Rock Solid KIDS Ministry
Mission Statement:
To provide a powerful and dynamic place of worship where kids come and enter into the presence of God ushered by the Holy Spirit. A place where excitement and enthusiasm is not extinct but truly alive and present in the midst of all K.I.D.S. exemplifying true passion for the love of God!
Theme Verse
Proverbs 22:6
6 Train up a child in the way he should go, And when he is old he will not depart from it.
Deuteronomy 6:6-9
6 “And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart. 7 You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up. 8 You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. 9 You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.
What We Do
WOW! What a cool job to have, training K.I.D.S. up in the ways of God! Hello, I’m Sara Ann Arteaga-Richardson, the Rock Solid K.I.D.S. Children’s Pastor at Emmanuel Worship Center in San Antonio, Texas. We believe in the importance of giving K.I.D.S. a solid foundation in which they will draw from as they grow. Your children are the very core of our future, and teaching them the word of God, the love of Christ, and, how to grow to be the wonderfully awesome person God has created them to be is our ultimate purpose. We strive to change a life, not just a moment.
When we talk about children, the awareness of influences in their lives and how important they are, are undeniable. We are contributors to the person your child will grow to be, that is why we take our responsibilities for this ministry very seriously. Rock Solid K.I.D.S., (Kids In Devine Service), is a Ministry Partnership. What does that mean? Well—as teachers, helpers and leaders, we want to come along side of you to help “train up your child in the way they should go”, Proverbs 22:6. Also, in Deuteronomy 6:6-9, it tells us that we are to teach our K.I.D.S. about God as we walk along the street, sit in our homes, when we lie down and when we rise up, simply put, everywhere we go and in every thing we do. The word tells us that we should teach them in such a way that it is natural for them to live the way God wants, as well as, for them to do what God wants them to do. The call on our lives is very clear and we want to make sure we serve your children in the most awesome way we can.
From powerful dramas, productions, and skits, to awesome anointed praise and worship, not to mention a dynamic, high energy, spirit filled K.I.D.S. Church, where playing games and being silly is truly a form of worship. Make no mistake, we get serious in the word with deep and personal services that focus and wait on the Holy Spirit to move. We are committed to bringing God’s word alive in your K.I.D.S.!
We have incentives, such as “Candy Splashes”, and a Rock Solid K.I.D.S. Score Store to reward your child for every good thing they do. We have quiet seat prizes, contests and giveaways at every turn. Why? Thought you’d never ask. How cool is it that God rewards us for the good things we do as well as when we exemplify obedience. Blessings come in great abundance for those who follow and serve God. Why not teach our children that principle right away! This is why we give away points to spend in the Score Store. How do they earn points? Good question! If K.I.D.S. bring their bibles or a visitor, memorize their memory verse or participate in the contest of the month such as; learning the Ten Commandments, or the books of the bible etc., they earn points to spend in the Score Store. As you can see we are determined to win K.I.D.S. for Christ, and we are determined to change the next generation to be lovers of God and “WOW, I can’t wait to be a disciple for Christ!” K.I.D.S.
Our mission is simple and clear – we want to bring your K.I.D.S. in to train and equip them and then, send them out to serve our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ with passion, power, confidence, and without shame.(2 Tim. 1:8). Here at Emmanuel Worship Center’s, Rock Solid K.I.D.S. Ministry, being a Christian is cool!
Early Childhood Development
What is K.I.D.S. Church? Asking yourself this question and receiving the true answer from God may surprise even the toughest of critics. What K.I.D.S. Church is not, is a place to hold kids while their parents are in service, it is not a glorified babysitting arena, and it is certainly not a platform for kids to come and get a watered down boring fall asleep I can’t wait to get out of here kind of message. What K.I.D.S. Church is….is a place where K.I.D.S. can come and be free to worship completely unleashed, a place where they can ask questions about the word of God and not be judged for the way they feel, but rather be educated and encouraged about God’s plan for their lives and His everlasting and ever-giving love for them. A place where laughter is a part of every service, and silliness is held as a form of worship and praise to our awesome King. A place where the innocence that GOD created is still very much alive as He smiles on each child in our services, the joy and the love that flows will melt the most adult heart and allow them too to be a kid once more. Join me as we journey into a place that God created and is inviting us to come too…His presence…will you come?
