Purpose
Believing that parents are God’s choice as the primary influence in a child’s life, our desire is to come alongside parents by providing a loving, caring, God-centered, gospel-focused, safe environment for growth while each child is under our care.
Structure
At Grace Church, we have four Grace Kid’s classes to accommodate the children from birth to 5th grade. Children in 6th grade and beyond will stay in the service with their parents. A nursery is provided from the start of the meeting (corporate singing) for infants and toddlers. The Pre-K and Elementary classes meet during the message time.
Security
Grace Kids is manned and operated by volunteer-members of the local church, under pastoral authority. Each adult and teen has been screened through an application process and are active members in good standing with Grace Church. At Grace Kid’s check-in you will receive a security tag for your child. At the end of the meeting, this tag will be necessary to pick them up.
Curriculum
Material, mostly from Desiring God Ministries, is used in Grace Kid’s. Quoting from the Children Desiring God website (www.childrendesiringgod.org):
"Where do we want our children to be 10 or 20 years from now? Can churches grow mighty oaks of righteousness without intentionally nurturing the saplings under their care? The deep-rooted faith we desire for our children--a faith that weathers the storms of life and bears fruit for the glory of God--is nurtured by a systematic plan to partner with parents in communicating the greatness of God, the glory of Christ, and the power of the Gospel.
The greatest need children have is to know and cherish the infinite value of God. Therefore, we want children to become so acquainted with the Word of God that they treasure Him alone as the One who saves and satisfies the heart. The goal of our curriculum is to fuel spiritual desire in children by exalting the greatness and worth of God and His glorious work through Christ."
Classes
Nursery breaks down into two classes and is provided for birth up to three years of age during the entire meeting.
· Infants: Birth – to walking
· Toddlers: Walking to 35-months
A Sure Foundation Sample Nursery breaks down into two classes and is provided for birth up to three years of age during the entire meeting.
· Pre-K - Kindergarten
Survey of old and new Testaments
The pre-K and Kindergartners are combined to form the third class offered. A brief break is provided after the singing portion, allowing you to check-in your child into this and the elementary class. This pre-school class has lots of safe toys and adult supervised play time. The centerpiece for the child is a story-time from the Scriptures. An in-class coloring or workbook is provided with pictures that accompany the story. The workbook aids in filling the children’s minds and hearts with the biblical truth of the lesson.
· Elementary: Reading, 1st thru 5th grade
Info on Faithful to all His Promises
Elementary age students come together following the singing portion of the service to learn relevant, biblical material in an interactive format. Following a teaching time, students discuss the material in an effort to help grapple with and apply the truths presented. The curriculum is designed to convey timeless biblical truth in a way that applies to daily life. The goal is to serve parents in the task of training their children to be more than hearers of God’s word but to be doers as well. With this in mind, children are provided weekly take-away information that serves as an aid to parents in helping disciple their children.
Conclusion
If you have any questions about Grace Kid’s children’s ministry, or if we can serve you in any way, feel free to write us at the contact information here on the web site or if in attendance, approach the teacher in your child’s class or ask for help at the guest information table.
We are here to serve and accommodate you. It is our joy to invest in the next generation and come alongside you as you teach and train your child.
There are key verses that form our understanding and drive or philosophy in children’s ministry. They follow:
Key Verses
(ESV, bold added for emphasis)
Psalm 78:5-7
He established a testimony in Jacob and appointed a law in Israel, which he commanded our fathers to teach to their children, that the next generation might know them, the children yet unborn, and arise and tell them to their children, so that they should set their hope in God and not forget the works of God, but keep his commandments.
Proverbs 22:6
Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it.
Deuteronomy 6:6-7
And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise.
Ephesians 6:4
Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.