River of Life Lutheran Church

Register now for KidZone - Wednesday from 6:00 to 8:00 PM for kids 4 years -5th grade. Like a mini-VBS every week!

What does Children and Family Ministries mean?

Our Purpose
Is to support parents in their role as primary nurturers of faith development in their children. Our combined purpose is to pass on the faith to our children.

Our Method
It is a partnership of the home and congregation in nurturing faith and passing on the faith. The home is the primary place to teach and nurture faith and the role of the congregation is to strengthen the home and equip the home to pass on the faith. This is in fulfillment of our baptismal promises.

Our Vision
Is for every Child of God to develop a relationship with Jesus Christ that deepens with age and knows God's boundless love and grace.

Objectives

To be a safe-place for children to belong. Children feel respected, valued, safe, loved, cared for and called by name. A place where trusted relationships are developed and Christian friendships are formed.
To create a faith community or faith family where children and families feel welcomed and connected. A faith community is a place to have fun, meet friends, help others and worship together.
To strengthen family relationships.
To share the Gospel of Jesus Christ with the children and families of River of Life and our extended community.
To provide a high-quality, faith-focused Christian learning environment that maintains a meaningful and personal experience.
To provide instruction in the Christian Faith through:
� Faith-focused Christian Education with the study of Holy Scripture with life application of Bible story truths and Lutheran traditions
� Using Bible-centered curriculum that is relational, experiential, applicable in developmentally appropriate ways, and learner-based
To equip the Christian home as the primary place where faith formation occurs.

We believe in the Four Keys for Nurturing Faith Life in the Home

Caring Conversations - Christian values and faith are passed on to the next generation through supportive conversation. Listening and responding to the daily concerns of our children makes it easier to have meaningful conversations regarding the love of God and is itself a way to express God's love to others.
Family Devotions - To pass on the Christian faith to children and youth, adults need to learn the Christian message and biblical story as their own. Christianity shapes the whole of one's life and therefore involves a lifetime of Christian study, reflection, and prayer.
Family Service - Children, youth and adults are more likely to be influenced by those who "walk the talk." The Christian talk is expressed in the Good Samaritan story, the care of others, and especially the care of those in need. Service projects are best done with family members and other intergenerational groups.
Family Rituals and Traditions - Daily routines, celebrations, and other ways families choose to identify who they are and tell their family stories, speak volumes about what the family values, believes and promotes.