At Thomaston Road, we believe one of our most important tasks is to help our kids grow into strong, capable, effective Christians. Through lessons, activities and projects we encourage them to develop the same C3 principles that they will encounter in our Youth Program (for middle and high-schoolers).
These principles, and some of the ways we apply them for our younger kids are:
Core Knowledge
So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed Him, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” (John 8:31-32)
Our practice of faith begins with knowing the Truth. We employ songs, memory verses, games and lessons to help our kids commit parts of scripture to memory. Kids in our program will also learn Bible stories from Adam and Eve to the apostle John as he wrote from the island of Patmos. This equips our kids to place Bible stories in context, and introduces them to the overarching narrative of scripture in an accessible way, forming the foundation for deeper understanding later.
Competence
But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. (James 1:22)
Faith requires more than knowledge alone, and even the youngest child can begin putting the principles of Christian faith into practice. We encourage application of biblical principles by providing opportunities for our kids to minister to others. Our Pre-K kids learn to help one another by handing out snacks or class materials, helping to clean up, and learning to share. Older kids minister to one another in similar ways, but also begin to look to the broader church, making cards for the sick and shut-ins, helping put together bags of food and other necessities for our benevolence ministry.
Every one of us feels the desire to know that we have made a difference, and at Thomaston Road we ensure that all our members, from the moment they are able to earn that experience, have the opportunity to do so. By involving our young people we show them that they matter, their presence and involvement matter, and they can make a real difference for God in this world.
Courage
These principles, and some of the ways we apply them for our younger kids are:
Core Knowledge
So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed Him, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” (John 8:31-32)
Our practice of faith begins with knowing the Truth. We employ songs, memory verses, games and lessons to help our kids commit parts of scripture to memory. Kids in our program will also learn Bible stories from Adam and Eve to the apostle John as he wrote from the island of Patmos. This equips our kids to place Bible stories in context, and introduces them to the overarching narrative of scripture in an accessible way, forming the foundation for deeper understanding later.
Competence
But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. (James 1:22)
Faith requires more than knowledge alone, and even the youngest child can begin putting the principles of Christian faith into practice. We encourage application of biblical principles by providing opportunities for our kids to minister to others. Our Pre-K kids learn to help one another by handing out snacks or class materials, helping to clean up, and learning to share. Older kids minister to one another in similar ways, but also begin to look to the broader church, making cards for the sick and shut-ins, helping put together bags of food and other necessities for our benevolence ministry.
Every one of us feels the desire to know that we have made a difference, and at Thomaston Road we ensure that all our members, from the moment they are able to earn that experience, have the opportunity to do so. By involving our young people we show them that they matter, their presence and involvement matter, and they can make a real difference for God in this world.
Courage
For thus the LORD said to me,
“As a lion or a young lion growls over his prey,
and when a band of shepherds is called out against him he is not terrified by their shouting
or daunted at their noise,
so the LORD of hosts will come down
to fight on Mount Zion and on its hill. Like birds hovering, so the LORD of hosts
will protect Jerusalem; he will protect and deliver it;
he will spare and rescue it.” (Isaiah 31:4-5)
Our Lord is a lion, without fear. Jesus is called the “Lion of Judah” (Revelation 5:5), and He is our example (1 Peter 2:21). If we seek to follow Christ, to pattern ourselves as ‘Christians’, we must be bold and full of courage like our Lord. At Thomaston Road, we encourage our kids to develop courage in a number of ways. When they are little, courage may be as simple as standing up to recite a memory verse. For older children, it may manifest as a willingness to look outside themselves to see and meet the needs of others. In any case, courage cannot be taught but must be grown and developed through action. We strive to provide our young people with opportunities to test and grow their courage as they draw closer to God and to one another.
We also recognize that each child is different and must operate on his or her own timetable, so we do not push or attempt to rush this process. Some four-year-old children may be ready to stand up and recite a memory verse after the first week of class while others may need months before they feel ready. Our teachers and assistants recognize and praise acts of courage but do not pressure those who are not yet ready. By providing gentle correction with patience and love, by recognizing those who do behave with courage and permitting the more cautious to develop in their own time, we create an environment in which kids know that mistakes are simply part of growth and that what God truly seeks is the heart and a spirit which will not cease in seeking Him.
At Thomaston Road, we believe this is how you raise a generation of lions.