, you can ministry to these kids who are desperate to see and know the love of Jesus through you!

It was an unusually beautiful day for the month of January.  The sun was brightly shining; the children were playing outside, sitting on the porches, and soaking up the warmth of the sun’s rays.  One girl was sitting on the ground reading a book.  Smiles and laughter abound throughout the area.  I couldn’t help but share in their joy of such a wonderful day.

Amidst all the gaiety and innocence of the day was a cloud of hopelessness.  As my eyes scanned the streets, I had to ask myself, “What has happened?”  Scattered along the curb of the long stretch of pavement was furniture and clothes.  No, a tornado had not been through the area to blow the possessions of these apartments to the curb.  I’ve worked in our city’s low income housing long enough (18+ years) to immediately understand what had happened to several families on this beautiful day in January.  These families had been “put out”.  Unable to pay their electric bill or rent had caused an increase in the homeless population that day.  Sadness gripped my heart as I would walk by these deserted piles of what used to be called “home”.  No one was around these piles, but as I looked closer I noticed that drawers of furniture were missing.  It was as if this incident of being “put out” had occurred earlier in the day, and someone had taken the drawers out of the furniture.  I would like to think it was the owner who had crammed everything they could into some drawers before they walked away to look for an unknown place to take their family.  A round oak dining table turned upside down caught my eye.  I realized that piece of furniture was too heavy to transport, and so was left behind for the neighbors or city pick-up.  I couldn’t’ help but think about the memories that family must have taken with them of eating around this old but beautiful oak table.

People in our inner city are broken and without hope for many reasons.  That warm, beautiful, sunny but sad day reminded me again of why I do what I do.  All of us at KICKO realize that knowing Jesus is an absolute must for any kind of life now or in eternity.  We do bring hope to a broken and shattered world.  But more than that, we bring a future to these people.  The Word of God promises that we are more than conquerors, and that He is able to make good out of any situation if we allow Him. Whatever we go through we are not alone because nothing can separate us from His love.  I wish I knew where those families are now, so I could encourage them with His faithful and powerful LOVE, reminding them of hope on such a cloudy, not so innocent day in their life.

Stewardship: Emotionally (Mind, Will, Emotions)

Stewardship: Physically (Eating, Excercising, Self-Perception)

Stewardship: Financially (Time, Talents, Money)

On January 21st, KICKO partnered with a local credit union, UT Federal Credit Union for the Mad City Money simulation. This simulation is geared toward young teens, and allows participants to make mistakes—and suffer the consequences of their decisions—in a realistic, but safe, environment.

Around 35 inner city youth participated that day. It took every bit of help from the 12 adult volunteers. From the very beginning the kids were excited about the simulation, as most participated while wearing their pajamas. (Wearing pajamas was an added random bonus to the day which I conceded to allowing the group to do as a fun way to mix things up.)

During the simulation, I overheard a number of kids comment on the importance of making smart decisions on the ‘big stuff’ at the very beginning (i.e. housing, transportation).

A 6^th grader, De’John, was one of the only kids I saw spend more than what they brought in each month. He went for the ‘biggest and the best’ at every station, getting multiples at times.

A volunteer at the Grocery Store Station noted how many in the group thought through their decisions realistically, thinking about how many times they would want to eat out each month and how many of those times at a nice restaurant, etc.

The Car Dealers made it fun, holding, at time, a kid’s paper checks in the air as if they could be fake or real, and selling more than one car to their clients on a regular basis.

At the end of the simulation we gathered comments from the group on what they had learned. An 8^th grader, Jamiya, said she wasn’t having kids “cuz’ they are expensive.” Another 8^th grader, Candace, talked about how tired she was from doing her budget to make sure she had enough money for everything she needed. She couldn’t believe how tired she was as she added, “And I haven’t even gone anywhere.” She couldn’t imagine budgeting like this every month!

I believe they grasped some real-life concepts from this simulation.

For 17 years now, we have been going into Knoxville’s inner city equipping and empowering its children to fully realize their potential and discover their God given destiny. We work daily to see God-given dreams fulfilled in their lives. We fight today’s ‘bigots’ such as poverty, crime, gangs, violence, and teen pregnancy. We fight against their destructive voices and the path they desire these kids to go down. We fight for dreams Divine, to see each and every at-risk child in Knoxville to have to opportunity to hear the Gospel.

