Children's Ministry
The Vision
We at Alathia Community Church desire to see our children experience a loving relationship with the one true God. We desire to help them grow in His grace through His Word and His Spirit, and to see them experience the joy of glorifying God through worship, obedience, and love.
Your child is of the utmost importance to us. We believe children are a gift from God (Psalm 127:3) and they are greatly loved and valued by each member of the Children's Ministry team. We take all necessary means to ensure that children feel welcome in class; that we provide them with a safe and secure environment where they may play and learn; that teaching is biblically sound; and that volunteers are properly checked and monitored.
Children's Ministry Leadership
Children's Ministry Deacon, Tiffani Bell
Tiffani is responsible for the day-to-day operations of the children's ministry, using her leadership and management to carry out the vision and mission given by the elders. She ensures that teachers are well equipped with all necessary supplies needed to teach effectively, and manages the scheduling of volunteers. She has worked with children and youths of all ages in various settings including daycare, summer camps, Vacation Bible Schools, and youth groups. While serving as a deacon, Tiffani also enjoys teaching Sunday School and coaching a youth soccer team. She loves spending time with children, desiring for them to know God and grow in His love.
Teachers/Volunteers
Our teachers are all members of Alathia Community Church, and have demonstrated faithfulness and growth in their relationships with Christ. Each teacher has also had a background check. We strive to provide the safest environment possible for your children.
Curriculum
Providing sound doctrine is one of our highest goals (Mark 9:42). Volunteers teach from a designed curriculum provided by Gospel Light. Lesson plans have been read and approved by Alathia leadership, thus we are confident that children receive biblically sound lessons.
The curriculum incorporates creative, fun ideas and stories relating biblical truths to the children. Each Sunday, children participate in games, a craft, dramatic play, bible story, worship songs, and activities. Bible stories are taught from both the Old and the New Testaments during the year depending on the schedule.
Parents are encouraged to know what their children are learning and to ask them questions about the story after each class.
Check-In Process
Registration Form: The safety and security of your children is very important to us. If it is the first time your child is visiting our class, or if we do not yet have information for the child on file, we ask that you fill out the Registration Form. This form requests basic information including the child's name, parent's name, contact details, and any special needs such as allergies.
Sign-In Sheet: You will be greeted by one of the teachers at the door to the Sunday School area and asked to check in your child by writing your child's name on the Sign-In sheet. The adult checking the child into the classroom will be given a numbered identification tag that corresponds to a numbered pin that will be placed on the child's article of clothing. This tag will be necessary to release your child at the end of the service. Please note that older siblings will not be allowed to drop off or pick up children.
Peeking In: Parents are welcome to check on their children during the service. However, we ask that you please be discreet in doing this to maintain a calm and happy atmosphere and to not disrupt the classroom.
Nursery: Parents of infants checking children into the nursery are requested to bring a diaper bag including two or three disposable diapers, a pacifier or other security item, and a complete set of clothes in case a change is necessary.
Well Child Policy: In order to provide a safe and healthy environment and to avoid the spread of illness, we cannot accept a child who exhibits a fever, runny nose, rash, persistent cough, diarrhea, vomiting, pink eye, chicken pox or other infectious disease, sore throat, or lice. We request that you not bring children to church while they are at risk of exposing others, and thank you in advance for your cooperation.
Security Policy
For security reasons, parents will not be allowed to remain in the nursery or children's ministry area during service. Only those volunteers and teachers scheduled in either the nursery or the Sunday School classroom will be allowed in this area. Parents may either sign in their children and attend the service, or remain with their children in the Cry Room. Parents who leave their children in the nursery will be notified if their child is unduly upset.
Check-Out Process
Please be prompt in picking up your child after the service. For safety reasons, children will only be released to those parents with a corresponding numbered tag, and will not be allowed to leave with older siblings. Once children have been checked out of Sunday School or the nursery, they are no longer the responsibility of the teachers or volunteers. Please be aware of your child's whereabouts and behavior once they have been released.
Discipline Policy
Expected Behaviors: Children at Alathia are expected to show proper behavior before, during, and after class on Sundays. They should show respect for themselves by not acting in ways that may harm themselves or other children, for others by using kind and loving words and actions, and for the building by not damaging classroom materials or church property.
During class, children should pay attention, participate, and respect other children and their teachers. They should not display behaviors that are harmful or disruptive.
Discipline: Children's positive behaviors should be rewarded or recognized. Teachers in the children's ministry try to affirm children as much as possible when they see positive actions such as sharing, paying attention, asserting themselves in a positive way, etc. However, when children react or act in a negative manner, or are being disruptive or disrespectful, the following guidelines will be employed:
1. The first time a negative behavior is noticed, the teacher will gently remind the child of expected behaviors and will ask the child not to do it again.
2. The second time, the teacher will remove the child from the group and speak with him or her about the expected behavior again, making sure that the child understands what is expected of him or her. The child will also be told that if the behavior persists, his or her parent will be asked to come and remove the child from the classroom.
3. If the behavior persists, the child's parent will be asked to come pick up the child.
Parent Participation and Initiative
We encourage parents to speak with their children about what they have learned, asking their children what they did during class, talking about the story, singing their child's favorite songs with them, etc.
Volunteer Opportunities
If you are interested in the opportunity of serving in nursery or children's ministry by volunteering or teaching as part of a team, or if you would simply like to know more, please talk to the Children's Ministry Deacon, Tiffani Bell. You may email her at tiffani AT alathia DOT org.