When families in our church dedicate their children to God in the life of our community, among the questions asked of our congregation are these: Do we receive this beloved child as God’s good gift to us? Will we covenant to help them grow into the person that God would have them to be? Will we sing for them the songs of faith and tell them the stories of Jesus as their preachers, teachers, leaders, and guides, so in their own time, each might embrace Christ for their own? Only a hopeful and hearty “yes” from our congregation follows with each child!
At First Baptist on Fifth, we believe that children (birth-5th grade) are among the most significant bearers of God’s image in this world and that it is an honor to join them as they discover God’s dream for their lives. We do this through a variety of ways – in the Children’s Loft during Sunday School each week, filled with music and Bible study and stories and questions (and, of course, snacks!), with prayer partners, the older adults who covenant to walk with each child in our midst and pray for them; through conversations about baptism, which often happen over Starbucks during Mochas with Mac; at Passport Kids summer camp, four of the most fun days our older kids have each summer. We play together and eat together and sing together, lead in worship as acolytes, readers, ringers, and guides, enjoy all manner of fun with cheerful volunteers, teachers, and parents, and serve our community as the hands and feet of Christ.
Parents and grandparents, know this – your children’s safety is of the deepest importance to us. All paid and volunteer staff receive annual training in their work, and background checks are performed for those teaching and caring for children. As the needs of our children shift and change, we’re seeking out additional resources for mental health, care for those who are neurodivergent, care for those who’ve experienced trauma, and CPR/first aid. Our nursery (on the first floor) and Children’s Loft (on the third floor) are cheerfully welcoming to your kids, filled with books and resources that celebrate all our uniqueness within God’s colorful design.
Children’s Sunday School
At the heart of our experience of children’s ministry is what our kids do on Sunday mornings during Sunday School. This time of formation is grounded in God’s unconditional love for all creation as revealed in the person of Jesus and the witness of scripture. Wonderful guides and teachers for our children offer genuine welcome for every child in all their uniqueness. All are welcome!
Birth –3s Nursery (first floor), staffed with trained childcare professionals
PreK–2nd Grade Children’s Loft (downstairs), staffed with volunteer children’s leader
3rd–5th Grade Children’s Loft (upstairs), staffed with volunteer children’s leaders
Children’s Music
One Sunday a month during Sunday School, our staff and volunteers use the Sunday School hour to teach children the “songs of faith,” as we promise to do in every child’s dedication. This time creates delightful, sacred space for singing, playing instruments, learning the foundations of music, and expressing themselves through art.
In the fall of 2023, our elementary-aged children will be working on a musical called St. Francis Tells the Christmas Story by Patti Drennen and J. Paul Williams, to be shared with the church over a Christmas feast on Sunday, December 10, at 6:00pm.
Prayer Partners
One of the strong commitments of our church is the transformation we all experience in relationships with one another. We express this for our children through a thriving intergenerational opportunity called our Prayer Partner Ministry, where our school-age children are partnered with one of our older adults each year to enter into a covenant to pray for each other throughout the school year. We schedule a few special programs for our Prayer Partners throughout the year that help facilitate relationship building and growing together.
