Calling all kids – age three through 6th Grade! Our Family Center enabled us to expand our children’s ministry to offer Kinderchurch (age three through Kindergarten) and Kingdom Kids every Sunday, during second service. Kinderchurch has a regular weekly attendance of about 45 children. There are three classes (one for 3-year olds, one for 4-year olds, and one combining 5-year olds and those in kindergarten). Our classes are growing by leaps and bounds. At this time, we need to open a Kindergarten-only class. We are blessed with twelve faithful, dedicated teachers for the three classes, who serve on a rotating schedule). Additionally, we have several teen helpers who contribute much to this ministry. Together, they provide a safe, nurturing environment where children receive instruction, geared to their age level, from the Word. Using puppets and skits, the lessons are fun, comprehensible, and hold the children’s attention. The Kinderchurch motto is “Loving Jesus as He loves us,” a concept small children readily accept and understand. Kinderchurch also serves as a transitional period to prepare them for Kingdom Kids.

Five months after the Family Center opened, we were able to meet the growing needs of a greater number of children with the implementation of our Kingdom Kids ministry for first through sixth graders. Currently 90 children attend regularly. We are blessed by the awesome, Spirit-filled teachers in this ministry who serve with the love and grace of God. Right now, we have three teams of four teachers, but for this ministry to reach its full potential, we actually need six teachers per team.

When the children first arrive at Kingdom Kids each Sunday, they meet as a group in the Youth Center. This area offers a kid-friendly atmosphere, where the children spend some time with their friends, viewing character-building videos relative to the message or theme of that day’s teaching. The two large movie screens give them a theater-like experience. Special presentations, which include guest speakers, missionaries and object lessons, come alive in this state-of-the-art facility. The children then move to their individual classes for deeper, more personal instruction. Initially, the children remain in the Sanctuary with their families for worship. It is important for families to worship together.

The Kingdom Kids motto is "Learning God’s way and living for Him." A Christian worldview is the foundation for every lesson. Children need a solid foundation based on God’s Word – that is the basic purpose of Kingdom Kids. Our teachers are committed servants of God who know the Word, love the Lord, and have a heart to reach and instruct this generation of children in the ways of the Lord, building precept upon precept, line upon line (Isaiah 29:10).

It is our mission to see that these children understand their identity in Christ and fully comprehend that they are already who God’s Word says they are... anointed, appointed, called, chosen kings and priests (1 Peter 2:9). Our desire is that all the children in this body would see themselves as God sees them… as Kingdom Kids. Much growth resulted as we pressed in to God and sowed into His Kingdom during our Thy Kingdom Come campaign. How much more will our faithful God do as we press in to Him through our Time 2 Build campaign!

-Lisa Martin, Ministry Leadership Team