The Bible clearly tells us that parents hold the primary responsibility in raising their children in the ways of the Lord.

• Deuteronomy 4:9
• Psalm 78:1-7
• Ephesians 6:4
• Deuteronomy 6:4-9
• Proverbs 22:6
• 1 Thessalonians 2:11-12

Parents are to help their children see all their experiences in life through the light of the gospel.

Our role is to encourage and equip parents to take the lead in the spiritual development of their children. We provide a Christ-centered, Bible-saturated curriculum to teach lessons each week. Weekly and monthly resources are offered to the parent in hope of aiding the family to worship and learn together. Isaiah 28:16

We believe there is much to be gained when parents and the church work together.

Our partnership is important in helping kids become confident in God and connected to others. Here are two ways parents can partner with us as we minister to children:

Come to The Upcoming Generation Each Week during the Same Service:
During The Upcoming Generation, children are placed in the same small groups with kids of the same grade. Their same small group leader serves at the same service every week. Attending a consistent service each weekend will help kids connect to both their leaders and their peers.

Utilize Family Resources:
We offer resources to help parents talk with their kids about the gospel and how it relates to their lives. These resources include the family discussion questions on the Take Home Sheet and activities that help you talk about the Bible.

Take Home Sheets

These are sent home with the children each week. Based on what they learned, they include family discussion questions and activities that help parents talk to their kids about the Bible and how it relates to their lives.

Books

	Shepherding a Child's Heart By Tedd Tripp Written for parents with children of any age, this insightful book provides perspectives and procedures for shepherding your child's heart into the paths of life. Shepherding a Child's Heart gives fresh biblical approaches to child rearing.
	The Faithful Parent: A Biblical Guide to Raising a Family By Martha Peace & Stuart Scott Parents and children need a lot of help from the One who is perfect and who understands our need God himself. Peace and Scott emphasize your family's most important relationship: your relationship with God.

Because we encourage the family to worship together in God’s presence, all children’s classes open during the break after corporate praise and worship time. First-time guests will go to the Registration Desk in the Nursery or Gym location to obtain a temporary security tag. Upon check-in, parents/guardians will receive numeric security labels for each child being checked in. These labels will each share a common security number. These numbers serve two purposes:

• Parents Paging- If a child has a medical or behavioral issue; their security number will be displayed in red letters above the stage in the sanctuary. This alerts parents that their assistance is needed, and that they should return to the Registration Desk.
• Security- Parents must present their portion of the security label when picking up their child. Children will not be released to any adult without the matching label.

Once you consider us your church home you will have the opportunity to create your free online security check-in account through KIDCHECK and receive a check-in key tag to speed up the check-in process. Please ask the staff at the Registration Desk in the back of the sanctuary for assistance.

Our goal is to present great truths about God in very simple words, to show glimpses of who God is through the telling of key Bible stories, and to repeat those stories and basic truth statements such as: God is good, God is big, God is strong and Jesus loves you. Every child will be blessed and prayed for by name and become familiar with the language of God.

Free Play Time
Children will be allowed “unstructured” play while receiving intentional interaction.

Lesson, Worship and Prayer Time
Children will receive the lesson of the week, the memory verse, and the truth statement will be emphasized. Prayer will be modeled and taught.

Our goal is to show the centrality of the greatness and worth of God. God surpasses everything and everyone else in His greatness and worth and the purpose of everything He does is to display His greatness and worth-His glory. Every bible story we teach will have it’s foundation in this truth. From this truth we then can understand that God alone can satisfy us and make us happy forever.

Activity Tables
This is the first stop for kids after they have checked-in. Opening activities provide an opportunity for kids and leaders to connect through hands-on challenges and games.

Large Group Lesson and Application/Activity
This is where the key point for the weekend is introduced and brought to life. During the application portion every child completes a workbook lesson and activity while being led to apply the lesson to their lives.

Our goal is to teach our first through fifth grade to have confidence in the nature and complete character of God. We believe as a child sees who God really is, his goodness and grace will drawn them to him.

