Preschool Bible Fellowship
“Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.” Jesus thinks the little ones are important, and so does FBCR! Every Sunday morning, two consecutive Preschool Bible Fellowship sessions are held for children ages birth to 5 years old. Both sessions include a developmentally appropriate biblical story, review games and activities. The first session, beginning at 9:00 A.M., uses the “Lifeway” curriculum and includes music classes. The second session, beginning at 10:30 A.M., uses the “Cooke” curriculum and includes P.E. classes. Individual classes for each age group, with at least two adults in each class, make it easier to meet the spiritual, mental, and social needs of the children. Parents, if you want your child to become a permanent member of FBCR Bible Fellowship, and receive information in the mail about the special events that are planned throughout the year, please fill out an enrollment card for your child. Since having a successful Preschool Bible Fellowship program requires many dedicated adults, parents of preschool children are encouraged to consider volunteering as a teacher or an assistant. Even if you do not have a preschool child, if you’re an adult who loves children, we could use your assistance! Please contact Tina Sparks if you would like to help, or if you have any questions or concerns.
Children’s Bible Fellowship
On Sunday mornings, the FBCR Children’s Ministry offers separate grade-level Bible Fellowship classes for children in the 1st through 5th grades. Here children learn about the Bible through age-appropriate Bible stories, games, crafts, and music. The biblical truths presented through their lessons to help them develop a quiet Bible time. Monthly devotional magazines are provided for the children to use at home, that help them develop their own daily quiet time with God. Bible Fellowship teachers are encouraged to keep in touch with the children in their classes via letters, postcards, phone calls, or home visits. The last Sunday of the month, special attention is given to the boys and girls who are celebrating their birthdays that month. They receive a special gift and some candy in celebration of their birthdays from the Children’s Ministry Director. The Director also plans seasonal special events for all the children in the department. Past events have included an Easter Egg Hunt, a Breezeland Pool Party, a Taylor’s Farm Trip, and a Birthday Party for Jesus. Teachers also plan fellowship activities for their individual classes. If your children are not attending a Bible Fellowship class, they are missing out on a great opportunity for fun, fellowship, and spiritual growth! If God is speaking to you about serving Him through children’s ministry, substitute teachers are always needed. If you’re interested please call Tina Sparks.
VBS
Vacation Bible School is a ministry for children four years old through the sixth grade. It is usually held the last full week of July, Monday through Friday from 6-9 P.M. A closing event is usually held during the weekend following VBS. This fun-filled, spiritual adventure is built around an exciting new theme each year. The theme influences the decorations, content, teaching methods, and even the lingo used during Bible study, worship, crafts, music, missions, snacks, and recreation stations. The materials are designed to provide relevant, age-appropriate biblical content, and activities that will encourage real-life application. It is an evangelistic outreach not only to children of our church family, but to friends, neighbors, and visiting children from our community. VBS is a huge undertaking each year and many willing helpers are needed from directing, teaching or assisting in a station, providing security, first-aid, or snacks, to advertising, helping with transportation, or collecting craft supplies. If you’re willing to help, contact the church office starting as early as March.
Bible Drills
“Your word I have hidden in my heart, that I might not sin against You.” (Psalm 119:11) Can your 4th, 5th and 6th grade children say this verse and mean it? Bible Drills are all about helping young people memorize God’s word, so it will be a lamp to their feet and a light to their path (Psalm 119:105) on their walk through life. Children who participate are not required to be a member of our church or Bible Fellowship. Groups in the past have participated in area Bible Drill competitions and performed in evening worship services. If you’re serious about helping your child hide the Word in his or her heart, keep checking the church bulletin for the time, date, and location for Bible Drills. If you would be willing to help with this ministry, please contact Tina Sparks.
TeamKID
TeamKID is a discipleship program for children ages 4-8. Classes are held during Sunday evening worship services from September through May. TeamKID coaches present biblical principles and truths in fun and interesting ways. Then these truths are reinforced through age appropriate recreational activities, crafts, mission videos, Bible verse memorization, songs, review games, and activity pages. And of course, there’s a snack time as well. So don’t let your 4-8 year old children miss TeamKID! And if you would like to help in either the 4- 5 yr. old class or the 6-8 yr. old class, please call Tina Sparks.
Mission Friends
Training children to think unselfishly needs to begin when they are young. Mission Friends is a mission program for 4 and 5 year old boys and girls where they learn about God’s love for all people and are encouraged to develop a heart for others through age-appropriate missionary stories and activities. The group studies a different mission each month. During the month they make crafts and try food from the chosen area. Sometimes they even write letters to the missionaries. They help raise money for missions by doing chores at home, and making artwork to sell at the Art Auction for missions in the spring. All along the way seeds are planted for each child to cultivate a personal trust and love for Christ. This group meets from September through May, at 6:45 P.M. on Wednesdays. Be sure to get your 4 or 5-year-old children involved in Mission Friends so they will begin to learn how to extend God’s love to their friends, family, and others.
