The Adventures of Buzz Millennium and the Kingdom Kids

“Hi, Mrs. Morris,” Skip said when she answered the door. “Why hello, Skip. How are you today?”

“I’m fine. How are you?”

“I’m OK, too. What can I do for you?”

“I’d like to ask you about something. You know my family goes to the Community Church down the street. We’re starting a Thursday club for the kids in the neighborhood. We’ll teach Bible lessons and do projects and stuff that will be fun for children and will teach them good lessons for living. I know you folks don’t attend church anywhere, but I wonder if it would be OK for Josh and Emily to come if they would like to.”

“Well, I don’t see why not. I’m sure it would be fun for them, and it would give me a little time to myself. When will you meet?”

“Our first meeting will be this Thursday at 4:00, and it will last about an hour. We will meet every week for now. We will meet at the church building. They can walk since it isn’t far, or you can drop them off.”

“OK, sounds good to me. I’ll send them on this week, and if they like it they can keep going.”

“Great,” Skip said, “and thanks! I know they’ll have a good time. Good bye.”

“Bye.”

Good, Skip thought as he went on to the next family with children. This would be a chance to teach children who did not go to church services about the Bible, and most importantly, about the Lord, and it might open some doors to reach their parents. Skip Stevens was a junior in high school who had a love for children and enjoyed helping with them at his church. Any time there was a church function like a picnic or such, he would always have a gang of kids playing a game or taking a hike, and he would always end up with a Bible story or another story that would illustrate a biblical principle. He was also a pretty good amateur magician and often found bubble gum behind kids’ ears. The kids loved him as much as he loved them.

Skip had hit on a new idea that he had presented to the pastor, and it had been approved by the church board and the church as a whole. His idea was to have a club for the children of the church, plus any of the kids in the neighborhood who did not go to church meetings. The club would be called the Kingdom Kids. They would have a fast-paced program with singing, games, refreshments, and a Bible story or lesson. His best idea he had kept to himself to reveal at the first meeting. “What great fun when I spring it,” he thought as he continued his visits. When he had been to all the homes, he had about a dozen kids lined up, as well as the twenty-five or thirty from the church who would be there. Fortunately Mary Donnelley had agreed to help Skip with the club. Skip and Mary were not official sweethearts, but he had to admit to himself that she seemed pretty special to him. “What a team,” he thought. “With my gift for relating to kids and Mary’s musical ability, we could go a long way together. Well, I’d better get to work and finish my plans for the first meeting.”

Thursday came and Skip was all excited. He couldn’t wait to unveil his big idea. He was at the church building in the morning before school to make sure everything was in order. Then he went to school, and was back at 3:30 for the 4:00 o’clock first meeting of the Kingdom Kids. Mary had just arrived.

“Hi, Mary.”

“Hi, Skip. Are you all set?”

“Boy, I sure hope so. Are you ready with the music?”

“Yes. I have a couple of great songs from some of the kid praise albums. I think maybe we should have the kids learn several songs over a period of time, then have a program for the whole church. Maybe even do a skit or act out a Bible story.”

“That’s a great idea! Parents always love those affairs, and it would be exciting for the kids. It would give them a goal to move toward. We might even get some of the parents who do not attend church meetings to come.”

They finished the last-minute arrangements by getting refreshments set up and chairs in order. Then the Kingdom Kids started arriving. When they had been greeted and seated, Skip began the meeting of the club.

“Hey, kids! How is everybody today?”

A few weak, “OK’s.”

“What was that? I couldn’t hear you? How is everybody today?”

A loud response came back.

“Great! We’re going to begin with a prayer and ask our heavenly Father to give us a good time today. Let’s all bow our heads. Heavenly Father, we thank you that you are here with us today, and we ask you to help us all to have a good time and to learn something about you. If anyone has a problem, we ask for your help in finding the answer. In Jesus’ name. Amen. OK. Now Mary has a couple of songs for us.”

Mary led the songs, playing her guitar as she sang. The children joined in hesitantly at first, but as they learned the words and tunes, they made a lot of noise, some of it on key! And they got better with practice.

While Mary was doing the music, Skip was in the adjoining room preparing for his grand entrance. When she had finished the last song, she announced to the children, “Now we have a very special surprise for all of you. Our very special surprise is a very special guest. Let me present to you the leader of the Kingdom Kids, Buzz Millennium. Give him a big hand.”

