An Interview with the Amanda Poil, Kea Kids Leader and Children's and Families Enabler
Victory Church’s Kea Kids programme has been making waves in the Victory community—offering young people a place to belong, encounter Jesus, and grow in faith. We sat down with the team behind Kea Kids to hear more about what makes it such a vibrant and meaningful ministry.
What is Kea Kids and who’s it for?
The mission of Kea Kids is all about experiencing and sharing the love of Jesus. We live this out through holiday programmes, after school clubs, service projects and special events. Kea Kids offers a place for young people and families to connect, grow in faith, and experience a sense of belonging. Everyone is welcome!
The name Kea Kids was chosen for a reason—kea are treasured birds in Aotearoa, known for their intelligence, curiosity and playfulness. Though vulnerable, they are bold and beautiful—just like the next generation. Only when a kea spreads its wings do you see the brilliant scarlet beneath—and we want to help our kids discover that hidden beauty and purpose in themselves.
What’s at the heart of Kea Kids as an outreach to the Victory community?
A core value of Kea Kids is serving others. During our holiday programmes, we intentionally look for ways to bless our local community. In the past, we’ve picked up rubbish at Victory Primary and Victory Square, prayed for our neighbourhood, and performed dances and skits to share God’s love in a fun, creative way. We want to be known not just for running great programmes, but for showing up with love.
What kind of things happen during a Kea Kids week, and what’s the message you’re sharing?
We pack in loads of fun! From worship and dances to games and sports, Kea Kids is full of life. But we also take time to creatively explore Scripture, pray together, and demonstrate practical love for others.
Our July theme was “Know – Grow – Go”—helping kids understand their identity as children of God, grow in faith, and be confident to share it. October’s theme was “Be the Light” based on Matthew 5:14-16, with a fantastic theme song called “Light It Up” by our friends Gui & Elaine from Kings Kids Auckland.
It sounds like the programme is growing quickly—why do you think it’s resonating so well?
Absolutely—it’s been amazing to see it take off! We had 25 kids in July, and by October we were up to 40. Word spreads fast in the neighbourhood. Some kids just showed up on bikes and asked to join!
We think kids can tell when you really care about them. We invest in each child, celebrate birthdays, share cake, and just have a great time together. Parents have told us how safe and welcoming it feels, and how encouraged they are to see their children worshipping and learning about God. We made it koha-based to remove financial barriers, and thanks to donations and sponsorships, we could keep the doors wide open.
Looking ahead—what’s next for Kea Kids?
We’re excited to announce that the next Victory Kea Kids Week will be in April 2025! It’s going to be another fantastic opportunity for fun, faith and community connection.
Come and be part of what God is doing through Kea Kids—let’s grow together, fly together, and light it up!
Check out other articles in the
series below.
More articles in the
series are to come.
We have invited these writers to share their experiences, ideas and opinions in the hope that these will provoke thought, challenge you to go deeper and inspire you to put your faith into action. These articles should not be taken as the official view of the Nelson Diocese on any particular matter.
An Interview with the Amanda Poil, Kea Kids Leader and Children's and Families Enabler
Victory Church’s Kea Kids programme has been making waves in the Victory community—offering young people a place to belong, encounter Jesus, and grow in faith. We sat down with the team behind Kea Kids to hear more about what makes it such a vibrant and meaningful ministry.
What is Kea Kids and who’s it for?
The mission of Kea Kids is all about experiencing and sharing the love of Jesus. We live this out through holiday programmes, after school clubs, service projects and special events. Kea Kids offers a place for young people and families to connect, grow in faith, and experience a sense of belonging. Everyone is welcome!
The name Kea Kids was chosen for a reason—kea are treasured birds in Aotearoa, known for their intelligence, curiosity and playfulness. Though vulnerable, they are bold and beautiful—just like the next generation. Only when a kea spreads its wings do you see the brilliant scarlet beneath—and we want to help our kids discover that hidden beauty and purpose in themselves.
What’s at the heart of Kea Kids as an outreach to the Victory community?
A core value of Kea Kids is serving others. During our holiday programmes, we intentionally look for ways to bless our local community. In the past, we’ve picked up rubbish at Victory Primary and Victory Square, prayed for our neighbourhood, and performed dances and skits to share God’s love in a fun, creative way. We want to be known not just for running great programmes, but for showing up with love.
What kind of things happen during a Kea Kids week, and what’s the message you’re sharing?
We pack in loads of fun! From worship and dances to games and sports, Kea Kids is full of life. But we also take time to creatively explore Scripture, pray together, and demonstrate practical love for others.
Our July theme was “Know – Grow – Go”—helping kids understand their identity as children of God, grow in faith, and be confident to share it. October’s theme was “Be the Light” based on Matthew 5:14-16, with a fantastic theme song called “Light It Up” by our friends Gui & Elaine from Kings Kids Auckland.
It sounds like the programme is growing quickly—why do you think it’s resonating so well?
Absolutely—it’s been amazing to see it take off! We had 25 kids in July, and by October we were up to 40. Word spreads fast in the neighbourhood. Some kids just showed up on bikes and asked to join!
We think kids can tell when you really care about them. We invest in each child, celebrate birthdays, share cake, and just have a great time together. Parents have told us how safe and welcoming it feels, and how encouraged they are to see their children worshipping and learning about God. We made it koha-based to remove financial barriers, and thanks to donations and sponsorships, we could keep the doors wide open.
Looking ahead—what’s next for Kea Kids?
We’re excited to announce that the next Victory Kea Kids Week will be in April 2025! It’s going to be another fantastic opportunity for fun, faith and community connection.
Come and be part of what God is doing through Kea Kids—let’s grow together, fly together, and light it up!
Check out other articles in the
series below.
More articles in the
series are to come.
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