Children's Ministries

Rhonda A. Herman

WELCOME TO GOD'S BIG BACKYARD!

The year 2001 brought with it a new image and exciting additions to Children's Ministries. We are all explorers on a great expedition in God's Big Backyard. Our purpose is to reach out to children with the message of Christ's unconditional love, guiding them to grow into a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. As children discover a new life in Christ, we seek to teach them how to be an example of His actions and words in their daily lives. We are confident they will discover many new and exciting truths in God's Word and see what God is all about.

"The Lord has done great things for us, and we are filled with joy." (Psalm 126:3) With the addition of the third service, we added Cantina Café, a place where Pre-1st - fifth graders come to fellowship in between services. Our Rock Solid Worship during the 8:15 am and 11:30 am services is just that, a worship time for four year olds through second graders that stands on the solid rock, Jesus Christ. It is a privilege to co-labor with volunteers who are excited about ministering to children. Kids' Quest (10:00 am Sunday School) has ten male volunteers out of eighteen total teachers. This is in addition to the seven men who volunteer regularly with Rock Solid Worship. We even have our first full time volunteer from Student Ministries.

The Welcome Center sees about six new families per month. The Pre-Confirmation Class discipled 20 children who were ready to receive the Lord's Supper. In June, 178 children attended five days of Very Exciting Bible School. At least sixteen of these children did not have a church home, and two children asked Jesus into their heart during the week. Our Missions Minded Kids went on prayer walks through various neighborhoods and around their schools. On October 31st, Christ's light was shown to the community as we offered a safe place for children to come and play carnival games and trunk 'n' treat from creatively decorated cars. The Advent Fair added a live nativity, complete with animals from Woodberry Crossings. We sang carols around Mary and Joseph before going into a crowded Fellowship Hall to make adornments to prepare our homes for Advent.

Children who are present on the second Sunday of each month have taken "trips" and learned about many different places this past year. They have made prayer boxes and learned new songs for worshiping God, packed supplies for inner city ministries, decorated 100 Christmas favors for the Christian Community Center, heard from many missionaries, and most importantly prayed for God's people to hear the good news of Jesus Christ. Second Sunday For the World is where children learn to have God's heart for His people.

We are moving children towards Christ. Come and be a part of God's Big Backyard!