“The name plays off of two themes,” said Dan Travis, senior pastor at Palmyra Grace and co-director of Nic@Nite, “the popular kids’ game program from television and that Nicodemus came to Jesus at night (John 3:2). It brings in the message of salvation as well.”

When the kids first arrive, they are put in teams of no more than 15 children.

“Each team has a different color t-shirt with the Nic@Nite logo,” said Travis. “Each team has a flag and they huddle around the flag as they go from place to place,” he said.

Palmyra, Pa., Grace Brethren Church invested in three large water slides to use during the water games portion of Nic@Nite.

With an average of 192 kids attending each Wednesday night, last summer they had 21 teams. “This is, by far, the biggest event our church has ever done,” Travis recalled.

Each night is divided in two parts: the Big Show, held in the sanctuary, and the water games, organized outside.

“We’re trying to reach non-Christian kids and families,” said Travis. He notes that two-thirds of the children who attend are from an unchurched or liberal background. “We’ve seen families visit our church as a result.”

During the Big Show, the children sing songs and hear a Bible story, while volunteers from the church perform a skit that includes a cliff-hanging scenario to draw the youngsters back the next week. “Thematically, it leads to the presentation of the gospel,” Travis said.

“This year we really focused on the gospel message,” Cassel added. For Cassel, the highlight of Nic@Nite was seeing the gospel message come together for the children. “That’s what it’s really about-the Great Commission,” he said.

At the end of the Big Show, the kids gather with their individual coaches. “The coaches ask questions to make sure they understood the message of the program,” said Cassel.

Then, the festivities move to the lawn for water games. (Kids are asked to wear a swimsuit and shoes that can get wet and to bring a towel.)

Water games are a big part of Nic@Nite at the Palmyra, Pa., Grace Brethren Church. (photo courtesy of Palmyra Grace Brethren Church)

A favorite game is the Bonzai Falls – a 12-foot inflatable waterslide.

“A kid may have to twirl a hula hoop three times and jump into a baby pool and then go on the Bonzai Falls before the next person on the team could go,” said Travis.

“It gets the kids physically involved, physically active, and it keeps them coming back for more,” said Cassel.

Nic@Nite runs from 7-8:45 p.m., but it’s an all-day event for the 110 staff members and volunteers. Prep starts at 9 a.m. with staff, set-up is at 3 p.m., dinner is provided for the helpers at 5 p.m., registration starts at 6:15 p.m., and team coaches are ready to welcome the kids at 6:30 p.m.

“(Nic@Nite) all began with a couple who had experienced something similar in their former church. We took it and developed it for our church,” Travis said. It’s also given the Palmyra pastor some notoriety. “I’m known for months afterwards as the Nic@Nite pastor.”

Palmyra Grace has presented Nic@Nite for the past four years. In 2009, attendance was as high as 375 people, including children, adults, and preschoolers.

“Our previous biggest night had been 108. We had 175 on the first night this year, and it was raining and cold-for me, that was the highlight,” Travis said.

“The huge amount of participation from the church body is a big factor in the success of the program,” said Cassel. “(There are) lots of folks praying and lots of preparation. They care about what they do-that the kids get the message.”

The curriculum Nic@Nite uses is homegrown, written by members within the church. “Usually we have a team of two to three people,” Travis said. This year, church member Leslie Allebach volunteered to produce the script, with theological oversight by Travis.

Palmyra Grace is making its curriculum available to other congregations for the cost of printing. Travis suggests that interested churches begin planning for the event in January.

If you are interested in the Nic@Nite curriculum or have other questions, call Travis at Palmyra Grace Brethren Church, (717) 838-5447.

Natalie Rummel was an editorial intern with the Brethren Missionary Herald Company. She is a 2009 graduate of Grace College.