EUGENE, Mo. - With rosy cheeks from walking nearly a mile from Cole County R-5 Schools to the Eugene Christian Church, Ashton Bax and Lena Birdno were eager to share their day's experiences with volunteers.
While nibbling on the warm cookies Iris Hayward, "the cookie lady," brought from home, the upper elementary girls warmed up while twins Joshua and Jeremy Mattingly played a 2-on-1 basketball game with Pastor Matt Boughan.
Volunteer Paula Kelly arrived well before the children to set up her craft project for the church's weekly after-school program. And Boughan with his wife, Beth, prepared a casual faith-based lesson to share.
When the school bus dropped off the rest of those coming out Wednesday, they organized a game of kickball.
"They love the gym," Beth said.
The children and volunteers joked and played before dividing by ages for the Bible dialogue and crafts.
"We want to provide them with the basics of Christianity," Boughan said.
The after-school program is more than 25 years old, operating Wednesdays that school is in session.
A few years ago, the church built its Christian Fellowship Center, where the gym is opened to the community Thursday and Saturday nights, as well.
Each activity might attract a few different and many similar children. But the idea remains to share Jesus with them, Beth said.
To that end, the church shifted from its traditional one-week Vacation Bible School model in the summer. Instead, they have created a similar setting Sunday evenings in the gym.
Kelly provides weekly craft projects for that program, too.
"I just enjoy the kids, and I love crafts," Kelly said.
Some weeks, it can be a challenge for new ideas, she admitted.
The same can be said for the Boughans, who have written much of the curriculum used Sunday evenings.
But they enjoy the flexibility to expand a lesson or continue on a topic based on the children's needs or interests.
"We've even seen more adults coming," Boughan said.
For members like Hayward and Kelly, these programs give them a chance to share their interests and talents.
Hayward bakes up to 10 dozen cookies each week between the two children's programs.
In the first six months, they have seen a good response - about half of Sunday morning attendance, he said.
And Kelly has enjoyed more than doubling her Sunday School class attendance in the mornings, as a result, she said.
"All of us get to act like kids again," said Beth, who is expecting their first child in the spring.
The weekly program provides consistency and keeps the enthusiasm going, that usually fades after the one-week, summertime event, she said.
"For some kids, this may be the only opportunity they have to hear about Christ," Beth said. "It's a safe place to go, have fun and unwind."