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Children's Staff and Philosophy

A Note from Pastor Erik!

Children's Ministry Philosophy

I believe that we can help children experience Jesus, grow in His abundant life and fall in love with Him. Also I believe in coming along side parents to equip them in being successful in fulfilling their God-given role as the spiritual leaders in their home. It is my firmest belief that the greatest impact in a child’s life happens when the family and the church partner together.
Kids are going to form their first impressions of God and the local church through our ministry, so we want that picture to accurately reflect how awesome it is to have a relationship with God. We want them to love his Word, to want to be a part of community, and to be committed to using their spiritual gifts within the body. As we strive to make these things happen in our ministry, and do it with excellence, we make it the best part of every kid's week!
“Growing God in Growing Kids”
I believe in growing kids toward full devotion to Christ, and assist them in meeting the challenges their generation faces, and training them to become leaders for the Kingdom. We need to have a setting where children experience so much fun learning and believing how awesome God is that they won't want to miss a single week.

We need to have music so contemporary and engaging that children leave humming the tunes and singing words that help them remember biblical truths all week.

Our children’s church will be a place where video and drama effectively teach this media-driven generation about how to live the Christian life at home, during school, and in their neighborhoods.

We need to have a strong people-focus ministry where children receive intentional shepherding, they are known and loved, and adult volunteers serve with great joy and passion, convinced they provide a strong influence on a generation of Christ's followers.

Core Values

1. Be a child-targeted ministry.
We will do what we need to in order to reach this generation for Christ. We need to plan activities that are age-appropriate and engaging to children. The decor in the children’s church needs to communicate that children are important. Songs and Bible lessons need to be taught in ways that will best reach and teach children. We must look at everything we do through a child's eyes to create a ministry that reaches, teaches, and loves that child.

2. Lessons will be relevant to today's kids.
Every lesson, example, and activity must be relevant to kids in their life today. We ask, "How does this lesson apply to their culture and world today?" and "How can the Bible truth be relevant in the life of a child today?" For both Christian kids and non-Christian kids, relevancy is an important key to moving them across the line of faith in Jesus and growing them up into fully devoted followers of Him. Being relevant means helping kids see that God's Word is written for them and can be applied to every one of them.

3. Teach the Bible creatively.
In order to keep pace with the various learning styles of children today, we need to vary how we communicate our lessons each week. The biblical message is so powerful and effective—the same yesterday, today, and forever. But in order to teach in a way that's relevant to our target audience, we often must update our methods of presentation. Set a goal for children to become so fascinated with the Bible stories that they want to learn more.
To do this requires a clear understanding of our children's world. Watch their favorite television shows, observe the places they like to eat, play, and learn, and study the ways children learn best. Then put all that information to use in preparing a children’s church that teaches the Bible lesson creatively through realistic drama sketches, video clips, creative storytelling, contemporary music, and/or other effective teaching methods.

4. We will keep children spiritually, emotionally, and physically safe.
Church must be a safe place for children, knowing that safety and security are among a child's highest needs. Children cannot learn well in an environment where they are afraid and don't feel safe spiritually, emotionally, or physically. As children arrive each weekend, they need to feel a genuine warmth and immediate comfort level with the adults who are responsible for them. We need to assure parents and children alike that we have their best interests as our top priority at all times.

5. Ministry will be FUN!
Our goal is to have children come back week after week because they enjoy their visit so much they can't wait to return. When kids keep coming back for the fun, we can accomplish our mission by continuing to nurture and teach them spiritually. In order to make our children's ministry the best time of a child's week, we have to remember to add the fun! And remember, fun affects adult volunteers, too!

Children's Ministry Staff and Volunteers

Commitment to Giftedness
Children's ministry staff and volunteers work best as a team when everyone serves only in roles that allow them to use their God-given gifts and abilities.
Placing volunteers in their areas of giftedness is vitally important to maintaining a positive, effective ministry. If volunteers do not have a passion for the area in which they serve, their responsibilities will become burdensome rather than joyful.
When the staff and volunteers serve in their unique areas of giftedness, the children's ministry becomes team-based and joy-filled. No one person carries the whole program. Leaders are free to fully lead, administrators can administrate, teachers can teach, shepherds can build relationships, helpers can assist, etc. When the whole team serves together, all the needs are met. This naturally leads to community and care, not just for the children, but for the adults as well. Through the team approach, children see a vivid example of the body of Christ in action.

It is my vision to create a strong, thriving ministry where kids are loved and volunteers are valued; where the life-changing truth of Scripture becomes a life-long reality for every child that walks through the door.

We are staffed by a caring and dedicated group of volunteers. You can be a part of this exciting ministry by picking up filling out an online application or calling Shannon Kiser, 560-6200 to find out about the many opportunities for involvement.