As Skip came in dressed in his Buzz Millennium costume, the kids gave him a big round of applause, led by Mary. “Hey, kids,” he shouted. He looked great in his futuristic-looking outfit, a blue bodysuit with red pointed cuffs and a shield on the chest with a cross and crown in it, and red boots. “I’m happy to see all of you here today. I want to explain my name to you, but I have to tell you a story first. The story will help explain the name. The story comes from the Bible, the book we believe is God’s word to us. In this book he tells us that he loves you and me, that he will help us through life, and that he has a wonderful future for us.

“Mary is passing out flyers to all of you. They have the Bible passage, Mark 10.13-16, and a picture that illustrates the story. I’ll read the passage. ‘And they brought to him children that he might touch them, but the disciples rebuked them. But when Jesus saw, he was indignant and said to them, “Let the children come to me. Do not prevent them, for of such is the kingdom of God.  Truly I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a child will not enter into it.” And taking them in his arms he blessed them, laying hands on them.’

“This story shows us that Jesus loves children, just like you. He loves you. I hope all of you understand that. Let’s all say together, ‘Jesus loves me.’”

As Skip led, all the children repeated his words, “Jesus loves me.”

“Good,” he continued. “Now, Jesus said something else very important in this story. He said a person has to receive the kingdom of God as a child. That means we cannot come to God as though we are great people who deserve his kingdom, but we come to him as children come to their fathers to ask for what they want or need. They trust them because they know they love them. And we can trust God because we know he loves us.

“What do you think Jesus meant by the phrase, ‘the kingdom of God’? The kingdom of God means three things. First, it is simply the fact that God is the Ruler of everything. He made the universe and he rules over it. It also means his rule in our hearts when we choose to obey him. But it is the third meaning I want you to understand today.

“Listen very carefully now, because this is a big lesson for you children, but it is very important. The Bible tells us that even though God is the Ruler of everything, there is a devil who is allowed to run the world for a period of time. The devil is God’s enemy and wants to destroy people. But the Bible also says that in the end, God will dethrone the devil and do away with him. When he does, the Lord Jesus will return to earth and become the King over the earth. In the last book of the Bible, the book of Revelation, it says that Jesus will reign on earth for a thousand years, and that his people who are prepared to do so in this life will reign with him. Think about that, a thousand years. Now the word ‘millennium’ means ‘a thousand years.’ That is why the reign of Christ on earth is called the millennium – it will last a thousand years. Can you all say ‘millennium’?”

After two or three tries, most of the kids could say it.  

“And what does ‘millennium’ mean,” asked Skip. “A thousand years,” came a few replies.

“Great! That’s right. And that reign of Christ is also called the kingdom of God. Do you know what I mean by ‘reign’? It is not ‘rain,’ as when we say, ‘It’s raining.’ It means to rule. A king rules or reigns.

“OK, does everybody understand? The kingdom of God will last a thousand years, a millennium. That is why my name is Buzz Millennium, and that is why you are Kingdom Kids. We want to be prepared by God to help Jesus reign in his kingdom. And we are prepared by God to help Jesus reign by trusting him to be our Savior, by living in obedience to him, and by trusting him when we have hard times in our lives. Life is not always easy, but we can always trust God, and when we trust him and obey him when things are not easy, we grow stronger in him and are being prepared to reign with him.

“That is why we have this club. We want to help you kids get ready for the Kingdom of God. We want you to be in the Kingdom Kids. How many of you want to be in the Kingdom Kids?”

All the kids raised their hands and shouted, “I do,” and “Yes,” and so on.

“Good. Now let me tell you one more thing. I have a motto I use a lot. The Bible says that after the thousand-year reign of Christ is over, we will all go to Heaven to be with him there forever. We are preparing now for the millennium, but after that, we go to Heaven. That’s why I say, ‘To the Kingdom – and beyond!’

“Does anybody have a question or want to say anything?”

Luke Warner, the nine-year-old boy who always took the most interest in Sunday school lessons and spiritual things in general, and was always asking the pastor questions, raised his hand.

“Yes, Luke.”

“I know that Jesus loves me and I want to get ready for his kingdom. What do I do to get ready?”

“That’s a great question, Luke. We will talk more about that in future meetings, but for now, let me just say that you need to read your Bible and talk to God and obey your parents and things like that. What you need to do changes as you get older. While you are your age, things like that are the main things. Is that OK for now.”

“Yes. Thanks.”

“Good. Now I’ll ask Mary to close with prayer and we will have some games and refreshments. If any of you have a problem you would like help with, talk to me later and we’ll work on it. Mary.”