Large Group Lesson
This is where the key point for the weekend is introduced and brought to life.

Small Group Application/ Activity
This is where the key point for the weekend is reviewed in a more intimate setting.

During the application portion every child completes a workbook lesson and activity while being led to apply the lesson to their lives.

Our hope is to give our students "lenses" to rightly see and understand all of life by presenting them with the wonderful gift of God's Word, and how His truth is meant to transform every aspect of their lives. Our prayer is that the Holy Spirit would put the truth "on" their hearts so they would really "see" Jesus as their Savior and Lord, so they would truly embrace, love, and walk in the truth. We desire to come alonside them to help them to stand up against the deceiving voices of culture, so they might stand firmly footed with unswerving confidence on God's truth.

Check-In (First 5-10 Minutes)

This class is currently available only during the Sunday morning service and meets in the upstairs conference room.

Discussion Starters

Many lessons begin with a Group Discussion-either a small group activity or a large group activity. This is the "hook" of the lesson. The purpose of the activity is to begin introducing the topic of the lesson. The beginning  Group Discussion may also reference something to complete in the Student Journal.

Group Lesson

This is where the lead teacher introduces the key points, teaches the lesson, and brings the lesson to life through scripture, the use of visuals, and personal experiences to the Large Group.

Group Application Time

The Group Application Time is at the end of the lesson.. It is a vital part of the classroom time. Application Time is designed to help students discover how God is asking each of them to respond. The goal is to help students see how God might have them respond to the truth they have heard.When they are specifically directed to respond to the truth, it is more likely that head knowledge will become a desired heart response.

Student Journals

The Student Journal contains a section for students to take notes during the lesson and application time, as well as At Home application and activities students may complete on their own during the week. We encourage the students to complete this section and talk to their parents about it.

Parent Memos and Take Home Articles

For each lesson there is a concise Parent Memo to help connect parents to the classroom by providing them with a summary of the main ideas and truths from the lesson. For a number of lessons in the study, there are also articles that will be sent home for further readingand discussion on the lesson topic. We enncourage both parents and students to pursue these important at-home interaction opportunities.

Parents will pick their grade school age children from their small group room. This is the same room they were initially dropped off. Pick up requires the parental portion of the security tag received during check-in. The parent will show their security tag to the Registration attendant who will then match up numbers and release the child to the parent. Upon check-out Parents can pick up the weekly Take Home Sheet with questions that we hope will help them follow up with their kids about what was discussed in The Upcoming Generation. Hard copies are available at the KIDS BOOTH in the back of the main sanctuary.

 

Sunday AM service: 1015-1200
Sunday PM service: 630-815
Monday evening Redemption Group childcare: 615-815
Seasonal events

Prayerfully consider this opportunity before beginning the application process.

Complete the Necessary Paperwork:
We have everyone who is interested in volunteering complete the three part Application Packet below.This does include a Background Check which is one effort we make to provide a safe environment for our kids.

Application Packet

1.Volunteer Expectations

2.Volunteer Application

3.Background Check

You can also request the Application Packet at any of our weekend services from the Children’s Director or The Upcoming Generation Check-in attendant.

Return the Paperwork:
When completed return to the Children’s Director or to The Upcoming Generation Check-in attendant during a weekend service. Once we have received your paperwork you will be contacted by a member of our staff.

Attend the Orientation and Training:
Regular Orientation and Training is scheduled for newly accepted volunteers.

During The Upcoming Generation, children are placed in the same small groups with kids of the same grade. Their same small group leader serves at the same service every week. Attending a consistent service each weekend will help kids connect to both their leaders and their peers.

All of our leaders for The Upcoming Generation are volunteers who have gone through an extensive application process including a background check and training.

We are currently using curriculum from Children Desiring God.

We do offer snacks in our Children’s ministry from time to time. Please list any specialneeds or allergies on your KIDCHECK account or if visiting communicate all special needs or allergies with our Registration desk attendant at check-in.

We worship together on Sundays @ 10:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m.