Good News Tucson - A Family Values Publication

Good News Clubs in Tucson

by Jon Habagger

Editors Note: Some of my fondest childhood memories come from my participation in a Good News Club in Northern California. When we found out that Good News Clubs have formed in Southern Arizona, we asked Director Jon Habagger to tell us what is happening in Tucson with these clubs.

A Good News Club is an after-hours club that meets in elementary schools once a week for one hour during the school year. It's much like a Sunday school class in that we have Bible stories, singing, memorization, games and quizzes. Both children and teachers have a blast.

The Tucson Goal

We have averaged about 35 clubs the last few years. Our goal is to have a Good News Club in every elementary school in Pima County. This means we can potentially add another 100 clubs if we can get the volunteers to help.

All we need to achieve this goal is finding 300 Christians who are willing to give up a couple hours a week. That's not that many in a city our size. We are looking for retirees, winter visitors, stay at home parents, those that home-school, pastors, part timers, or any one else who can give of their time. No experience is needed except a love for God and kids. We will provide all the training needed free of charge.

The Gospel in Schools

In the late 1990's we tried to put a Good News Club in an elementary school in New Jersey. We were sued by the ACLU claiming separation of church and state. We fought, and the lawsuit went all the way to the Supreme Court. In 2001 they ruled that if after-hour clubs were offered in public schools, they could not discriminate against religious organizations.

That decision ended the 40-year onslaught of the secularists taking God out of the public schools. We can now legally go back in and tell our children once again that God loves them. Since 85% of all Christians say they were saved as a child, what better way to do so than through a Good News Club.

Making a Difference

A Good News Club can change lives. We had one woman, while we were telling the story about Jesus through the wordless book, stop and say her life was changed by the same story 20 years earlier. She is now married to a pastor and both are serving the Lord.

The children in our clubs also ask us to pray for the ills that are happening in today's society and for specific needs; a father serving time in prison, a mother on drugs, a teenage sister who is pregnant, or a brother who is in a gang. Kids today need the ethic and moral teaching that a Good News Club can provide. That's why we're passionate about what we do. Our kids (and our country) need our help now more than ever before.

Good News Clubs for the upcoming school year will be forming soon. If you would like to help with one or if you would like to know if one is coming to your child's elementary school, please call us at
790-7873 or email us at pimacef@gmail.com.