What is Sky Force?
Aim of Sky Force
Our aim is to help your church provide a ministry to children, focusing on a balanced program with Bible studies, crafts, games and special events.
Focus
Our focus is:
- providing churches with evangelical Bible training for children and youth in your church’s ministry area,
- through a program balanced between knowledge and experience, and
- working within each church’s individual needs, limitations and ministry vision.
Methods
We will assist you and your church to:
- recruit leaders
- train leaders
- choose and use teaching materials
- use fun games and crafts for fun and to reinforce Bible lessons
- provide colourful uniforms
- implement and use award systems to increase involvement and learning
- reach out to the families of children who are not church members
History
Sky Force of Canada began when two men realized the need to reach the teenagers of their neighbourhood with the Gospel.
It was in 1954, at Waverly Road Baptist Church, in Toronto, Ontario. Seeing the growing problem of restless youth with no understanding of their need for God, the senior pastor and youth pastor started a program to inspire and reach these young teenagers.
The pastor at Waverly was Rev. J. F. Holiday. He was an armed forces chaplain during WWII and worked in many churches, large and small, over the years. The youth pastor at the time, Rev. Roy Lawson, eventually led the Fellowship of Evangelical Baptist Churches in Canada as their Secretary-General.
Over the next few years, Sky Teens rapidly spread to other churches and developed an exciting program and activities. Other age groups soon wanted to be involved and the program expanded gradually to ages 4 to 14, and eventually became known as Sky Force.
Over the years, the program has been refined and updated, but it remains a youth ministry designed by the grass-roots membership, creating a program that works for the average church. Developed by dedicated pastors and lay leadership who work with children “in the trenches” every week, Sky Force is created and run by those average-sized churches.
To help co-ordinate, support, train and standardize common aspects of Sky Force, a national, non-profit organization is run by an elected executive committee. A joint business meeting and training meeting is held each autumn. At that time, all leaders from all churches are encouraged to attend, learn and vote on the policies, leadership and program, helping to keep the ministry of Sky Force true to it’s roots, vibrant and growing.
