2021 Annual Report
Keys for Kids App Helps Family Seek After God
Dayton, TN (K4K) – They heard about Keys for Kids Ministries on Moody Radio, and now it’s a major part of their lives. The Keys for Kids mobile app is helping the McChargue family focus on Christ every day. They believe in the work so much that they became new donors. Michael and Charissa McChargue sent us an email with their first gift saying, “[Our] girls love your app. They go to sleep every night listening to your stories. They have provided many conversations and opportunities for us to discuss Christ with them. It has been an amazing alternative to the negative media that is out there.”
Michael says his girls love listening to the on-demand programs like Down Gilead Lane and especially Red Rock Mysteries, which is nine-year-old Ella’s favorite program. “I just like listening to it,” she says. Michael adds, “[Ella] is learning spiritual truths as she’s listening to something she loves.”
Her seven-year-old sister Nora likes Zach, the voice of Keys for Kids, telling her devotional stories. She also likes lessons she learns from The Pond. “I liked the one [program] about being scared. And it helped me not to be so scared.” They’re lessons based on biblical truth. Michael says since Scripture
memorization is important to characters on The Pond, it’s become important to his girls.
Michael tells us Keys for Kids Radio is something he can trust. “Honestly, we let them listen to it every night. I never have to worry about any of the programming. And it does provide a lot of opportunities to talk about those biblical lessons.” Why did he become a donor? “We use it so much. I think if
it’s something we use, I want to keep it going. If I want it to be available for my family, it needs to be supported.” Read the entire Annual Report here!
Fall 2021 Newsletter
Keys for Kids Devotional Celebrates 40 Years
Who would have thought that turning kids’ radio dramas into short devotional stories would result in a daily devotional read by thousands of families and heard by millions more? That’s what we did 40 years ago when Keys for Kids Ministries (formerly Children’s Bible Hour) launched the Keys for Kids devotional that eventually became the new name of our ministry.
The Keys for Kids devotional started in 1982 with a print run of five thousand copies. It wasn’t enough. Ten thousand more copies were needed to keep up with the demand. In the fall of that year, a radio broadcast version of the devotional was also released on Christian radio stations around the world, hosted by Uncle Charlie (VanderMeer). Uncle Charlie hosted the program until December 2015. Phil Ayres took over for him and continues to host the program today as “Zach.” Read the rest of the store and more in the newsletter here!
Keys for Kids Ministries Now Accepting Stock Donations
Keys for Kids Ministries has paired with Overflow, a Silicon Valley-based technology company, to allow donors to give in stock form. Giving with appreciated stock can provide up to 37% more funds in gifts because of capital gains tax savings and is the most tax-efficient way to give. This also means that donors will have a higher tax deduction and Keys for Kids Ministries will receive the full value of the liquidated stock.
Keys for Kids Development Director, Ryan Kidd, expressed his excitement about the addition. He says, “We are very excited to have another way for current and potential donors to bless our mission. Together, we can reach and build our next generation of believers.”
Keys for Kids Ministries had been considering adding stock as a donation option in the past, but chose to make the addition when a generous donor left Keys for Kids Ministries a donation in their will in the form of stocks.
The Overflow platform has an easy-to-use automated stock transfer process that securely transfers and liquidates funds from stocks to the ministry. There’s an option to give online or over the phone through Overflow. Keys for Kids Ministries has integrated the Overflow button into their website, or donors can find the giving portal at app.overflow.co/keysforkidsministries.
Dan and Gayle Hoven
Keys for Kids 2021 Impact Award Winners
Grand Rapids, Mich. (K4K) – Keys for Kids Ministries exists to ignite a passion for Christ in kids, teens, and families worldwide. To encourage more people to focus on ministering to kids and teens, Keys for Kids gives an annual Impact Award given to the person/persons who dedicate their lives to serving kids, teens, or both, spiritually and physically.
This year’s award is being given to Dan and Gayle Hoven for their 36 years of ministry service.
Dan and Gayle began their missionary journey reaching kids for Christ in 1983. After Dan served 11 years in the US Air Force, they then went to Texas to receive their missionary training with Son Shine Ministries. There they ministered to military families in Texas, England, and Germany. In 1987 they joined Child Evangelism Fellowship (CEF) and returned to Germany as the CEF missionaries to the US military. After three years they came back to the US and served for 25 years as the local directors in Michigan for Kent and Ottawa Counties. In 2014 Dan was asked to become the CEF State Director for Michigan and Gayle assisted him. They retired from full-time ministry in 2019, praising the Lord for all the children who came to know Jesus. Dan and Gayle have been married for 48 years. They have been blessed with three children and seven grandchildren.
Upon hearing they were nominated for the award, Gayle said, “We’re honored. It’s kind of hard to accept because we do this to honor the Lord, not for man.” Dan went on to say, “If we can use this to encourage others in ministry, we’ll happily accept.”
Keys for Kids Ministries will honor the Hovens at the annual Keys for Kids Celebration Dinner Thursday, October 7, 2021, at the Pinnacle Center in Hudsonville.
President of Keys for Kids, Greg Yoder, said, “Sometimes ministry to kids and teens is a thankless job. Keys for Kids Ministries wants to obey God’s Word and be an encouragement to those serving so selflessly. The Hovens are proof of that selfless commitment to Christ and to reaching kids.”
The Hovens are the 5th recipients of the Impact Award. Their predecessors include Charlie VanderMeer (Uncle Charlie) (‘17), Jeff Henderson (‘18), Lee Geysbeek (‘19), and Libby Knepper-Muller (‘20).
Keys for Kids accomplishes its mission through its devotionals produced for kids and teens (print, online, and mobile app), the full-time radio station for kids (keysforkids.net), radio syndication, and the Keys for Camps and Storyteller programs.
To attend the celebration dinner, RSVP at keysforkids.org/dinner.