I think one question we should always revisit is "why we do what we do?"
Whether it's within the context of a marriage, or how we parent, or how
we run a business, if we don't keep this question in front of us constantly,
it's easy to lose sight of the vision of what we're trying to accomplish.
We try to do the same thing in Children's Ministry-making sure we're very
intentional about every detail, decision, and policy so that it we can be
the absolute most effective we can with the hour we share in a child's
life each week.
Our goal is to create an irresistible, fun environment where kids can
discover the reality of Jesus and His love in ways they can understand. And
so, we've structured Sunday morning with that purpose in
mind.
Therefore, 15 minutes before service begins....
the doors are open and kids are welcomed into their classes. Each child goes to an age appropriate class because that is the environment that is created exactly for them. This is when they have the opportunity to connect with other kids their age and adults who are invested in them. During this activity time, we try to have a range of activities that would appeal to all types of kids, so that there is always something that will engage each child.
At the beginning of the hour, they begin an intentional KIDS CONNECT time with their small group leader.
During this time, kids are still arriving. We know that sometimes things are crazy on Sunday mornings for families. So, we want to give you some extra time to get settled. For 15 minutes into the service, we are still accepting kids into the classes.
15 minutes after the service has begun, we move our classes to the large group storytelling room. At this time, the doors to the lobby are shut and no one is admitted until the children have returned to their individual classes. We do this for two really important reasons:
1. For the safety of the kids as they move from place to place.
2. To provide the very best storytelling environment with minimal distractions.
During this 25-30 minutes, they sing songs that are just perfect for their age. (Maybe you have heard your child singing some of these songs around the house.) Then, they get to hear and participate in an incredible story that engages them on many different levels. It's absolutely awesome! If you haven't been a part of it yet, we'd love for you to come and hang out with us.
After the story, the kids all return to the classrooms for their small group time. This is when the small group leader drives the lesson home--we call it the "so what" time. I heard a great story, "so what" does this mean to me?
Then, before we know it, parents are arriving to take them home.
So, while I recognize at times, policies and guidelines can seem like
unnecessary red tape, Crosspointe parents-thanks for being on mission with
us. Thanks for trusting our intent to create the absolute best environment
possible every Sunday morning. And thanks for partnering with us to help
make Sunday morning irresistibly fun and relevant to children in every way
as we help them discover and walk with Jesus.