by Dianne Ross, Director of Children's Ministries

All 2, 3 year and just turned 4 year olds know the answer: it is a place of great joy and love, and takes place in the Cherub room every Sunday morning from 10:45 am-12:10 pm. It’s a time when children experience the love of Christ through caring leaders, Bible stories, music, snacks, crafts and creative play (sometimes on the playground!)

The teaching team consists of 5 couples with young children themselves, each teach one time a month. There are also five 9-13 year olds who help once or twice a month as fabulous Christian role models and “heroes” for these young children. Here’s what a few past leaders of children’s church said about the experience for them and their children:

“We taught on the Children’s Church team for six years during which time all three of our children came through that class. The team was our anchor to Bethany throughout the time our children were very young and we loved getting to know the other teachers and their families through the quarterly gatherings (especially the end of year family pizza night!)

With three small children it was hard for us to find time for a home group but the children’s church team became a source of strength and support, as well as dear friends. We looked forward to our teaching time each month, playing with and loving those sweet young children. It was an honor to teach their first real “lessons”.

Our own children also loved knowing we would be their teacher once a month. It’s wonderful to walk in the church halls today and know so many of the children! The 9 year olds may not remember us being their teachers but we remember when they were small singing “Jesus Loves me” and making sheep out of cotton balls!

- Heather and Kurt Triplett

“Children’s church represented a very sweet, innocent time of our kids’ lives. They felt loved and cherished while developing their relationship with God and learning more about him. I loved teaching the 2 to 4 year old kids, getting down on our knees to have conversation, singing and gleaning their childhood wisdom. Best of all, I loved doing ministry with my husband, where we could use our individual gifts, but spur one another on to try new things. How often can you really do this together?”

- Michelle and Chuck McFarland

“Our family was involved in teaching and/or coordinating children’s church for more than 5 years. It was the perfect opportunity to get involved as a couple in ministering to our own children through their young years, and meeting so many other young families. It was wonderful to be sharing Jesus with such amazingly open and curious 2-4 year olds.”

- Nancy and Tim Woodland

If you would like more information about children’s church, or would like to learn more about joining this team, contact Coordinators Matt and Allison Singleton at taber12@msn.com.