2024 was a very full year in Children’s Ministries at Hillcrest! It was a year of great growth in our numbers.
We did 16 baby and child dedications in 2024, celebrating new life in our members and new families joining our congregation.
Easter Egg Hunt went well with over 200 people attending, and following clues about the story of Holy Week to reach the climax of the hunt. People appeciated the faith-based foundation of this fun event.
Babylon Daycamp 2024 was a great success! With about 50 volunteers we led 2 weeks of morning daycamps, hosting 100 children. As we reenacted Daniel’s stories, kids learned great lessons about Courage under Fire. It really impacted the volunteers as well. We know of at least 3 children who chose to follow Jesus during these weeks.
Every school year, we start off with a Grade One Bible Event, in which each Grade One child receives a free Bible from the church, and it is presented to them by parents in a special ceremony. This is a very meaningful time for families. I talk with parents about the importance of their own relationship with God and Bible reading, and I give options and ideas for devotions with kids.
I changed to a new curriculum in Discovery Gang, the Grade 1-4 Sunday ministry, this year. What a fun time we have had learning and involving ourselves in the most powerful stories of the Bible! Leaders have loved the new format and we have had a few new ones come on board, but more kids just keep coming so we always need more! The way we manage 60 kids in a 10:00am service is to put them in small-ish groups as quickly as possible to reduce the chaos! Again, this requires brave leaders!
In the first part of the year, six girls accepted Christ at Glow Girlz at the end of February! As part of our usual schedule, we donated 40 sets of new pajamas to Women’s Shelter. This school year, Glow Girlz has also grown from 40 to 60 girls on a typical night! Our need for leaders is great! The girls love the songs, lessons, and crafts, and especially Karen’s delicious snacks!
In October, we had 11 children accept Christ during our Wednesday evening programs! Also four girls chose to take the step of baptism in October! Several more children have expressed interest in baptism in the following months and are looking forward to the next baptism date in April.
Just Boyz group has grown to up to 41 boys on one night! The amazing thing is in their short Bible story time, they are so attentive and contribute to the discussion, and often there are several who want to lead in prayer. The key to this ministry is that the boys can be “just boys” and play in the gym for most of the night, and then they can focus on the Bible lesson for a time. It helps that they get snack at the same time! I’m so thankful for the adult leaders who give direction and the many young leaders who come to help with the small groups. This is great discipleship as these young leaders are seeing how to be effective leaders and are able to practice leadership skills in a safe environment. They also contribute insights in the small group discussion times.
A favorite day for Wonder World parents is when their littles get to sing for the church before Christmas! This year it showcased the many many young children we have attending, and is a good reminder that we are always in need of more volunteers to share Jesus’ love and be a voice of truth in the lives of children.
I believe that prayer teams have made a huge difference in ministry. I have a wonderful Children’s Ministry Prayer Team that I keep updated every 2-3 months, and I know they pray faithfully for the volunteers and children.
Cindy DaRosa
Pastor of Children and Families
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