In response to the ongoing and controversial Drag Queen Story Hour events at Anchorage’s Loussac Library, a group of Christians started holding their own story hour gatherings to offer children stories, songs and conversations based on the Bible.
The Good News Club was started earlier this year after Anchorage residents voiced concern about the library’s decision to let drag queens read stories to youth that promote cross dressing and gender confusion. The library continues to promote and sponsor the drag queen events, but it now also allows for the Bible story events.
“Essentially, I realized we weren’t making ground in our petition to remove the drag queen story time,” said Windy Perkins, who coordinates the Good News Club. “So, I suggested, in the spirit of open-mindedness, we be allowed to do a children’s Bible story time.”
The idea wasn’t approved without some struggle.
“It honestly wasn’t that easy at first,” Perkins explained. “The library wanted us to rent out a room rather than be ‘partners’ like the drag queens. Thankfully everything worked out just fine after some discussions, and God intervening in relationships. Now we are allowed to schedule events as partners free of charge.”
The Good News Club utilizes material from Child Evangelism Fellowship, an international organization that equips Christians in providing short programs designed to bring the Gospel of Christ to children. The programs are provided in homes, public schools and community centers all over the world.
According to the Child Evangelism Fellowship website, Good News Clubs have met freely in public settings for some time. In 2001 the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in Good News Clubs v. Milford Central School that Good News Clubs can meet in public schools on the same terms as other community groups.
The Anchorage event includes a simple Bible lesson, presented at a young child’s level, library book reading and the singing of Christian children’s songs.
“This event is important for our community as a whole,” Perkins said. “Children are taught the Word of God in a public setting. I also feel like this unites the Body of Christ. Often times Christian/Catholic and other believers in Jesus are sadly divided by church denominations, this brings together the body of Christ without barriers.”
Perkins added: “Children need to know the Bible – their knowledge of God’s word is the hope for our future.”
The next Good News Club take place Nov. 13 and Dec. 18 at 11 a.m. The events are held on the fourth floor of the Loussac Library in Anchorage.
