But Jesus called them to him, saying, “Let the children come to me, and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of God” (Luke 18:16).
It has been a blessing to be called to work in children’s ministry, knowing that the work we are doing is for the kingdom of God. God’s all-encompassing commandment to love each other is something we get to live out with our church community through these ministries:
Wonder World
About 50 of our littlest members from newborn to Kindergarten join us for Wonder World each Sunday morning. We have some challenges to find a curriculum that meets the needs of the children and the volunteers. The teachers also find it challenging to meet all the needs of the children each week because of both the class sizes and children’s behaviour. The Kindergarten class alone sometimes has 20 children! We are thankful for our many dedicated volunteers and ask that you continue to pray for them, and for the future ones we need.
Discovery Gang
In Discovery Gang, Sunday mornings there has been an average attendance of 65 children in the 10:00 and 11:20 services combined. The grades 1 – 4 have been using the Dig In Curriculum to go through the Bible. A morning together may include object lessons, large group games, memorizing verses, praying, acting out Bible stories, watching videos, singing, creating art, finding verses, & reading about how God loves his people. As Discovery Gang continues to grow, we are constantly looking for teachers & helpers.
Connect 56
This class for grades 5 & 6 students continues to take place at our 10:00 service only. This past fall they once again did Youth Alpha and about 20 kids come out each week. We are always blessed by the dedication of Jordan Koch and Cynthia Nwali, along with several helpers who assist.
Glow Girlz
About 45 girls in Grade 1-4 burst into the church Wednesday night, wearing whatever special “dress-up” is called for each week. Cindy and her wonderful team: Susan Granger, Tracey Malcolm, and Rayleen Mayer, plan and lead lessons each week focused on how God reveals Himself through the Bible and what it means for our lives. 10 other ladies volunteer weekly with these girls.
Just Boyz
The energy of the boys coming for just boyz supersedes that of the girls Wednesday nights! About 30 boys in Grades 1-4 come for games in the gym and a short Bible lesson and snack. This ministry is led by Larry Granger and James Smith, with several dads and young helpers joining to help keep order! The boys love to play and learn from the Bible. It’s great to hear them volunteering to pray aloud.
XP56
Every other Friday night the grade 5 & 6 boys get together and take over our church. They’ve been known to run around finding parts for flashlights in a game called Gorgon and solve mysteries. Pastor Steve Pahl is always part of their Christmas event, the Elf Mystery Night.
Unshaken 56
This is a new group for girls in Grade 5 & 6 that started this fall, led by Christina. 12 girls and 2 leaders get together Wednesday nights to dig into the Bible, pray, share about their lives and play games. Five of the girls are from non-Christian homes, so this is a ministry bringing together kids from various backgrounds. They are currently learning about their identity in Christ.
Baby Dedications
15 children were dedicated to the Lord in 2025! This includes two services, in May and November, as well as some private dedication ceremonies performed by Pastor Cindy.
Easter Egg Hunt
The weather was great for about 120 children to gather with friends and families to read verses and find coloured eggs around the Hillcrest property. After finding eggs, participants were welcome to check out the petting zoo, have their face painted or enjoy a snack. Some families spent the afternoon chatting and enjoying the event.
True North Daycamp
We ran 2 weeks of Daycamp in July that focused on how we can trust Jesus in a wild world. There were about 50 students (ages 5 – 11) & 20 volunteers attending each week. Most attendees said they went to church with their families, however there were some who came to church for the first time for Daycamp. We had fantastic discussions about how God helps us, what Jesus did during his life, and how we can still see God working today. We challenged students to find & share “God Sightings” each day. The church was filled with laughter, learning, fellowship, and conversations focused on God.
Volunteer Appreciation
In May Christina & Nancy hosted a Mexican Fiesta for all volunteers in children’s ministry. Over 85 volunteers & their families attended & enjoyed games, a taco bar, & fellowship time. There was an open mic where they got to share appreciations for each other, which was a beautiful time to hear how God was working and for volunteers to encourage one another.
Gr 1 Bible Event
The Bible must be an important foundation in our kids’ lives. Every September Pastor Cindy invites families of Grade One students to come together for the Grade 1 Bible Event. This year, 16 families attended and it was heart-warming to see parents presenting Bibles to their children with spiritual intention. We hear reports of kids going home and reading their Bibles each night. Christina follows up in Discovery Gang, encouraging kids to bring their Bibles along Sunday morning and teaching them to find verses and apply them to their lives.
Staff
As children’s ministry continues to grow we have needed to grow our staff, and had Christina Konrad join our team as Director of Children & Families. She oversees Discovery Gang, Unshaken 56, Daycamp, kids social media, and assists Cindy where needed. Pastor Cindy continues to oversee Glow Girlz, just boyz, Connect 56, XP56, Discovery Playgroup, Wonder World, and the Resource Center. Both of these ladies find themselves busy and appreciate the help of our new Children & Families Administrative Assistant Marilee Knibbs, who joined the team this fall.
We thank you again for the opportunity to serve the Lord in this amazing church family. What a privilege to spend our time on eternal outcomes!
Cindy, Christina, and Marilee