A Kingdom Kids Orientation
Have you ever wondered about “A Day in the Life of a Kingdom Kids volunteer?” You are welcome to set up a day to observe our classes! I’d love for you to experience it. As a teaser, here are some routines on a regular Sunday morning. Perhaps you see a need that you can help […]
Keeping BG’s Children Safe
When designing children’s programming, I often consider the metaphor of “weaving a basket.” We shape elements to carry spiritual content, and also to hold the children in the container of our church culture. Some of these elements may bend and be flexible—various games or activities can be adjusted to work well for the individuals we […]
Sharing Life with Children
We serve a God who loves us. Every Sunday morning at Kingdom Kids, we begin Children’s Church with this question:“Who has a story to share from this week, something we can pray about together?” Hands shoot up and stories bounce around the room: a happy tale about a soccer game or a visit to a […]
Kingdom Kids: Getting Ready for Summer
This season is filled with milestones as we prepare for summer festivities. In Kingdom Kids, we are welcoming new Kindergarten students to the elementary group, getting the playground ready for our classes to spend more time outside, and more! June 21, 9am-12pm: Playground/Classroom work partyCalling all willing hands! We need help finishing a fresh coat […]
Nature Camp: Seeing the Story
Trees hold stories. With each year of growth, a ring is added to the trunk’s diameter. By cutting a cross section, we can look at the rings and learn about the tree’s lifetime—years of drought or abundance, scars from injury or disease. We can look at the silhouette and notice patterns that indicate the presence […]
BG’s Egg Scramble: Layers of Engagement
Kingdom KidsImagine arriving at our church campus as a visitor to the Egg Scramble, and seeing the lawns covered with colorful plastic eggs. A group of smiling faces are there to greet new arrivals and tell them about the many activities being offered. Inside, adults are enjoying homemade baked goods and a cup of hot […]
New Partnership to Make Disciples
We are excited to partner with Willow Glen Christian School in creating a new Homeschool Extension program. The Extension will open on the BG campus beginning in Fall of 2025, offering a full-day program for homeschool students in Kindergarten through 5th grade. Our mission for this program is to offer an academically rich program for […]
Keeping BG’s Children Safe
A few weeks ago, I wrote about how we “weave a basket” when designing children’s programming. We shape elements to carry content, but also to hold the children in the container of our church culture. Some of these elements may bend and be flexible—various games or activities can be adjusted to work well for the […]
Weaving the Basket
When teaching children and developing programs in cultural mentoring, we sometimes speak of it as weaving a basket. What strands do we bring together that will hold the children well? For Kingdom Kids Nature Day on November 11th, our theme is shelter. A shelter is like a basket covering and holding a person safely. For […]
Nature Camp: Fire Stories
God is the author of all creation and we revel in his power as we learn about the natural world. Human beings are a unique part of God’s creation, made in his image. One of the things that sets us apart from other creatures is our ability to use fire. BG Nature Camp is an […]
For the Beauty of the Earth
What can a tree or a butterfly teach about God? Can running around getting muddy be worship? In Kingdom Kids each Sunday morning, we have been focusing on various aspects of creation in springtime. We are following this exploration as a springboard to discuss God and our relationship to him through Christ. Our time begins […]
Kindling a Flame
Imagine a group of children in the woods, gently tending a small fire. Carefully they feed it twigs for fuel, learning the delicate skill of adding wood without putting their own hand in the flame. While it burns, their teacher shares a story—some eyes are on her, some remain fixed on the fire. After a […]
“Children, You Are Dismissed”
At these words each Sunday morning, you hear a gentle stampede of feet, voices barely subdued, as the young children practically trip over themselves to head down to their program: children’s church. Do you ever secretly wish you could follow them, peek into what goes on downstairs, and just be a fly on the wall? […]
Engage with Delight
During the discipleship mini-series, we were challenged with the idea that discipleship flows through delight—that we are what we love. If we are shaped by what we love, what are some ways that we can engage with children that are delightful to them? On Saturday March 23, from 10am-12pm we will host a community Egg […]
Paying Attention to the Word
A small group of children, huddling together, crept slowly through the woods. Theycommunicated only through small chirps, sneaking past a teen who ominously glowered at themlike a menacing owl. The pretended threat of danger was still thrilling, heightening their sensesas they scoured the leaf-litter for a package of hidden snacks. Chirping alarms as another teen […]
With Dirt and Fire
Through the Bible, we read stories of Jesus’ life and the parables that he uses to teach his followers—back then and today! During BG Nature Camp and our new school break Nature Days, we will create games, activities, and crafts that point back to the stories Jesus lived and told. Jesus’ parable of the sower […]
Finding Our Way At Nature Camp
At Nature Camp we use tools of nature study and wilderness skills to communicate Biblical truth. Our theme this summer was Navigation. Why do people get lost in the woods? How do we find our way? What gives us direction? Over the course of two weeks, 45 volunteers (including 10 teens) guided and supported campers […]