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When a severe thunderstorm knocks out power across Ridgewood, Tanner and Lina find themselves in the dark — literally and emotionally. Tanner's instinct is to worry about everything from the flooding creek to the dead flashlight, but Lina keeps her footing. When they notice Mr. Henry's porch light still glowing (a battery lantern from 1994), Tanner makes the choice to run through the rain and check on him. What they find isn't a man in need — it's a man at rest. Mr. Henry watches storms from his porch the way someone watches old friends pass through town. Then Ava shows up. She doesn't come because of faith or curiosity about the stars. She comes because her power is out, she doesn't like storms, and the light was on. On Mr. Henry's porch she discovers a star that's been waiting — STILL — and holds it while the sky clears. No altar call. No dramatic moment. Just four people, a porch, and a God who brings calm. Key Scripture Mark 4:39 (KJV) — "And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm." Family Discussion What does it mean to be 'still' when life feels stormy? Being still doesn't mean doing nothing — it means trusting God even when things feel out of control. Mr. Henry showed that peace comes from years of practice, not from ignoring the storm. Why did Ava come to Mr. Henry's porch? She came because the light was on and she didn't want to be alone in the dark. Sometimes God draws people closer through simple things — a light, a porch, someone who's steady. What's the difference between ignoring a problem and being at peace about it? Ignoring means pretending it's not there. Peace means knowing God is bigger than whatever it is. Jesus didn't ignore the storm on the boat — He was at rest because He knew who He was. Peace isn't the absence of storms — it's knowing Who holds you in the middle of them.

Climb aboard the Truth Traveler with Papaw, Miss Sunshine, Junkie, and Dillio for an unforgettable trip to the Sea of Galilee! Waves crash, the boat fills with water, and the frightened disciples turn to Jesus—who is sleeping through it all. Then three words change everything: “Peace, be still.” Along the way, meet grumbling boat caretaker Bilgewater Mopbroom and enjoy plenty of studio laughs! Miss Sunshine’s devotional offers gentle encouragement for children facing worry, change, or trouble, and our Verse of the Week, Mark 4:39, helps them remember the moment Jesus turned a great storm into a great calm. Sometimes Jesus calms the storm around us, and sometimes He gives us peace while it is still happening. Whatever we face, Jesus is bigger than the storm—and we never face it alone. 📖 Bible Focus: Mark 4:35–41🎧 ARK — Apostolic Radio for Kids

A body doesn’t work with just one part. After the emotional earthquake of Mr. Henry’s granddaughter calling, the group settles. They end up on the same bench after school without planning it — the trail does that. Ava names what each person brings: Tanner goes first. Lina holds things together. Micah is the living testimony. And Ava? She’s the one who asks the questions nobody wants asked. Lina tells her: “Your questions made my faith stronger. Not weaker.” They stop at Mr. Henry’s porch. He’s carving again. Rachel update: “We’re talking. Slow. Careful. She’s got questions I don’t have answers to. I’ve got years I can’t get back. But we’re talking.” Tanner carved a star during study hall: ONE BODY. It goes on the school bench where four kids ended up at the same time without planning it. Because the Body of Christ isn’t a concept. It’s the people who show up. Six parts now. One body. Same trail. And a turtle mascot named Gerald. Key Scripture 1 Corinthians 12:27 (KJV) “Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular.” Family Discussion • What part do you play in your church, your family, or your friend group? • Ava’s questions made Lina’s faith stronger. Has someone ever challenged you in a way that helped you grow? • Who are the ‘invisible parts’ of the body — the people doing faithful work that nobody sees? Big Idea The Body of Christ isn’t a concept — it’s the people who show up. And every part matters.