Preschool Security
The Preschool Security Ministry was formed to provide parents and guardians with peace of mind that their preschool children will be safe and well taken care of as they attend Bible Fellowship and Worship Service at FBCR. All preschool children must be checked-in at the security desk by an adult. At this time, they are given a numbered pager. If there is a problem or concern, the parent or guardian can be paged. They return the pager when they pick up their child. Please let the security personnel know if you need to visit the classroom or talk to your child’s teacher—you are always welcome! In addition, please let them know if your child has food allergies or medical concerns, or if you would like to enroll your child as a member of our Bible Fellowship. You should also know that each Sunday morning a man, who is a part of this ministry, picks up the #1 pager from the preschool check-in area to carry with him until the worship service and Bible Fellowship classes are over. If there is ever an emergency, he will be paged to report back to the check-in area to deal with whatever is happening. On his way, he will secure 2-3 more men to accompany him, just in case he ends up needing additional help. We know, “children are a heritage from the Lord” (Psalm 127:3), so here at FBCR we take the security and well being of your children very seriously! All security personnel are required to undergo a background check. In today’s world, it’s better to be safe, than sorry! If you would like to be a part of watching over the Lord’s little ones, please contact Tina Sparks.
Kids Praise
At FBCR, children from 4 years old through 5th grade are learning to praise the Lord by singing and playing instruments in three different Children’s Choirs. The first class, for 4 and 5 year olds is called Music Time. The second class, for 1st and 2nd graders is called the Music Makers. And the 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade class is called the Young Musicians. They not only sing songs and play percussion instruments, the young choir members add crafts and the older students add in some music theory, ear training, and drama. From September through May, the choirs meet on Sundays at 5:15 P.M. They usually perform in a worship service at least once in the winter and once in the spring. If your children enjoy singing, be sure they are singing praises to Jesus in one of our children’s choirs. If you have musical ability, and would like to help with one of the choirs, please contact Tina Sparks.
Girls in Action (G.A.s)
Girls in Action (G.A.s) is a missions program for girls in the 1st through the 6th grade. The 1st-3rd grades and 4th-6th grades meet separately on Wednesday evenings at 6:45, from September through May. During this time, the girls broaden their awareness of the world’s people and their needs by learning about the work of missionaries around the world through stories, games, and crafts. They also learn how to tell others about Christ. In response to what they learn, they pray, give, and do monthly ministry projects. For the past several years, they have had an ongoing ministry to the residents of Keystone Ridge Assisted Living Center. If you have a daughter in the first through the sixth grade, be sure she is developing an active faith through G.A.s!
Royal Ambassadors (R.A.s)
Royal Ambassadors (RAs) is a mission-oriented program for boys in the 1st through the 5th grade. They meet on Wednesday evening at 6:45, September through May. Activities involve skills similar to those taught in Boy Scouting such as: camping, knot tying, woodcrafts, etc., and the boys earn patches for their accomplishments. One of the main events each year is the Pinewood Derby Race held in November. Any child in the church is welcome to enter a car in the race. Emphasis is also placed on learning the books of the Bible, the Ten Commandments, the Beatitudes, and general knowledge of the Bible. If you have a son in the first through fifth grade, you won’t want him to miss the fun and learning involved in being a part of RA’s! If you would like to help with this ministry, please contact Tina Sparks. Click here for RA's Bible Verses 2011-2012.
Children’s Church
Proverbs 22:6 tells us to, “Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old, he will not depart from it.” The goal of Children’s Church is to train children how to participate in the main worship service. Children’s Church is held in the Family Life Center for 1st through 3rd graders each Sunday morning, following Children’s Bible Fellowship. Children learn the words to various songs, hymns, and choruses as someone leads the music. And they practice sitting and listening quietly as someone presents a lesson. Whenever possible, guest singers, musicians, and other special groups (like drama or puppet ministries) perform for the children. If there is a fifth Sunday of the month, they show a Christian movie to the children. Whenever Children’s Church finishes early, the children are given recreation time until the main service is over. If you are interested in training children to love and worship God, and you are willing to serve Jesus by leading the music or providing a lesson for Children’s Church (one time or once a month), please contact the church office.
Nursery Workers
Babies are soft, cute, and cuddly—you’ve got to love ‘em! But when they cry and fill their diapers, they can be a bit distracting during a worship service—not only to their parents, but also for the people sitting around them. Hence, the importance of the Nursery Workers! These volunteers care for bed babies during the Sunday morning worship services on a rotating schedule. They also help maintain a safe and sterile nursery environment. If you like rocking and playing with babies, and don’t mind changing a few diapers, the Nursery Worker Ministry could use your help. Please contact Tina Sparks.
