Welcome & Worship
Welcome to the Children's Ministry at First Christian Church! Our goal is to provide a safe, nurturing environment where your child can learn about God, and continue to become the wonderful person God created!
You can trust that your children are in safe hands in our ministries, as all of our volunteers are dedicated attendees at our church and have background checks run on a regular basis.
Christen Turnbull, our Children's Minister or Larissa Carrick, our Early Childhood Director, are available to answer any questions you may have. They can be reached by email or the church office at (330) 339-6715.
Infant Nursery
In our infant nursery, caring volunteers are waiting with age appropriate toys, cribs, and changing areas. Moms seeking privacy are welcome to nurse in this room.
Crawler/Toddler Nurseries
Bible fellowship is experienced by children who can crawl through age 36 months. Our “crawler” class consists of children who can crawl through age 18 months. These children are taught a fun, interactive Bible lesson, complete with toys, puppets, and storybooks during the 9:00 service hour. Crawlers are taught the same lesson quarterly because they learn best through repetition! During the 10:30 service hour, children are free to focus on play, closely monitored by our caring volunteers. Our toddler nursery includes both a changing area and a bathroom for young ones who are potty training!
Bible Fellowship & Wee Worship
Children ages 3-5 are together for the 9:30 Bible Fellowship hour. Wee Worship, designed for children ages 3 through Preschool, meets during the 10:30 service hour. There is one class for 3-year-olds and one for 4s & 5s.
KIDZ Choir & Youth Group
Children ages 3 through 5th grade are encouraged to sing with the KIDZ Choir. They practice Sunday nights from 6-6:30, and sing at both services one Sunday per month. After choir practice on Sunday nights, youth group meets from 6:30-7:30! This is a FUN way for kids to learn more about God and form a stronger connection with their peers.
Additional Events
To find out about other events offered for this age group, check the church bulletin, our church newsletter The Christian Echo (available at the information center in the lobby or by request at the Welcome Center), the children’s and youth bulletin board, located across from the Welcome Center., or on our website. Fun things are planned throughout the year, so be on the lookout!
What to Expect
Once you take your child to his/her age appropriate classroom, you will check them in. The first time you visit, please fill out a Child Information Card. Please inform the volunteers of specific details they may need to know regarding the care of your child (such as how and when your child should be fed, if there are food allergies, etc.). In the infant, crawler, and toddler nurseries, you will fill out a sticker for your child’s back that includes pertinent information. You will receive a sticker for yourself with a matching number for identification purposes. You may then take a pager so volunteers can contact you if needed. Please return this pager once you pick up your child. Check-in stickers are not necessary in Wee Worship but you may use a pager from one of the nurseries if you would like.
We welcome you to join us in worshipping our Lord Jesus Christ! We look forward to teaching your children about God. It is a blessing to do so, and to know each of them as well!
Interested in becoming a Children's Ministry Volunteer?
We gratefully welcome new volunteers to our children's ministry. For the protection of everyone involved--children and volunteers alike--we do ask that you complete a background check. You only need to complete the check if you are over 18 years of age.
While we have great trust and faith in our volunteers, we must also be diligent in the security and protection of our children. We hope you understand how important this measure of security is in today's society. We know that the parents who leave their children entrusted to our volunteers will feel more peaceful in doing so with this measure being taken.
Our background checks are completed through Protect My Ministry. It is a secure website, no paper trail is left which could pose a security threat if it ends up in the wrong hands, and it's lower in cost than other local and national search options. The cost of completing the background check is $17.95. Once you pay for your initial check, the church will pay to re-check every 2-3 years. Please make your check payable to First Christian Church and drop it off at the Welcome Center.
The following checks will be run: SSN Verification & Address History Trace, National Criminal Database Search, National Sex Offender Registry Search, and County Court Search.
Please visit the following site to complete the background check: www.ministryopportunities.org/fcnewphil.
Carousel Kids Preschool
Looking for a preschool? Select this link for information about Carousel Kids, an affordable Christian preschool that meets in our church building.