Have you ever wondered what you could possibly do for God? Maybe you aren't the one holding the microphone. Maybe you don't sing the solo, teach the class, or stand where everybody can see you. That doesn't mean your part doesn't matter. This week on ARK, we're wrapping up the quarter with an incredible lesson from 1 Corinthians 12: the Church is the Body of Christ, and every member has an important part to play. entire episode 9-28 Miss Sunshine helps Gigi survive another “catastrophe” when a group project teaches her that everyone doesn't have to do the same job. Some people notice needs. Some listen. Some serve. Some lead, teach, organize, encourage, or get things done. When everyone faithfully does their part, something much bigger becomes possible. entire episode 9-28 entire episode 9-28 Then the Rubber Bandit learns the lesson the painful way when one little injured finger suddenly affects his whole body—and reminds him that even the seemingly smallest member of a team matters. entire episode 9-28 Finally, Papaw brings the lesson home using the ARK crew itself. Yogi brings energy. Miss Sunshine brings heart. Dillio keeps everything running. Dusty faithfully serves when nobody is watching. Nobody can do everything, but everybody can do something. And that's exactly how God designed His Church. 1 Corinthians 12:27 (KJV) "Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular." entire episode 9-28 Kids will discover that God gives different people different gifts and responsibilities, that visible roles aren't more important than quiet ones, and that every member of the Body of Christ matters. They'll also learn that needing help isn't weakness—God intentionally designed His people to encourage, serve, pray for, teach, and strengthen one another. entire episode 9-28 Different parts. One body. One purpose. You don't have to do everything. You don't have to be somebody else. You simply need to faithfully do your part—and value the people God has placed around you. Find your part this week. Maybe you can welcome the new kid. Help clean the classroom. Encourage someone who's having a hard day. Pray for somebody who's hurting. Help without being asked. Then look for somebody else who's faithfully doing their part—and tell them you appreciate them. Because in God's family: Your place matters.Your gifts matter.Their gifts matter.And we're better together. Verse of the WeekWhat Kids Will LearnMain ThoughtChallenge of the Week

Some gifts arrive years after you stopped expecting them. And when they do, they don’t feel like gifts. They feel like earthquakes. Mr. Henry sends a text — his first ever. Two words: ‘Come over.’ The kids run. On the porch, he tells them: his granddaughter Rachel called. She’s twenty-three. She was twelve when she left. She left a voicemail. He’s listened to it eleven times. She heard about him. About the church. About the stars. About kids he carves wood for. She heard because Tanner’s words traveled — from a cafeteria to a neighborhood to another church to a city in Oregon to Rachel. Mr. Henry looks at Tanner: “What you did was wrong. But God used it anyway.” Not because the mistake was good. Because God is. The parable of the talents becomes personal. Mr. Henry buried hope. For eleven years he kept carving, kept going to church, kept placing stars — but stopped believing Rachel would ever call. Now she has. And he doesn’t know what to do with a talent he thought was dead. The kids go home. Behind the closed door, a phone dials. Two rings. A young voice answers. And an old man says the hardest words of his life: “Rachel. It’s your grandpa.” Key Scripture Matthew 25:21 (KJV) “His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things.” Family Discussion • Is there a gift, a talent, or a hope that you’ve buried? What would it look like to dig it up? • God used Tanner’s mistake to reach Mr. Henry’s granddaughter. Does that make the mistake okay? What does it teach us about grace? • Mr. Henry was faithful for eleven years without seeing results. What keeps you going when you don’t see God working? Big Idea God doesn’t waste your faithfulness. Even the talents you’ve buried can grow — when you find the courage to dig them up.

God has given you something special. The question is: What are you going to do with it? This week on ARK, Jesus' Parable of the Talents teaches us that God doesn't expect everyone to have the same gifts, abilities, or opportunities. He simply wants us to be faithful with what He has placed in our hands. On Choice and Consequence, three servants discover what happens after their master returns. Ben Breezy tracks a dangerous comparison system that has everyone asking, "Why did they get more than me?" And Miss Sunshine helps Jax discover that being useful to God doesn't mean being good at everything. Then Junkie takes us into Matthew 25, where one servant receives five talents, another receives two, and another receives one. The amounts are different, but the assignment is the same: Use what you've been given. The servants who put their talents to work both hear the exact same words: "Well done, good and faithful servant." God isn't asking you to sing like somebody else, teach like somebody else, lead like somebody else, or have somebody else's gifts. He wants you to faithfully use what He gave you. Maybe that's singing. Maybe it's helping. Maybe it's making someone laugh when they're hurting. Maybe you're a great listener, an encourager, a leader, or someone who loves inviting friends to church. Whatever God has placed in your hands, don't bury it because you're young, afraid, or comparing yourself to somebody else. Use it for Him. Colossians 3:23 (KJV) "And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men;" Kids will discover that God gives different people different gifts, that every gift can matter in His Kingdom, and that being young doesn't prevent God from using them. They'll also learn that comparison can distract us from our own calling, fear can cause us to bury what God has given us, and faithfulness matters more than having the biggest or most noticeable talent. Don't bury it. Don't compare it. Use it. God isn't asking you to be somebody else. He's asking you to be faithful with what He gave you. Ask yourself two questions: What has God given me?How can I use it for Him? Then don't just think about it. Do something with it. Encourage someone. Help someone. Invite someone. Sing. Create. Listen. Serve. Give. Whatever God has placed in your hands, put it to work for His Kingdom. One day, the words that matter most won't be "You had the most talent." They'll be: "Well done, good and faithful servant."

