Children & Youth
At First Brethren, we take children and youth ministry seriously. We also understand that leaving your children with strangers is often hard to do. That's why we do all we can to ensure that your children are properly cared for by trusted children's volunteers. All of our children's and youth workers are clean of any questionable historical behavior having been screened both on the Ohio State Sex Offender list and their county criminal records to ensure the maximum safety of your children.
We offer age-appropriate programming for all ages, beginning with toddlers. We believe that God wants us all to help raise our children in a good, safe environment, where they can learn more about Jesus Christ so that one day, they may come to an understanding of Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior.
We teach children and youth about key Christian elements all through their development. Such key elements include prayer, salvation, God, sin, and more. Our intention is to help your kids learn what it means to be a Christian so well that when they graduate from high school, having grown up in our church, they will have what it takes to make the right decisions as adults. We want very much for everyone to live with a solid foundation in order to connect, grow, and serve Jesus Christ for the rest of their life.
Firm Foundation
Firm Foundation encourages scripture memorization and commitment to discipleship through a reward system. Younger students receive stickers, pre-K-K students receive gold coins and older students receive Bible Bucks. Children are rewarded for attending, brining their Bibles, and memorizing scripture. This reward system teaches tithing.
Kids Worship
After Sunday school and before our children's program begins during the regular Sunday worship hour, there is a time for the children to have their own time of singing and worship.
Kids 4 Christ
People/Type: Children 4-K
Description: Bible study for PreK-K
Sundays 9:30am
Location: basement bottom of ramp to right
Contact : Rhonda Bruot, Kathy Nicholls
Kids of Service/Kids of Mission
People/Type: All children grades 1-3/4-5
Description: Bible study for students
Day/Time: Sundays, 9:30am
Location: ABC/Kids 2 Room, basement to the right
Contact: Betty Manning, Earl Bechtol
Church Camp
Camp is an important part of our ministry at First Brethren. Each summer, we encourage our parents to send their children to Camp Shipshewana for a life-changing week of games, activities, learning, worship, and adventure! For more details about Summer & Winter camps at the Brethren Retreat center, click here. We do fundraisers on a yearly basis to raise funds to help reduce the cost of camp for each of our children.
ABC and Junior ABC (Adventure Bible Club)
People/Type: Junior ABC -for kids 2-K All kids in grades 1-5
Description: Adventure Bible Club: Will kick-off a new year starting September 7. A mid-week program for elementary kids! Children 2-K in Jr. ABC grades 1-5 in ABC will explore how to be biblically strong in the decisions they make and their relationships with others. This includes Bible stories, games, crafts, and snack time.
Day/Time: Wednesdays at 6:00pm
Location: ABC/Kids 2 Room, basement
Contact: Jr. ABC- Kathy Nicholls ABC Tammy Smith, Ashleigh Nicholls
People/Type: Junior High and High School students-Merge
Description: Designed to help students connect with each other and with God, to stretch and grow in their relationships with God and each other, and to help guide students in determining how they are uniquely created to serve God and others.
Day/Time: Wednesday evenings, 6:00pm
Location: Fellowship Hall- Youth Pastor Brent Sloan