“Father, we thank you that we can be here together today. Thank you that you love us, and help us all to learn about your kingdom and to get ready for it. Thank you for our refreshments. In Jesus’ name. Amen.”

After games and refreshments, Buzz Millennium dismissed the kids, asking them, “Did you have a good time?”

“Yay,” they all shouted.

“Great,” he replied. “Remember one thing as you go: To the Kingdom – and beyond!”

“Yay,” they all shouted again.

As they were leaving, one of the children whose family did not attend church services came to Skip and said he wanted to talk to him. His name was Matthew Morgan.

“Sure, Matthew,” Skip said. “What can I help you with?”

“Well, I’ve got a problem, but I didn’t know anyone to talk to. I live with my mom and she’s so busy, and I’m afraid she wouldn’t understand, being a girl and all. But I need help. There’s this kid at school who’s bigger than all the rest of us. He likes to beat us up, and lately he’s been making me give him my lunch money. He says he’ll really hurt me if I don’t and if I tell anybody. I’m afraid of him and I don’t know what to do.” Matthew fought back tears.

“How old are you, Matthew.”

“I’m nine.”

“So you’re in the fourth grade, right?”

“Yeah.”

“Are there other boys he beats up and steals from?”

“Yes, there are several of us. We’re all scared.”

“Does he bother any of the girls?”

“Not a lot, but there are a few that he takes lunch money from, too.”

“Does the school not get suspicious when you don’t buy lunch?”

“Well, I’ve been using my allowance to buy lunch.”

“Matthew, I think it would be good to talk to an adult about this. Would you be willing to talk to the pastor of our church if I go with you?”

“Well, I guess so, but he can’t tell anybody.”

“We’ll just talk for now, and we’ll decide together what we should do. Let’s go see if he is in his office now.”

Buzz and Matthew walked upstairs to the pastor’s office. He was in and did not have anyone with him.

“Hello, Pastor Robinson,” Skip said. “Have you got a few minutes to talk with us about a problem?”

“Yes, of course, Skip? But first, what’s with your outfit?”

“Oh, this is my Buzz Millennium get-up. He’s my character in the Kingdom Kids club. One of his duties is to help the kids with any problem. Matthew here has one.”

Skip introduced Matthew and the Pastor, Dave Robinson, and told his pastor about Matthew’s situation. Then he said, “I have one idea. See what you think about it. One of our goals with the Kingdom Kids is to reach the parents who do not attend church services anywhere. What if you and I went with Matthew to talk to his mother and make a plan with her? That way we could get to know her and help Matthew, too. What do you think?”

“I think that’s a good approach,” Pastor Robinson answered. “I think Matthew’s mother has to be told what’s going on. Is that OK with you, Matthew?”

“Well, I guess so,” Matthew said hesitantly. “But I don’t want to get Will into trouble. He’s the one beating us and taking money.”

Pastor Robinson asked, “Matthew, would you like to be Will’s friend if it could be worked out?”

“I guess so. But I’m not so sure he would want to.”

“Boys who are bullies are usually trying to hide something inside themselves that they don’t want anyone else to see,” the pastor explained. “They feel unloved or unimportant at home, something like that. They try to make themselves feel better by being over someone else, usually someone smaller. If we could find a way to help meet Will’s need, we might be able to keep him from beating you guys up and make him your friend. Want to give it a try?”

“Well, OK. But help me keep Mom from getting mad and telling the principal he has to do something.”

“That’s fine. When would be a good time to talk with your mother?”

“She should be home any time now. I guess we could do it now. Let me call her and see if it’s OK.”

“Good. What’s the number?”

Pastor Robinson dialed the number and got Mrs. Morgan. “Mrs. Morgan, this is Pastor Robinson at the Community Church. How are you today? [Pause] I’m fine, too, thanks. Mrs. Morgan, I have Skip Stevens and Matthew with me. There is nothing for you to worry about, but we need to come talk with you for a few minutes about a problem Matthew has. [Pause] No, he’s not hurt or in trouble. Just has a problem he needs a little help with. [Pause] Good, we’ll come now and be there in a few minutes. Bye.” Skip headed for his dressing room and quickly changed out of his Buzz Millennium costume.

The three decided to walk the four blocks to Matthew’s home. That was one of the good points of being a neighborhood church. People were close by and you could get to know them. Skip knew everyone on the street, and Pastor Robinson knew most of them, too. They arrived at the house and Matthew led the way in.

“Hello, Mrs. Morgan,” said the pastor. “Thank you for seeing us on short notice.”

“You’re welcome. Please have a seat? Is anything wrong?”