Some questions don’t need a fast answer. They need a true one. Three weeks ago, Ava asked Lina why she dresses the way she does. Not the church answer — HER answer. Lina didn’t have one. Tonight she does. Sitting on the front porch, Lina tells Ava the truth: she used to see holiness as rules. Restrictions. Being different when she didn’t want to be. But she stopped seeing it as ‘what I can’t do’ and started seeing it as ‘who I’m choosing to be.’ “Modesty isn’t a cage. It’s a declaration. It says: I don’t need the world to tell me I’m enough. God already did.” Ava doesn’t change her mind. She doesn’t put on a skirt. But she sees something she hasn’t seen before — a girl her age who owns what she believes and can explain why, without quoting someone else’s conviction. Meanwhile, Mr. Henry has been acting different. Checking his phone. Leaving church early. The group notices. Tanner doesn’t ask. He’s learned. No star this week. But Lina found something more important: her own voice. Key Scripture 1 Peter 3:15 (KJV) “Be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear.” Family Discussion • Can you explain what you believe in your own words — not what someone told you, but what you know for yourself? • Lina said holiness is about identity, not restriction. What do you think she means? • Ava still has questions. Why is that okay? Big Idea Holiness isn’t restriction — it’s identity. And the strongest faith is the kind you’ve made your own.

Why are you here? Is there a reason you're you — with your personality, your abilities, your interests, your laugh, and all the things that make you different from everyone else? This week on ARK, we're going all the way back to the beginning to discover an incredible truth: You are not an accident. You were created with purpose. Travel back to Genesis as God speaks light into darkness, fills the sky with stars, separates land and sea, grows plants and trees, and fills His creation with fish, birds, and animals. Everything has order. Everything has design. Everything has purpose. But when God creates mankind, something is different. Scripture tells us that God created man in His own image. He formed Adam from the dust and breathed into him the breath of life. People weren't an afterthought in God's creation. And neither are you. Ben Breezy's "purpose radar" finds a very strong reading, Leo builds a machine to figure out what things are for, and Dilio examines Genesis as the original design document of the universe. Along the way, the ARK crew discovers that the God who intentionally designed the entire universe also intentionally designed you. You don't have to spend your life trying to become somebody else. God knows you. God loves you. And God created you for a purpose. Romans 8:28 (KJV) "And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose." God created the world with order, design, and purpose Mankind was uniquely created in the image of God Every child can know that his or her life has value and purpose Our differences don't mean God made a mistake We don't have to become somebody else to be valuable God can use our gifts, personalities, and abilities for His Kingdom Even when we make mistakes, God can still work in our lives when we turn to Him God made you on purpose, for a purpose. The God who designed the stars, oceans, mountains, animals, and everything in creation also designed you. You aren't random. You aren't an afterthought. You are God's workmanship. Instead of asking: "Why can't I be more like them?" Start asking: "Jesus, what did You create me to do?" You don't have to figure out your entire life today. Keep following Jesus. Keep learning His Word. Keep growing closer to Him. As you do, let God show you how to use the gifts, abilities, personality, and opportunities He's given you for His Kingdom. Don't spend your life trying to become somebody else. God created you to be you. Live your purpose. Live it boldly. And remember: God doesn't make junk. He makes masterpieces.

Some walls get rebuilt by one person with a vision. Others get rebuilt by a bunch of kids with paintbrushes and no plan at all. The city didn’t close the Seventh Street park. Instead, they approved a community improvement grant — seven hundred dollars for materials, but the labor is on the neighborhood. So the group shows up with paint, trash bags, and something Micah calls a ‘weed whacker’ that is clearly scissors taped to a stick. Deshawn is back. Mr. Henry drives over with actual tools and fixes the wobbly bench in ten minutes. Gerald the turtle is confirmed alive. But something is off with Mr. Henry. He keeps checking his phone — and Mr. Henry barely knows how to use a phone. Tanner notices. He doesn’t ask. That’s growth. The park gets cleaned up. Not perfect, but real. Deshawn places his first star on the fence post: BUILD. God’s work gets done when God’s people show up together. Even when one of them is distracted by something he’s not ready to share.   Key Scripture Nehemiah 4:6 (KJV) “So built we the wall… for the people had a mind to work.”   Family Discussion • What could you build together as a family, a church, or a neighborhood if everyone showed up? • Tanner noticed something was wrong with Mr. Henry but didn’t push. Why was that the right choice? • Deshawn placed his first star. What would YOUR first star say?   Big Idea Big jobs get done when God’s people show up together — imperfect tools, imperfect people, same mission.

