Kids & Youth
We believe that your kids are an important part of the church and represent future leaders for the church. We believe that by partnering the church and family together in a strategic process of discipleship and faith formation, we can begin to reverse the national trends that show that many young people are leaving the church after they graduate from high school.
So we have developed a plan for our children, from birth through high school, that the church and family can join together in. Our goal for Children’s and Youth ministries is a partnership between church and family to encourage an authentic encounter with God that compels students to Christ-likeness, through relationship, discipleship, and mission, that will endure as a young adult and beyond.
Partnering with Parents
Did you know that this year your child will spend their time as follows: only about 2% at church, 25% at school, and 51% at home. As a church, we want to do everything we can to help your children and youth become spiritual champions, but our time with them is limited. The most significant influences in a child’s life are mom and dad, so we focus much of our time and energy to help you be a better spiritual leader in your home. That’s where real growth happens. Your influence makes a difference!
We want to help our parents be spiritual leaders in their families. Our hope is for you to be an imperfect but intentional mentor of your child through care, instruction, and sacrifice; nurturing your child’s heart, mind, and soul to become a follower of Christ. Imagine where you want to see your child as they graduate from high school. What are the characteristics, values, and attitudes that you would like to see in their lives? Too often, we get stuck just trying to survive today, but if we are intentional with our children we can begin to influence them in the direction we hope to see later in life.
What’s the plan?
We want to help children and students of all ages build a solid foundation for their faith built upon four pillars that will help their faith endure as they head into college or the work force. We want to help each child or student develop:
They will begin to build these pillars as they learn and grow together with parents and small group leaders in five faith skills:
Where does my child fit?
We’ve grouped our children into three age groups where they will be focusing on a specific big idea. We want to take much of the randomness out of what your children are being taught, so everything that we do from your child’s birth through their high school years will have intentional structure and purpose.
What would happen if your children grew up amazed with the wonder of their heavenly father and how much he loves them? What if they understood God is big enough to handle whatever they will face in life? You want them to truly love God.
What would happen if your children felt challenged to pursue a lifestyle of discovery in which their identity is determined by a personal relationship with Christ and they are guided by his spirit? You want them to find their purpose in Christ.
What would happen in your kids developed a sense of passion that mobilized them to do what Jesus did on earth? What if they understood they are designed to personally participate in God’s story to show his redemptive plan to every generation? You want them to love the way God does.