The pastor and Skip sat on the sofa to Mrs. Morgan’s right as she took her seat in her easy chair, with Matthew standing beside her.

“Matthew, would you like to tell your mother your problem?” the pastor asked.

“Well, there’s this big guy at school. Will is his name. He’s kind of a bully and beats up some of us smaller kids, and lately he’s been stealing our lunch money. He said if we told anyone he would really hurt us. We’re all afraid, and I didn’t want to worry you, but I told Skip I needed help. I know he loves all us kids, so I decided to tell him. I don’t know what to do.”

Mrs. Morgan put her arms around Matthew and said, “My poor baby. Why didn’t you tell me? I’d have gone right down there and gotten something done.”

“That’s why I didn’t tell you. I was afraid.”

“Well, don’t be afraid anymore. We’ll put a stop to this.”

Skip spoke up. “Mrs. Morgan, Matthew doesn’t want to get Will into trouble, and we think this might be a way to help Will. Obviously he has a problem of his own if he bullies smaller kids. Pastor Robinson has an idea we think might work.”

The pastor explained that he thought he and Skip could go with her and Matthew to see the principal and explain to him what was happening. They would ask him to have Will come in and explain to him that what he was doing had to stop, and that Matthew did not want to get him into trouble and would like to be his friend. If he would, he would just put Will on probation rather than suspending or expelling him. Otherwise he would have to take disciplinary action.

Mrs. Morgan agreed. She could arrange to have an hour or two off work the next day, and would let them know what time. The pastor tried not to make appointments on Friday so he could work on his Sunday message, so he could fit it in. Skip would have to see if he could get an excuse from school for the meeting. The pastor and Skip left after assuring Matthew that everything would work out OK.

As they walked back to the church building, Skip said, “This is great. I was hoping our club would open doors to the parents who don’t know the Lord or attend church services. Our very first meeting and we get into a home.”

“That’s wonderful, Skip. I know you really love the Lord, and he is using you. You love the children, too, don’t you?”

“Oh yes, I want them to know the Lord at a young age as I did so they can avoid some of the trouble kids get into and have a meaningful life. God is so good. I want them to know it.”

They agreed that the pastor would call Skip’s school the next morning and let the secretary know what time the meeting would be. Skip would ask permission when he arrived at school so he could be ready if they would let him go. They left for home when they arrived back at the church building. Skip walked the few blocks almost on air, so happy was he that the Lord was already using their club.

Next morning Skip arrived early at school and went to the principal’s office to ask if he could go to the meeting. When he explained that he needed to help a younger boy with a problem, the principal was more than happy to let him go. He knew what an outstanding young man Skip was and was grateful to have someone like him in the school. He was a great influence on all around him. He would call Skip in when he learned of the time.

At 9:00 o’clock the call came for Skip to report to the office. “What have you done now?” some of his friends teased, but they knew Skip would not be in trouble. When he got to the office, the principal told him that Mrs. Morgan could take an early lunch and be at her son’s school at 11:00. He then sent a note to Skip’s teacher at that hour that he had permission to be out and could make up any work he needed to.

“Thanks, Mr. Landrum. I really enjoy working with children, and this is an opportunity to help solve a serious problem.”

“I’m glad to help out, Skip. I wish we had more like you who want to be helpful to others and do what is right.”

“Well, it’s just because the Lord has been so good to me and I want to serve him. I can’t repay him, but I want to say thanks to him.”

“That’s wonderful, Skip. You know we can’t do anything “religious” here at school these days, but I know the Lord, too, and I support you in what you are doing. I hope it goes well. I’ll be praying for you. I can pray at school if no one else can! I do every day!”

“Me, too, sir. Thanks again.”

At 11:00 the group met with Matthew’s principal, Mr. Cochran. Pastor Robinson took the lead after the introductions. “Mr. Cochran, I think you know Skip from when he was in school here. He has a kids’ club at our church. Matthew came to the first meeting. After the meeting he responded to Skip’s statement that if anyone had a problem he would be glad to try to help. What he told Skip is the reason we are here today. Mrs. Morgan, would you like to tell Mr. Cochran what is happening, or would you like for Matthew to?”

“I’d like for Matthew to if he will. Matthew?”

“Well, I’ll try.” Matthew then related his story to his principal. He had to fight back tears a few times, and he ended by saying, “I really don’t want to get Will into trouble.”