Grab your tools—it’s time to rebuild! In this special Labor Day episode, the ARK crew travels back to Jerusalem to witness Nehemiah and God’s people rebuild the city wall in only 52 days. Dillio McData calculates whether Nehemiah could have completed the enormous job alone, while Skip McKrikey puts Tobiah’s famous insult to the test with Franklin—a tap-dancing, chariot-driving, jackhammer-operating fox! Through plenty of laughs and the powerful story of Nehemiah, kids will discover that they are never too young to serve, every person has an important part, and amazing things can happen when God’s people work together for His purpose. Your piece of the wall matters!

Episode Summary Some mornings feel different before anything happens. Like the air decided to forgive the night before you did. Tanner walks to Mr. Henry’s house on a Saturday morning. The porch light is on. Two chairs are out. Mr. Henry hands him a cup of coffee — the worst coffee on Earth — and tells him to drink it anyway. “That’s trust.” They talk about school. About carving. Mr. Henry has started making things again — not stars with messages this time, just shapes. He doesn’t know what they’re for yet. But his hands needed to be busy. Mr. Henry tells Tanner the thing he needs to hear most: “The fact that you came to my door, wrote that letter, and kept showing up after I was cold to you tells me more about who you’re becoming than the mistake tells me about who you were.” That afternoon, Tanner carves for the first time in a month. The star says CLEAN HEART. It’s going in Mr. Henry’s mailbox. Not hidden. Not anonymous. This star has a name on it. The failure arc is over. Not because it was erased, but because grace kept the door open long enough for a boy to walk back through it. Key Scripture Psalm 51:10 (KJV) “Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.” Family Discussion • What does it look like to start over after a mistake? Not to erase it, but to grow from it? • Mr. Henry said when someone shows you something private, it’s sacred. What does ‘sacred’ mean to you? • David wrote Psalm 51 after his worst failure. Why do you think God included it in the Bible? Big Idea A clean heart isn’t one that never got dirty. It’s one that God made new on the other side of failure.

We've spent all month learning how to stand strong. But what happens when you don't? What happens when you make the wrong choice, hurt someone, disobey God, or do something you wish you could take back? This week on ARK, we're discovering that standing strong doesn't mean you'll never fall. It means you don't stay down. Miss Sunshine uses a stained shirt to teach Riley what happens when sin leaves a stain on our hearts. Ben Breezy tracks a messy "sin storm" over King David, and the Rubber Bandit discovers that hiding a chili stain under his vest doesn't actually make it clean. Then we head into the Bible to discover what happened when David, a man who truly loved God, made some terrible choices. David sinned. He tried to hide it. But when the prophet Nathan confronted him, David finally stopped covering, stopped hiding, and admitted the truth: "I have sinned." David didn't just want God to make him feel better. He wanted God to change him. His prayer in Psalm 51 was simple and powerful: "Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me." God forgave David. His choices still had real consequences, but his failure didn't have to be the end of his story. And neither does yours. Psalm 119:11 (KJV) "Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee." That everyone makes mistakes and needs God's mercyWhy hiding or covering sin doesn't make it disappearHow David responded when Nathan confronted himWhat true repentance looks likeThat forgiveness doesn't always remove the consequences of our choicesWhy God wants to clean and change our heartsThat failure doesn't have to be the end of our storyStanding strong doesn't mean you'll never fall. It means that when you fall, you don't stay down. Get honest with God. Repent. Let Him clean your heart. Then get back up and keep following Jesus. Is there something you've been trying to hide? Something you said? A wrong choice you made? Something you know wasn't pleasing to God? Don't run away from Jesus because you messed up. Run to Him. Tell Him the truth. Ask Him to forgive you. Ask Him to change your heart and help you make things right. Then remember: Your mistakes don't have to become your identity. Jesus forgives. Jesus cleans. Jesus restores. And Jesus can help you stand strong with a clean heart.