At Emmanuel Worship Center, the Early Childhood Ministry (ECM) classes consist of Preschool, Pre-Kinder, and Kinder age children. On Sunday mornings, we have one class for each ECM age group. On Wednesday nights, we have one combined class. Knowing that preschoolers cannot grasp all the details of a lesson, we use the Critter Land curriculum to help them learn the “Big Idea” of the lesson each week. We do not just “babysit”. . . Our teachers work hard to give your child a full class session of fun, Biblical learning.
- On Sunday mornings, we greet each child as they come into the classroom and allow them to have guided play as the latecomers arrive.
- Each Sunday, we have two color pages, or a craft and a color page, pertaining to the lesson. We start class by bringing the children to the tables to do the craft or color page. This helps them to begin focusing on the lesson.
- As they color or complete the craft, we take up offering for Jesus. For those who do not have any offering, we give them coins to put in the offering container.
- Story time is next. We usually move from the tables to the floor. Story time begins with a life-size stuffed toy chicken from which a large plastic egg is produced. Inside the egg is something different each week, pertaining to the lesson’s Big Idea. The Big Idea prepares the children for the interactive Bible story they are about to hear. As the story is told, the teacher reviews what has been said and asks questions.
- After story time, we change the pace with praise and worship action Bible songs. The songs and motions are led by the teacher at a pace suited for the children.
- After several songs, the children are more than ready for snack time! The children move back to the tables where they are usually provided with Goldfish crackers and apple juice after a brief prayer of thanks.
- During snack, the teacher reviews the lesson’s Big Idea with the children, and also the Bible memory verse. The teacher brings out the curriculum’s animal puppet to teach the children another truth from the lesson. During this time, the teacher also asks the children for prayer requests and prays for recent “owies.”
- After snack, the children usually complete another color page.
- By then, it is close to noon, and the children are free to play until they are picked up.
- As each child leaves, the teacher gives them their craft and/or color page(s), along with a take-home-page for the parent’s review of the lesson, and a big hug.
In our Wednesday night combined class, the same basic format is followed. We usually have only one color page or craft. The story for Wednesday night is the same one as taught on the previous Sunday, but with a different twist . . . it is told from an animal’s point of view!
We value our time with your children. Our goal is to prepare them for a deeper relationship with the Lord when they graduate into K.I.D.S. Church by teaching them the love of Jesus and the joy of being in His house of worship during these early preschool years.
Nursery
The church was busy with activity as the staff and volunteers were setting up for the service. Many of the teachers and leaders had already started setting up for class and only a few children had arrived. As the puzzles lay decorating the floor and a set of twins played with a balloon, a mother approached the door with her 2 year old daughter and son that was less than a year. The little girl’s face lit up with excitement as the teacher reached out for her hand and asked her if she was ready to learn about the wonderful things God does for us, without hesitation the little girl looked up and said “the way he helped David.” The little girl ran into the classroom ready to learn and play with her friends, as the mom asked to speak privately with the teacher. The mother told the teacher that during the week the family was out and the little girl started telling the parents about how God had helped David beat Goliath. She could remember all the details of the story and was so happy that the big giant fell down. The mother stood there fighting back a tear, and said “Thank you and the other teachers for taking the time to teach, pray, and play with my children.” The mother hugged the teacher and walked away.
Many people treat children under the age of three as if they are not able to learn, they feel that the only thing they are there for during service is to baby sit. We don’t believe that here at Emmanuel Worship Center. Our children deserve the opportunity to learn about God just like everyone else. The fact is that our children will absorb more during these ages and if we can plant that seed in them we are giving them much more than we could ever imagine. Our mission is to provide a loving environment for God’s children to grow in love for themselves, for others, and most importantly for Jesus.
The nursery which is catered to children from 0 to 18 months or walking is located next to the main sanctuary. This room has an intercom system in which the service can be heard. Each teacher and helper will work with the children through a hand on manner. The children are shown love and affection the way God loves us. The children are talked to and played with, and still the word of God is filtered in to allow the seed to be planted.
As the children reach walking age and are ready to move up, they are sent to the Toddlers and Twos classroom. This classroom has a main teacher and a few helpers that will follow a lesson plan. The lesson plan includes guided play, praise and worship, story time, interactive study which includes coloring and/or a craft, snack time, offering, diaper changes (if applicable), and dismissal. Each child will leave the class room with a color sheet and/or craft, and a hard back half sheet poster board that will represent what they learned in class, but most of all they will leave with a feeling of love from God.
Our teachers and leaders are blessed everyday with the opportunity to have a part in all of the children’s lives that we come in contact with. Please allow us the opportunity to grow in Christ, with your child. God Bless You.