Mrs. Morgan spoke up. “We agreed that we would ask you to call Will in and explain that he had to stop what he was doing, that Matthew would like to be his friend and doesn’t want him in trouble, and that if he would you would put him on probation instead of something more serious. Can you do that?”

“Yes, I can. I think that is very fine of Matthew to want to keep Will out of trouble and to be his friend.”

Pastor Robinson added, “We think we just might be able to help Will, too. If he is a bully, he probably has some self-doubts or something like that. Maybe he will respond to Matthew’s offer of friendship.”

Matthew surprised everyone by saying that he would like to invite Will to the Kingdom Kids. “Maybe he will find the Lord there,” he said.

Skip almost shouted hallelujah right there in the principal’s office. “That’s wonderful, Matthew. I hope he’ll come.”

Mr. Cochran called Will in, and when the boy saw Matthew and all the others, he knew he was in trouble. But Mr. Cochran explained the situation to him. “What you have done is very wrong, Will, if it is true, and I understand there are several others who can verify it. What do you say? Is Matthew telling the truth?”

Will hung his head. “Yeah, he is.” Now Will, the big bully, was about to cry. “Do you really want to keep me out of trouble and be my friend, Matthew?”

“Yes, I do, Will.”

“Why would you do that instead of getting me kicked out of school or something?”

“Well, Skip here has a club for us kids at his church. He really loves us and he says that we need to live for Jesus and be ready for his kingdom when he comes again. That’s what I want to do. And I want you to come to the club with me.”

Now Skip and Mrs. Morgan were fighting back tears, and the pastor and principal were pretty close. Will was just plain crying.

“What do you say, Will?” Mr. Cochran asked. “Is it a deal?”

“Yes, it’s a deal. I’ll try to pay the kids back out of my allowance and I’ll be Matthew’s best friend. If anybody wants to hurt him, he’ll have to answer to me, Big Will.”

“That’s just wonderful, Will,” his principal said. “You know what you’ve done is wrong and you’re on probation. If you are just saying this and try to hurt Matthew later, you will be in serious trouble.”

“No, I mean it,” Will almost shouted. “I won’t do anything.”

Will and Matthew shook hands. Mrs. Morgan cried and beamed. Skip was praising the Lord in his heart. Pastor Robinson was so thankful for such a fine young man. Mr. Cochran was relieved and happy that a difficult situation at school could be worked out so well. He didn’t say anything, but he thought maybe he had better think about getting back into church himself.

The next day Skip and his pastor went by to check on Matthew and Mrs. Morgan. Everything had gone alright at school the rest of the day. Will and Matthew were buddies. And she added, “Skip, your obvious love for God and for Matthew and the other children has made me do some thinking. I plan to be at your service Sunday morning, and Matthew will be in Sunday school. If he’s in the Kingdom Kids, I want to be a Glory Grown-up!”

The pastor asked her if she had ever come to know the Lord Jesus as her Lord and Savior. She said she never had. She had been raised in church, but it never meant much to her until now. But she had seen such love that she wanted to get in on it. Skip and his pastor had the joy of sharing with Mrs. Morgan how she could come to have Christ living in her heart, and she asked him to come in. Matthew said he wanted to ask Jesus into his heart, too, so they prayed with him, also.

“Now I’m really in the Kingdom Kids,” he almost laughed. “And I’ve got a Glory Mom.”

Sunday morning Matthew and his mother went forward after the morning message and declared their faith in Christ. Next Thursday afternoon Matthew and Will showed up together at the Kingdom Kids meeting. After Buzz Millennium had given his Bible lesson to the kids, he asked Matthew if he would like to tell what had happened.

“Well, my Mom and I have accepted Christ as our Savior because of what Buzz, er, Skip, has done for us. And Will and I used to hate each other, but now we have become best friends. I’m telling him about Jesus and I don’t think it will be long till he’s a Kingdom Kid, too.”

“Praise the Lord!” Buzz Millennium shouted.

“Praise the Lord!” the Kingdom Kids all shouted.

“To the kingdom – and beyond!” Buzz shouted.

“To the kingdom – and beyond!” the Kingdom Kids shouted.

Mary was so proud of Buzz, er, Skip. She thought he was pretty special, too. When the kids had all gone, Skip asked her, “What about a burger and a shake together?”

“To the Burger Hut – and beyond!” she shouted.

To the kingdom – and beyond!

Copyright © 2002 by Tom Adcox. All rights reserved. You may share this work with others, provided you do not alter it and do not sell it or use it for any commercial purpose. “Freely you have received, freely give” (Matthew 10.8). Also you must include this notice if you share it or any part of it.