Episode Summary The hardest word isn’t always ‘no.’ Sometimes it’s ‘not yet.’ Or ‘not really.’ Or the one nobody wants to say: ‘It’s still not okay.’ Three weeks after his mistake, Tanner is smiling again — eighty percent real. He waved at Mr. Henry. Mr. Henry waved back. Small. But real. The temptation now isn’t sin. It’s pretending the damage is fixed when it’s still healing. Meanwhile, Ava asks Lina the hardest question she’s faced all year: “Why do you dress the way you do? Not what your church says — what do YOU think?” Lina gives the standard answer. Ava stops her: “You’re always correct. That’s not the same as honest.” For the first time, Lina has to decide whether her beliefs are inherited or owned. She’s not doubting holiness standards. She’s realizing she’s never had to defend them to someone who isn’t already inside the faith. And that’s a different skill. No star this week. Fourth week running. The trail is quiet. But quiet doesn’t mean empty. Key Scripture James 1:22 (KJV) “But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.” Family Discussion • Is there something you believe because you were told to, or because you’ve made it your own? • Ava said ‘correct’ isn’t the same as ‘honest.’ What do you think she meant? • Why is it important to be able to explain what you believe in your own words? Big Idea The armor isn’t just for battles outside you. Sometimes it’s for the war inside — the one where you decide if your faith is inherited or owned.

Everybody faces temptation — even Jesus did. But being tempted doesn't mean you have to give in! This week on ARK, we're continuing our Standing Strong series by heading into the Judean wilderness, where Jesus shows us exactly what to do when we're tempted to make the wrong choice. Rick Roaster gets the story from two very nervous rocks who thought they were about to become bread, while Ben Breezy tracks a dangerous "temptation system" moving through the wilderness. Miss Sunshine helps Benny survive the almost-unbearable temptation of unattended chocolate chip cookies, and Junkie gets another chance to tell the story of Jesus' temptation — this time after actually studying his Bible! Again and again, Satan tempted Jesus. And again and again, Jesus answered: "It is written." Jesus didn't argue with temptation. He didn't negotiate with it. He knew God's Word, trusted God's Word, and chose God's way. Kids will discover that temptation can show up in all kinds of ways. Someone may pressure us to lie, cheat, make fun of another person, look at something we shouldn't, or go along with the crowd. But God always gives us a choice. We can walk away. We can pray. We can ask for help. And we can use the Word of God we've hidden in our hearts. Ephesians 4:5 (KJV) "One Lord, one faith, one baptism," That being tempted is not the same as sinningHow Jesus responded when Satan tempted HimWhy knowing God's Word helps us make right choicesWhy we need to understand Scripture correctly, not just know a few words from itThat God provides a way of escape when temptation comesWhy learning Scripture before temptation comes prepares us to stand strongKnow God's Word. Choose God's way. When temptation says yes to wrong, God's Word gives us strength to say no. And when God says, "Follow Me," we can say yes. Don't wait until temptation comes to find out what the Bible says. Read it now.Learn it now.Hide it in your heart now. Choose a Bible verse this week that can help you make a right choice when you're tempted. Memorize it and ask Jesus to help you remember it when you need it. Because when temptation comes knocking, you can already have your answer: "It is written." Stand strong. Stand on God's Word. And keep choosing His way.

Some doors are harder to knock on the second time. Two weeks of silence. Two weeks of a closed Star Log. Two weeks since Tanner gave away Mr. Henry’s story. Today he goes to the door. The porch light is off. It’s never been off. Mr. Henry lets him in. The kitchen table — the one that was covered in stars during the reveal — is bare. He reads Tanner’s letter silently. Then he asks Tanner to say it out loud. “Trust isn’t a star, Tanner. You can’t carve another one.” Mr. Henry forgives him. Not because the hurt is small. Because grace is bigger. But trust comes back slower than forgiveness. Tanner will have to live with that. They don’t see it when they walk away. But behind them, the porch light clicks back on. The Star Log opens for the first time in three weeks. Key Scripture Psalm 51:10 (KJV) “Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.” Family Discussion • Has someone ever forgiven you for something that really hurt them? What did that teach you about grace? • Mr. Henry said trust comes back slower than forgiveness. What’s the difference between the two? • The porch light came back on. What does that symbolize? Big Idea Forgiveness is a choice. Trust is a process. And grace leaves the light on even when it hurts.