The Sunshine Band is the official children’s ministry of the United Churches of God in Christ. It is an auxiliary of the Women’s Department of our church. The Sunshine Band ministry was established by Bishop C. H. Mason, founder of the Church of God in Christ in 1911. Mother Lizzie Roberson began appointing state supervisors to organize jurisdictional units of various auxiliaries. The Sunshine Band is one of the original four auxiliaries established by Bishop Mason and Mother Roberson. In 1922 Mother Lydia E. Hinsley began to unify the Sunshine Band as an organization in the church of God in Christ. The Church of God in Christ Sunshine Band is now worldwide under the leadership of Dr. Lytia R. Howard.
In 2000 Sis Lillie Mitchell was selected to serve on the Regional Sunshine Band Staff the Church of God in Christ under the leadership of Dr. Howard and Evangelist Viola E. Seay. In 2001 Sis. Mitchell and her family joined Christ Tabernacle United Church of God in Christ and was appointed as the International Sunshine Band President for the United Churches of God in Christ in 2004. Having served as a local, district and regional Sunshine Band leader Sis Mitchell’s focus is to establish Sunshine Bands in each local church, district and jurisdiction.
The Sunshine Band has been responsible for leading countless numbers of children to Christ, supplying their various school and personal needs, providing leadership training that has been used in their adult years, and offering the emotional support necessary for effective growth and development.
The auxiliary has always focused on the ministering to and nurturance of our children under twelve years old. The primary goal is reaching and saving our children by introducing them to Christ and what it means to be Christ like as a child. We teach the children about the love of God and His Son Jesus, basic Bible concepts, knowledge, worship and service. It is our intent that the children come to know and love Jesus as the light of the world.
The Sunshine Band plays a vital role in the lives of children. As we teach God's Word, we can arrest the satanic attacks being made on their young minds. We will teach them what is right, show them the way and offer appropriate alternatives and responses to life's challenges, "we make a difference" and build for the future. Proverbs 22:6 affirms that we "Train up a child in the way he (she) should go: when he (she) is old, he (she) will not depart from it."
