STARS Academy

Wednesday night is our STARS night! Kids from more than a dozen nations gather under one roof to play, eat, learn and grow in their understanding of each other, of God, and God's plan for their lives. Children singing and playing together from every tribe and nation is a profound experience! We invite you and/or your group to come, see and consider joining this dynamic community.

Every kid is a STARS kid.

STARS is an acronym which stands for our five goals in the program:
S - Serve.

We seek to serve each child.  Many of the children come from poverty. We try to supply clothes, shoes, school supplies, food, etc. With each child, regardless of background, the idea is “to see the need and meet the need.”

T - Teach.

We have dedicated teachers willing to teach/tutor. With each child, we try to help them find out what God created them to do and to do that thing. 

A - Advocate.

Some of the kids and/or their parents may need help outside of Wednesday nights. They may need an advocate to go to the school with them and talk to teachers. They may need an advocate to go with them to the doctor’s office. Whatever the needs of the child, we believe we need to advocate for them.

R - Reach.

We present the gospel of Jesus to the kids by words but also by providing a safe, loving environment where they might experience the kingdom of God and His great love.

S - Send.

In order to complete the circuit we believe each child must be sent off into the world to be a righteous person and live the life God intended for them to live. It’s the completion of having been served; you become a servant yourself.

 

STARS is sometimes described as beautifully chaotic, like a rushing river. We believe this is because it is a move of God. STARS didn’t start as a program beautifully detailed and designed. God brought us the kids first and from those early days we’ve been playing catch-up, trying to get the programming to fit the needs of the kids whom we are serving.

We believe that a multi-ethnic, multi-religious environment is the best in which to teach the good news of Jesus Christ. Many of the STARS kids are not Christians, but they come to church regularly anyway. They are Muslim, Buddhist, Animist or have no defined beliefs at all. There are no forced conversions. We are called by Jesus simply to love and serve each child.

We don’t hold back on sharing our faith. We simply put it into practice and live it out.

STARS is an outgrowth of Zion’s first apartment outreach in June, 2010.

STARS began as the first offsite location for Whiz Kids, a ministry of Freedom for Youth.

Each Christmas we raise money and collect donated toys to give every STARS kid the opportunity to choose two gifts from the Christmas store. Each child also receives a hoodie or sweatshirt. 

Here’s the plan for a typical STARS evening:

1) A typical evening begins with playing outside (weather permitting) or a movie inside.

2) Announcements, meal, opening programs (by grade level) with singing and games.

3) Message (age appropriate)

4) Small group time or activities (classroom setting for the younger kids, conversation for the older).

 Want to help? Here are some ideas…

  • Please pray for the STARS kids, volunteers and helpers. This ministry depends on the miraculous provision and protection of God. 

  • Volunteer to be a teacher or small group leader (background check required).

  • Volunteer to drive a bus (cdl required) or a 15 passenger van (no cdl required). 

  • Volunteer to help lead music or play an instrument.

  • Volunteer to help with administration - maintain data base.

  • Volunteer to help with security (you get to wear a cool vest).

  • Donate money or sports equipment (like soccer balls, volley balls, tether balls, four square balls, etc.).

  • Donate money or toys for the Christmas store.

  • Get together with some friends and fund a STARS youth outreach worker.

  • Volunteer to serve food.

  • Volunteer to prepare meals on Tuesday nights. 

  • Volunteer to help clean up after the meal.

  • Donate money for meals ($1.10/plate - we average 250 meals a week).

  • Donate food stuffs for the meal .

  • Got ideas? We’d love to hear them.