Scripture says that children are a gift from the Lord, and at Grace Baptist we strive to faithfully minister to the children God has given us.  In our children’s ministry, we have a dual focus.  First, we want to provide children with a foundation of biblical truth in order that they might come to know and treasure our great and awesome God.  In Sunday School, Wednesday ministries, and other special events, such as Vacation Bible School, we seek to accurately teach the children the truths of Scripture in a way they can understand and enjoy.  Second, we want to partner with parents by helping equip them for the high calling of raising godly children.  In order to do this, we provide various parent helps to equip parents to be the primary ministers to their children.

Young Children

The Bible tells us that children are a blessing from the Lord (Psalm 127:3), and we want you to know that we value and appreciate the children who come to Grace.  We will do our utmost to ensure that all the children are properly cared for and receive godly nurture and solid Bible teaching while they are here.  If you have young children, here are a few things that might be helpful for you to know for your time in worship with us.


Childcare

We know that if you have young children, one of your greatest concerns is the safety and well-being of your child.  We want you to rest assured that that your child will be well cared for while you are at Grace.  We provide childcare for children up through three years old, and the children are cared for by loving workers who will watch over them, pray for them, and teach them basic Bible truths.  We use Kidcheck, a state of the art security check-in system in which you and your child will receive matching stickers.  When you pick up your child, you will need to show your sticker to the teacher in order for your child to be released to you.


Cry Room

If you choose to keep your infant or toddler with you, there is a cry room that you can utilize.  It is at the back of the sanctuary, and you are welcome to go there with your child so you can still watch the service.

 Sundays

One of our main avenues of teaching in the children’s ministry is through our Sunday School classes, which meet each Sunday morning at 9:00 AM.  In each of these classes you will find gifted teachers who are concerned for teaching and nurturing the children.

Sunday School Classes

  • Lambs (Nursery)
  • Caterpillars (Young Toddler)
  • Cubs (Older Toddlers)
  • Pre-K through 1st Grade
  • 2nd-3rd Grade
  • 4th-5th Grade
  • 6th Grade

Curriculum

We have a unified curriculum that goes from birth through the 12th grade, and our goal with this curriculum is to provide a solid foundation of biblical and theological truth in order that the children might grow to know and glorify God.  CLICK HERE to see a description of our curriculum.

Wednesdays

Every Wednesday, from 6:30-7:30, we have a variety of classes for the children.  These classes provide a fun and engaging environment in which the children can continue learning about the Bible and God’s desire to bring glory to Himself.  Our classes are set up on a quarterly rotation of Kids 4 Truth, children’s choirs, and missions studies.

Kids 4 Truth

During the spring quarter of each year, the children will participate in Kids 4 Truth, a curriculum that is designed to teach children solid doctrinal truth.  Our desire is for this study to help lay a foundation of truth in the lives of the children.


Children’s Choirs

Our choirs, which are during the spring and fall quarter, are one of the children’s favorite church activities.  During their time in choir, the children learn God-honoring songs, but, most importantly, they learn who God is through the songs that they sing.  During the fall, the children work on a Christmas musical that is presented during an evening service during December; for most of the children, this is one of their favorite events in the children’s ministry.

Missions Studies

At the beginning of the fall, we always take a couple of months to focus on missions.  Grace Baptist Church is  committed to taking the Gospel to the world, and we want the children at Grace to grow up understanding that missions is a natural part of the Christian life.  In these missions studies, the children learn the biblical foundation of missions, learn about missionaries, and the older classes participate in small mission projects that help our various missions at Grace.


Wednesdays During the Summer

We set aside Wednesday evenings during the summer for fun activities for the kids.  Some of our events include putt-putt, water games, and a trip to the water park.

 

Parents of Children

One of our main purposes in the children’s ministry is to work with and help equip parents to be the primary ministers to their children.  Although we put a lot of time into making sure that our children’s ministry is fun and provides an excellent teaching atmosphere, our heartbeat is to help parents be the leaders in their home in rearing their children in the nurture and discipline of the Lord.  Parents, let’s face it–parenting is tough.  That’s why we’ve put together so many resources to help you equipped for the task that God has given you in teaching and leading your children.  Here are some of the ways we want to come alongside and help equip you for being the parent God has called you to be.


Family Ministry Approach

At Grace we don’t see ourselves as having separate children’s and youth ministries.  Instead, our emphasis is upon having a family ministry that seeks to minister to the whole family and help equip parents to be the primary leaders in their homes.  CLICK HERE to read more about our approach to family ministry.

How do we equip you to be a godly parent?

Being a parent means that you have an incredible opportunity before you to teach your child how to follow Jesus wholeheartedly. However, this opportunity for discipleship is not without its challenges. Therefore, our desire is to equip you for the blessed task of raising godly children. Here are a few ways we will equip you:

  • The Family Bridge    A weekly e-letter that is filled with information about the children's ministry, important dates, and pertinent articles to help you raise your child. CLICK HERE to begin receiving The Family Bridge.
  • FaithTalk Guides     The FaithTalk is a family devotion that we provide in the worship folder each Sunday. This devotion is based on the sermon and is appropriate for families with children of all ages.
  • Rites of Passage     At Grace we equip parents to intentionally lead their children through four critical rites of passage as they mature into an adult. For an overview of our rites of passage, click HERE.
  • Training     At various times throughout the year we offer parent trainings. These will occur during Disciple Now and Camp, along with other times of strategic training.

Resources for Parents

  • Shepherding a Child’s Heart by Tedd Tripp
  • Gospel-Powered Parenting by William Farley
  • Family Worship by Don Whitney
  • Don’t Make Me Count to Three by Ginger Plowman
  • Give Them Grace by Elyse Fitzpatrick and Jessica Thompson
  • Parenting in the Pew by Robbie Castleman
  • Six Ways to Keep the “Little” in Your Girl by Dannah Gresh
  • From Boy to Man by R. Albert Mohler
  • “Your Child’s Profession of Faith” by Dennis Gunderson
  • So You’re About to Be a Teenager by Dennis and Barbara Rainey
  • Season of Change by Rebecca Ingram Powell


Resources to Use with Kids

  • The Big Picture Story Bible
  • Jesus Storybook Bible
  • Mighty Acts of God
  • ESV Grow Bible
  • “A Catechism for Boys and Girls”
  • Leading Little Ones to God by Marian Schoolland
  • Long Story Short by Marty Machowski
  • The Gospel for Children by John Leuzarder
  • Window on the World by Daphne Spragget and Jill Johnstone
  • Big Truths for Young Hearts by Bruce Ware