Join us in believing such a dream!

For us, January is when we reflect on what God did through KICKO the previous year and also seek His direction for the new year. Each year He focuses us on a particular Scripture (rather than resolution) and unfolds His plan for the ministry’s year.

We are in awe as we reflect on His amazing grace in 2011. He has sustained our health in order to fulfill the call to the inner city. We completed two 13 week semesters of Sonday School and 3 weeks of Christmas outreach. In the summer, our younger kids were able to attend 2 local VBS, while our youth were involved in 2 different camp experiences and a youth conference, (plus Winterfest in March). Michael, our youth director has begun to teach our youth about being a servant in the community by taking them to partner with other ministries. They have served meals to the homeless several times, organized clothes, ministered in drama and dance and helped pack meals to be sent overseas. Each month our inner city youth are involved in giving back.

This year will be all of that plus more. God is always stretching His children. For Sonday School, we have plans to add 2 new sites in August—Montgomery Village and Lonsdale. We already have favor in both of those communities. VBS is back on the schedule for the summer. New camp opportunities are on the drawing board too. Our spring and fall lessons will focus on the Ten Commandments and the Fruit of the Spirit. Michael just started a new discipleship series on Tuesday nights with the youth on Stewardship. Oh, I forgot to mention that Dave Ramsey gave $5,000 for the youth ministry for their giving heart plus donated teaching materials for the series. Our youth are being challenged to raise funds to help others in need, not for themselves. Lock-ins and Winterfest are coming up. First Friday means discipleship and fellowship just for our high-schoolers. Parades including the MLK and the Dogwood Arts will see our dance team and trucks featured. We are sharing our vision for transforming the community with area churches. God is doing amazing things and we are a part of it!

We invite you to join us this year in changing the inner city. Plan to attend our annual training and info meeting on Tuesday January 24th.

Together we can make a difference . . . “ . . . We are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.” Romans 8:37.

Janice Clark
Co-Founder

It was Christmas Eve and the pews at New York City’s Riverside Church were packed. The Christmas pageant was underway and had come to the point at which the innkeeper was to turn away Mary and joseph with the resounding line, “There’s no room at the inn!” The innkeeper was played by Tim, an earnest youth of the congregation who had Down Syndrome. Only one line to remember: “There’s no room at the inn!” He had practiced it again and again with his parents and the pageant director and seemed to have mastered it.

So Tim stood at the altar, bathrobe costume firmly belted over his broad stomach, as Mary and Joseph made their way down the center aisle. They approached him, said their lines as rehearsed, and waited for his reply. Tim’s parents, the pageant director, and the whole congregation almost leaned forward as if willing him to remember his line.

“There’s no room at the inn!” Tim boomed out, just as rehearsed. Everyone let out a collective sigh. But then, as Mary and Joseph turned on cue to travel further, Tim suddenly yelled, “But wait!” They turned back, startled, and looked at him in surprise.

“You can stay at my house!” he called.

Well, Tim had so effectively preached the Christmas Eve message at Riverside Church that Pastor Bill Coffin strode to the pulpit, said “Amen!,” and sat down. It was the best sermon he ever preached.

I pray that we all make room at our house for the birth of Jesus—the Messiah, this Christmas. Merry Christmas and God’s richest blessings for the New Year.

Bill & Janice Clark
Co-Founders

But believe it or not, not everyone has fond traditional memories at Christmas. Many of the children in our city’s urban areas do not have traditions that bring smiles at the memories. For various reasons, their lives always seem to be in transition. Some of them don’t even know what to expect when they come home from school each day. So much uncertainty leaves little room for family traditions in any respect.

You may wonder why I’m telling you this. Well, I want you to know that you can be a part of bringing some sense of stability and tradition to over 1,000 children this year! This December KICKO will be taking the Christmas story to our inner city children for the 17th year! Every year the lesson is the same—we play the same 3 games and sing the same 3 songs. Our Bible lesson is always about the very first Christmas. Our memory verse every year is John 3:16 where we teach that Father God was the very first giveron that first Christmas day. We do the same five object lessons and our Life Story has always been the story of the Little Drummer Boy. We teach the children that they have something to give also during the Christmas season even if they have no money or gifts. The drummer boy gave what he had—a song. Every year we close the lesson by playing Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir’s “Happy Birthday Jesus” sung by an angelic voiced little girl. And of course, we celebrate the season by giving each child a wrapped Christmas toy.

