Family Ministries

Jesus said: “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.”
Matthew 18:3

Our Philosophy

We grow as disciples by caring for and learning from the children who are with us.

More than classes for children, our Family Ministries are for the whole body, which is Jesus’ new family. We believe that intergenerational worship is a gift to the young and the old, and that we grow together.

  • Those who share Jesus’ life also share Jesus’ family, bound to them in love and loyalty. And in the family of God, we honor adults and children, single and married. Each person, no matter their family of origin or current family status has a home among us

  • We are taught by Jesus that children are invaluable for our life of faith. In order to follow Jesus, we must “become like children,” who teach us how to live open-heartedly, with trust and confidence in our Father’s love. In an intergenerational community, our faith is formed together.

  • Family Ministries does more than care for children and youth. We equip the whole body, who are given the task of nurturing faith together. And we support parents and caregivers who face unique challenges and opportunities as they raise their children into mature, adult faith.

Children’s Ministry

We nurture our preschool and elementary children and their caregivers through Sunday services and support for their at-home discipleship

  • We offer three classes for preschool and elementary classes each Sunday:

    Our nursery offers childcare for babies and preschool age children for the duration of the service.

    Our younger elementary class (K-2nd grade) gives children the chance to explore the story of the Bible in hands-on and tactile ways. These kids return to our worship service for singing and communion.

    Our older elementary class (3rd-5th grade) takes students deeper into the stories of the Bible, teaching them how to explore and ask new questions of their faith. These kids return to our worship service for singing and communion.

  • Our classrooms are in our church building. When you arrive, you can follow the signs to the correct classroom or ask someone to help guide you. We’re more than happy to help!

  • Safety and accountability are our highest volunteer values. All of our volunteers submit to a thorough background check, and abide by our child safety policies and protocols so that every child can thrive in a safe, secure environment

Youth Ministry

Our middle school and high school students gather regularly to study the Bible, ask deeper questions about faith, serve the city, and build community with each other and their friends.

  • Our youth group (6th - 12th grade) meets on Tuesday nights (6:30pm to 8:15pm) at our sister church, Milwaukie Covenant Church.

  • We deepen our discipleship together through authentic community. We read and study the Bible together, learn theology, and serve the city with our friends

  • Pastor Katy along with Pastor Kristi Smith of Milwaukie Covenant church lead our youth group with other volunteers from our churches. Each volunteer completes a background check and abides by our youth safety policies.

Parents & Caregivers

The church family works together to help raise children into mature, faithful disciples of Jesus. It takes the whole body, working together.

But parents, grandparents, and caregivers face unique challenges in their own life of faith as they walk alongside children becoming adults. So we support the whole family: children and their adults.

  • As parents and caregivers walk with children through developmental stages, these adults face new questions. It’s easy to feel alone, overwhelmed, and even ashamed of where things have not gone the way one had hoped.

    Those questions, feelings, and support also require the best of our community. We nurture the faith of children and the adults with them so they can grow in faith together.

  • We are building a new suite of resources and community partnership to support parents and the unique questions they face. To learn more or help us build the community, contact Pastor Katy below.

  • If you’re a parent, grandparent, or caregiver and you feel stuck in how to nurture faith in your family, get in touch! We want to be your companions, and share resources with you to help you grow.

    If you have personal or professional experience in developmental psychology, spiritual formation, or the questions adults face as they raise children, we’d love to bring your wisdom to the whole church.

More questions?

Pastor Katy Andlovec would love to chat.