Children

OUR CHILDREN ARE IMPORTANT TO US.  One of the greatest privileges and responsibilities we're given is to teach our children to love Jesus.  They are not inconveniences or interruptions to our busy lives...they are precious gifts from God we busy our lives investing in!

GCC's Sunday child-care:

  • 0-2...Nursery Care is provided for these youngsters during the entire service. 
  • 3-6...Grace Covenant Kids gathers after the "meet and greet" time of our service (however, parents must register their children before service begins).  Here they will be given snacks and taught a Bible lesson.  This is not mandatory for any family...it is simply a resource we want to make available to parents, assisting them in the joyful process of raising their children to love Jesus.

 

GRACE COVENANT KIDS MISSION IS TWO-FOLD:  First, we want to serve children.  We do this by emphasizing a simple plan...we want to keep kids safe, love them well, and show them Jesus.  We use methods of instruction that are age-appropriate and curriculum that is Christ-centered (Children Desiring God and The Storyformed Way for Children).  Both sets of material focus on the over-arching story of redemption (not just isolated Bible stories) and seek to train children in the gospel (not just moral lessons).

Second, we want to serve parents.  We do this by providing safe, godly oversight for their younger children so they can focus energy and resources on discipling their older children in service.  Or, if they don't have older children, this simply allows them to sit and receive instruction from the Word and be encouraged in the gospel through the sermon.  We understand the crazy out-put of energy it takes young parents (especially moms!) with little ones, and we hope that this short "break" from the action can be a means through which they are encouraged in their faith and strengthened to enter the week with a clear focus on Christ.   

 

PARENT-CENTERED DISCIPLESHIP:  Let's face it...It takes more then a few minutes in class on Sunday morning to disciple the heart of a child.  That is why GCC promotes a parent-centered approach to discipleship.  We believe it is the parents primary role to nurture, shape, and direct the heart of their children towards Jesus.  Everything we do as a church community is geared towards encouraging and resourcing parents to this end.

As each household takes seriously this sacred responsibility, the church community gathers around to encourage and support.  We expect our older children to set good examples for their younger siblings, and we charge all of our adults, single and married, young and old, with living exemplary lives that parents can point to as examples of godly manhood and womanhood.  

This kind of discipleship is an invaluable resource for parents and children alike, and happens naturally in community.  Children are a regular part of our events and relationship throughout the week (like Gospel Communities).  Living life together is how we bring our children with us, teaching them to love what we love and live how we live.