KidMin
KidMin is a fun place for children, birth through fourth grade, to GROW SPIRITUALLY as they learn who God is and how much He loves them. Children and volunteers CONNECT RELATIONALLY in small groups where each child can feel safe, cared for and known.
Your child’s safety is our first priority. All of our KidMin volunteers are background checked, and our security team maintains a constant presence in our KidMin environments. We require child check-in by an adult using the iPads in the atrium. Kids will receive a sticker with their name and parents will receive a pick-up sticker.
Parent stickers are required at dismissal time.
If your child needs you during the service, we will notify you.
Nursery/Preschool
Birth to Pre-K
Our nursery offers children birth through 24 months a secure and nurturing place filled with care. A gentle Bible curriculum is used to give children a glimpse of God’s love for them. For preschoolers, three through five years, we use storytelling and hands-on learning focused on three foundational truths: God created you, God loves you, and Jesus wants to be your forever friend. Children experience these truths through the care and relationships they develop in our playful environments.
Elementary
Kindergarten to Fourth Grade
Kindergarten through fourth grade uses engaging teaching, interactive worship, and small groups to focus on three basic truths: I can trust God no matter what, I need to make the wise choice, and I should treat others the way I want to be treated. Our fun environments provide a place for students to explore and deepen their understanding of who God is and their relationship with Him. Students will sign in at the check-in center located in the atrium prior to the worship experience. Then, your child will head back to “the Venue” where they will meet with their peers for worship led by one of our worship ministry adults, a lesson, small group time, and games.
Buddy Ministry
Mission: To provide a place during the Sunday Experience for special needs kids to belong, participate, & grow spiritually.
We believe that everyone was created in the image of God, on purpose and for a purpose. (Genesis 1:26-27 “…So God created human beings in his own image. In the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.”) We believe that we are all essential to the Body of Christ (1 Corinthians 12:14-17). We desire to reach and share Christ’s love and good news with all people, no matter their individual needs.
One way we seek to minister to children affected by disability, or those who face unique challenges in our worship environment, is by ensuring that they are not only included in all that we do in our Kid Ministry, but that they truly belong. To accomplish this, at a minimum, we partner with families to:
- Include children with disabilities within their peers in the classroom. We provide a buddy for children that need an “extra” friend or support person in KidMin.
- Nurture their faith just like all the children for whom we are blessed to provide care; and
- Provide a sensory room for those who need a break or their own space at any time. We recognize that children can have a range of sensory, behavioral, or other challenges, and therefore seek to individualize our approach to helping them overcome these challenges. The sensory room can serve as a calming and effective tool for this purpose.
We encourage caregivers to complete our “Buddy Ministry Intake Form”. We will then work with the caregiver(s) to pair a buddy who will get to know you and your child to best care for their needs here at Gateway Church.
We cannot provide therapy, behavioral modification programs, or medical recommendations, however, but we are happy to discuss partnering with your child’s existing home and community-based support and service workers at KidMin. We are excited to serve your family and look forward to hearing from you!
