Jesus, water slides and community outreach

It all started with a mission trip to Atlanta. 

Missy Reed, Spa City Kidz director, saw the unmet needs of those most vulnerable in her community. After a mission trip to the Atlanta Dream Center, Reed felt called to start her own ministry in her hometown of Hot Springs, Arkansas.  

“After visiting the Atlanta Dream Center, the Lord began to speak to me. I had no idea I would ever start a children’s ministry,” Reed said. “He told me to go down to the housing authority and it all started from that visit.” 

To see her vision come to life, Reed partnered with co- leader Lana Waid and her home church, Lakeview Assembly Church. Together, Reed, Waide and the church launched Spa City Kidz in 2017. 

“We had to meet with the man who was over the Housing Authority of the City of Hot Springs and get permission to do our programming. When we were talking to him about our mission, he was convinced we were just trying to grow our church numbers,” Reed said. “We told him we just wanted to come and love on the kids, bless them and bring Jesus outside the walls of the church. Before the meeting was over, he ended up praying with us and introduced us to the community. He gave us full permission to do our ministry.” 

For four years, Spa City Kidz has been showing up every third Saturday of the month from March to December. They arrive with biblical truth, food and fun for kids. Whether it’s free haircuts, trips to the park, paying for a family’s rent, providing coats during the winter or toys for Christmas, Spa City Kidz is all about building relationships, loving others like Jesus and meeting the needs of the families they serve.

“Building relationships is all about showing up. If you say you are going to be there, show up,” Reed shared. 

When summer arrives, Spa City Kidz brings out water slides and swimming pools to create a homemade water park for kids. This year, they ordered an Amazon box from CityServe. Not knowing what was inside, they opened to find swimsuits- exactly what they needed so kids could go down water slides and swim in the pools. After playing in the water, families enjoy a free cookout dinner and devotional led by Spa City Kidz. 

Marley Bellamy, CityServe liaison for Lakeview Assembly, finds summertime ministry to be the most influential for kids. “During the summertime, Spa City Kidz is especially impactful because kids are often by themselves all day,” Bellamy explained. “They’re not at school and so they sit at home. The couple of times we get to go out there during the summer months might be the only fun they have all break.”

Spa City Kidz not only impacts families, but the entire church as Lakeview Assembly comes alongside the mission of the ministry. 

“There are so many members of the church who want to help. It really brings together everyone from the church. The families get to not only see Missy, but see people from Lakeview,” Bellamy says. 

At the heart of Spa City Kidz is faithfulness: faithful to God’s calling; His people and the message of the Gospel. 

“Kids just want love. They know if you’re real or not. You have to be faithful and consistent to show up,” Reed said. 

Pray for Spa City Kidz

How can you pray for Spa City Kidz? Ask the Lord to meet the needs of the families they serve. Pray for protection, salvation of souls and direction as they seek to add co-leaders to their ministry. For more information on Spa City Kidz, contact Melissa Reed at 501-844-1018. 

Become a Church Partner

CityServe seeks to empower the local church with resources to strengthen relationships within their communities. To become a CityServe Arkansas church partner, visit everyarkansan.org/cityservearkansas or contact CityServe Arkansas Director Tony Phillips at tony@cityservearkansas.us.