Children's Ministry (Nursery – 5th Grade)
At The Journey, we don’t want to provide a place just for kids to go during church, but we desire to create an environment for kids that allow them to experience God at their level. We see kids not as our future, but as difference makers for the Kingdom right now. Jesus said, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these." (Matthew 19:14 NIV) We desire to for kids of all ages to begin passionately seeking God’s presence, seeing the world through God’s perspective, and learn to live out God’s purposes with their lives. Our Sunday morning experience for kids ensures that they are learning about the love of God and the work of salvation and grace through the gift of God’s Son Jesus Christ. The Biblical mandate for training and teaching of kids is very clear:
“Train up a child in the way he should go and when he is old he will not depart from it.”
Proverbs 22:6
Our Strategy
At The Journey the Children’s Ministry will be tracking along the same subject matter at the adults in the Catalyst Service. Our philosophy is that parents and kids should be learning the same concepts on Sundays to better allow for conversation and development to continue happening throughout the week. A typical Sunday morning will look like this for a child:
Nursery:
We have a nursery at The Journey for newborns and infants. During their time on Sunday morning workers will read Bible stories to the babies and have soothing music playing.
Preschool:
Check-in to class before service begins.
Go to Big Group teaching time (15 minutes) **this is a high energy, fun teaching time where the lesson is given.
Back to room for small group time **kids get into smaller groups and talk about the lesson with a teacher and others kids.
Crafts, games, and songs **kids will then continue to have lesson deepened through games, crafts, and songs related to lesson.
Parents pick-up after service.
K-5th grade:
Adult Worship (20 minutes).
Dismissed to Big Group time after worship (20 minutes) **this is a high energy, fun teaching time where lesson is given at their level.
Small Group time (20 minutes) **kids will break into age oriented small groups and talk about how the lesson applies to their lives.
Parents pick-up after service.
All children will have take-home sheets that will talk about what their lesson was about and will have questions for further discussion for parents and kids to continue learning Biblical truths and foundations. We are excited about the opportunity to minister to your child and believe that the foundations laid now will have a great impact on the type of man or woman of God they become. Please contact us if have additional questions at: navigators@thejourneytn.org