Sheila Noel leads a Huntsville ministry that trains local volunteers and equips overseas leaders to teach children.
HUNTSVILLE, Texas - The Kingdom Builders Ministry is preparing to resume Bible clubs at four Huntsville elementary schools while continuing to expand its network of children's ministry programs in several countries.
Sheila Noel, a Huntsville resident who leads the ministry with support from her family and volunteers, said the local clubs are expected to begin after school bus routes and classroom routines are established for the new academic year. She expects the programs to start Sept. 21 and continue at one elementary campus each weekday through the school year.
The Huntsville clubs give children time for Bible lessons, Scripture learning and supervised activities after the school day. Noel said volunteers sit with students, help maintain a safe setting and assist with music, memory verses and lessons based on their experience and training.
The local work is part of a ministry that also trains pastors, teachers and volunteers overseas. Noel described a model that places teaching tools in the hands of people who already live in the communities they serve. Those local leaders can continue operating clubs, discipling children and training additional workers after a visiting team leaves.
A Calling That Began With Children's Ministry
Noel said her work with children began when she trained with Child Evangelism Fellowship at age 15. She and her husband later operated a children's camp near Galveston for eight years before health concerns brought them to Huntsville in 2008.
Her first trip to Malawi grew from a longstanding interest in serving children in Africa. Noel joined a church team even though she did not know the other participants. The experience convinced her that school-based ministry could reach large numbers of children and give local leaders a structure they could continue using.
After several trips, Noel began developing her own network of ministry partners. She trained people in methods she had learned through years of children's ministry and encouraged them to take those lessons into schools and rural communities.
The Kingdom Builders Ministry's official website describes its mission as sharing the Christian gospel in schools around the world. The organization also assists local missionaries and pastors with training intended to help them teach and disciple children effectively.
Noel said the ministry often works in rural areas that receive fewer visits from larger international organizations. She relies on local partners who understand the language, schools and culture. Her role includes providing training, teaching resources and support that can help those partners establish lasting programs.
Bible Clubs Continue Through Local Leadership
Noel reported that ministry partners have established hundreds of Bible clubs across several countries. She listed 531 clubs in Malawi, 153 in Zambia, 141 in Tanzania, 10 in Rwanda, four in Burundi, 27 in Kenya and eight in Trinidad.
She also said ministry work during May and June reached more than 206,000 children. Those figures were provided by Noel and should be understood as the ministry's own reporting of its reach.
The approach centers on training residents to continue the work in their own communities. Noel said teachers and ministry leaders can enter schools, organize clubs and teach other volunteers after receiving the initial materials and instruction.
That local leadership is especially important in communities where children have limited access to organized Christian education. Noel described working with schools and regional education officials who allowed trained leaders to offer programs for students. She said a school official in Tanzania sent a letter thanking one ministry partner for training workers and serving schools in the region.
The ministry's website highlights current and past mission efforts, including church planting and a Carpenter's Mission Project scheduled for May and June 2026. Its mission archive and photo gallery show ministry work with children and local leaders in overseas communities.
Huntsville Volunteers Support Clubs Close to Home
Noel's overseas work remains connected to Huntsville through the elementary school clubs. She said each club runs from school dismissal until 5 p.m. Volunteers can assist students at tables, supervise the playground and help create an orderly setting for the lessons.
College students have helped with the clubs, and Noel said the ministry offers a small payment for their two hours of assistance. High school students seeking service hours and older adult volunteers have also participated.
Prospective school volunteers must complete the local school district's application and background check. Noel said approved volunteers can choose a day that fits their schedule. People who want a larger teaching role can receive additional training for music, memory verses or Bible lessons.
The need for volunteers grows with the number of students participating. Adult helpers provide supervision and give children consistent contact with people from the community. Noel said the clubs also create opportunities to encourage the college and high school students who serve alongside the ministry.
Financial support helps pay for teaching materials, travel and training. The Kingdom Builders Ministry is a nonprofit organization, and its website provides online and text giving options. Donations can also be mailed to the organization.
How to Contact The Kingdom Builders Ministry
More information about the ministry, its mission projects, volunteer opportunities and financial support is available at thekingdombuildersministry.org.
The organization's work links an after-school presence in Huntsville with a training network that reaches overseas communities. Noel said the goal in each location is to equip people who can continue serving children through relationships already rooted in their schools and communities.
Watch the full interview with Sheila on "Good Morning Huntsville" below