Full Gospel Christian Academy
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Kingdom Kids Development Center
Kingdom Kids Child Development Center II
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Tereatha Davis
Louise Doughty
Arleatha Simpson
An Interview with the Founder & Visionary of Kingdom Kids Child Development Center,
Pastor Dana A. Holmes
INTERVIEWER: Your facility is called "Kingdom Kids Child Development Center." Is there a difference between a "child development center" and a "child daycare center"?
PASTOR HOLMES: To me, a child daycare can be as simple as babysitting. For instance, you can be a childcare provider using your home. You're not obligated to teach the children or develop their skills, but you're obligated to care for them, make sure they're fed, keep them safe, etc. If your facility is called a "child development center," even if it's in your home, you should be doing that-"developing" their skills-so then it's not merely babysitting.
When we began, we came up with a slogan that we still use today, which is, "It's Amazing What Your Child Will Discover." This is not merely a slogan, this is our mission, and to God be the glory, we're succeeding!
INTERVIEWER: In today's society, there are many single parent homes, as well as homes where both parents must work, making childcare a necessity. Did this reality inspire you to start "Kingdom Kids"?
PASTOR HOLMES: No, not at all.
INTERVIEWER: What then was the motivating factor in starting "Kingdom Kids"?
PASTOR HOLMES: Before I answer that specifically, let me first say that it is true that because of today's society, childcare has become a necessity for many. I am sure that this has motivated some to get into the "childcare" business. Others were motivated by the potential financial gains. That in itself does not make them bad. This is an observation, not a criticism. However, the motivating factor is important, and equally important is the operation of the facility.
Now, to answer your question specifically, I must take you back to my childhood because that is where the idea came from. In reality, although I didn't understand it at the time, the Lord put it in my heart as a child. Of course, I didn't know anything about childcare, but somehow I knew I would have "a place for kids." The Apostle Paul stated in his letter to the Romans, For I was alive without the law once: but when the commandment came, sin revived, and I died. (Romans 7:9) In other words, the Apostle Paul was saying that his spirit was alive unto God before he reached an age where he could understand enough to choose right from wrong. We're all born into the world "alive unto God." When we reach "the age of accountability," we die spiritually, and it becomes necessary to be "born-again." However, it is while we're alive unto God that He will communicate with our spirits, and we may know intuitively some things according to His plan. However, when we die spiritually, we're not fully aware of those things. Then when we are born-again, those things will come back to us, because they're the things that God planted in our hearts according to His plan. I didn't remember it at the time, but sometime after Kingdom Kids was started, my Grandmother told me that when I was a little boy, I said to her, "Grandma, when I get big (grow up), I'm gonna have a big church and a place for kids." You see, that came from my spirit before I reached the age of accountability. Later, however, the Lord showed me that this is a part of my calling.
INTERVIEWER: Can you give us a little more insight about Kingdom Kids being a part of your calling?
PASTOR HOLMES: Yes. You see, I believe that God has a divine plan for every one of us. Of course, His primary plan for me is to minister the Word of God and affect lives for the Kingdom of God. Really, everything that God does is for the benefit of mankind. Another part of His plan for me is to affect the lives of children-to train them up in the way that they should go, so that when they're older, they won't depart from it. (Proverbs 22:6) The seed we plant in our children will bring a harvest when they are adults. This is the concept behind both Kingdom Kids and our grade school, Full Gospel Christian Academy. In both cases, we do not see these entities as mere businesses, but rather as a divine calling, a heavenly commission, a part of the overall plan of God!
INTERVIEWER: The Lord has recently blessed Kingdom Kids with new buses. What is the story behind this?
PASTOR HOLMES: The safety of our children is the real story behind them. All childcare providers that transport children will have to use buses and get out of vans, by law, as of July 2006. However, we have wanted to get buses for a long time but were unable to until a few months ago. These buses are really special because they have safety alarms all over the place. You can't turn the bus off without an alarm going off, and you must go to the rear of the bus to turn it off. This makes it virtually impossible to leave a child on the bus accidentally or otherwise. We feel good about this and so do the parents. This lets them know that we really have the safety of their children at heart. Kingdom Kids is no ordinary childcare center because our mission is to develop our children spiritually, naturally, and to protect them physically!