Seventeen years—that’s a lot of miles for the same program each Christmas. But the kids would be so disappointed if it was not the same. You see, we have established a Christmas tradition in their lives. The Word of God at any time of year brings peace and stability, but especially during the holidays. Help us put a smile on their face and a good memory in their heart by partnering with us this year to keep the tradition. Each child receives a gift valued at $10. We need your help to make this year one of their best memories ever.

Janice Clark
Co-Founder

This week has been all about getting Dennisha ready to leave Walter P Taylor to start Mission 21 (a residential discipleship program). It has also given me opportunity to spend time with her mom, Kim.

Sitting in the doctor’s office waiting for Dennisha to get her physical, Kim began to open up to me. As an adopted child, Kim grew up in an abusive home. At the age of 14 she moved in with her granny until granny died. Her aunt’s home became her home during high school until she became pregnant during her senior year.  Kim wants a better life for her children. And she knows it means helping them make better decisions than she made.  “No telling what my life would have been like if there had been a KICKO around back then.”

Having not graduated from high school, you can imagine the pride as she watched Dennisha walk across the stage and receive her diploma from Austin East in May. But I heard the heart of a caring mother as she talked through her own tears of her dreams for Dennisha and seeing them actually begin to unfold.

Mission 21 will also allow Dennisha the opportunity to attend Lee University’s Internet Degree Program. She has chosen the counseling major because she hopes to give back with KICKO to those in her own community.

Now, knowing that Dennisha has the chance to realize her own dreams—to live in this godly environment as she is discipled and to actually go to college is almost overwhelming to Kim. This life-changing opportunity has been made possible for Dennisha through the support of many. She received a laptop computer and her school supplies from one of our caring supporters (via Compassion Coalition). A former Jr. Staffer, KristiKay, also starting college this semester to study Missions, took Dennisha to pick out and pay for her bedding. Wow, this touched me as much as it touched Dennisha!

Like natural parents, Janice and I see ourselves as “spiritual” parents to the kids in Knoxville’s inner city. We have dreams for them and seeing them fulfill their God given destiny is just amazing!

Kim said, “Now I got to get those three boys (her sons) involved with Junior Staff so they make it too.” Would you join us in mobilizing the message of hope to change a generation in Knoxville’s inner city?

Bill Clark
Co-Founder

Recently, I was reminded how important our work really is. We were invited by a group of Lonsdale community churches to take part in their Vacation Bible School. During one of our short Sonday School lessons I shared a life story that stressed how God can heal the areas in our lives where we have been hurt. I didn’t realize how important those words would be to one child listening that day. Angel (not her real name), now 12, approached me afterwards and told me how three years ago she had attended my Sonday School while at the Caswell Boys & Girls Club. She continued saying that Sonday School was one of the only happy memories in her life during that time. Her mother was on drugs and often abused her. One day her mom had even put a lit cigarette in her mouth. Since that time the court has taken her from her mother and placed her in the care of a guardian living in Lonsdale. She began telling me about stories she remembered from Sonday School that gave her hope. Giving me a huge hug she said, “I really like you.” It was at that moment that God reminded me of His faithfulness.

KristiKay is another  young lady who God placed in our life at just the right time. Our Sonday School truck showed up right in front of her apartment the week she moved in to Western Heights. She responded to the “tugs” on her heart, surrendering her life to Jesus. Following Him has allowed her to graduate from high school, and she is married to Robert, a fine young man. Her future is bright as she continues to follow the path God has laid before her. KristiKay has been accepted into the Missions Program at Johnson University this fall to pursue her dream of working with orphans.

 I don’t always know what the kids are going through while teaching each lesson, but I am so thankful that God is allowing us to speak into the lives of children who might really be hurting and in desperate need of hope. As I reflect on these encounters I am reminded that God’s desire for these kids is that they hear His Word and come to know Him in a very real way—that they discover the hope and the future He has destined for each of them. Thanks for helping us “mobilize the message of hope to this generation.”

Alisha Ballenger
Sidewalk Team Leader