God’s instruction in Deuteronomy 6 places the responsibility for teaching up children to follow Jesus squarely on the shoulders of the parents and grandparents, the immediate family of the next generation. We also realize that the Christian life is one meant to be lived out in community and that one of the roles of that community is to partner with parents and to equip them in the challenge of raising their children in the Lord. Our mission as Rock Point Church’s Family Ministries, is to come alongside parents with wisdom and resources to allow them to take the lead in introducing their children to the love of Christ. Our ministries are age specific and appropriate, and share common values, and a common plan, each one aligning with the next to produce a grand vision through which parents can see their children come into a fully engaged faith in Christ. This page contains just a glimpse into each of our individual family ministries. We encourage you, as parents, to visit, ask questions and even consider serving yourself, as this job is one we cannot accomplish alone. |
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It is the privilege of Christian parents to pass their faith on to the next generation, and it is one of the most intimidating jobs imaginable. It’s a job that, ideally, begins as early as a child’s infancy, before the child is even able to grasp the amazing grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. That’s because long before the child ever hears the message of the Gospel, that child’s faith journey begins with the parents.
Our mission as Rock Point’s Early Childhood Ministry (Nursery-Kindergarten) is to create a safe, enriching environment where the seeds of faith can be planted in the hearts of your youngest. But beyond that, our Early Childhood Ministry serves as an entry point for you to embark on a partnership with the church with the aim of seeing your child grow in vibrant faith in the years to come. We want to equip you with the tools you need to be the primary faith influencer in your family. As a parent, you will ultimately have a far greater influence on your children than any church leader. And so our primary role is to empower and encourage you. This page offers resources as a starting point, but these resources alone won’t cut it. So please contact us with any questions and join us as we seek to partner with you in this most important endeavor. [LEARN MORE]
Studies show that the most likely time for children and students to express faith in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior happens between the ages of 4 and 14. Therefore we believe it is imperative that a child’s foundation of faith be made firm at the earliest of ages. In addition to offering the same safe and affirming environment we provide in our early childhood areas, Rock Point’s Early Elementary Ministry (1st - 3rd grade) seeks to equip our children with the knowledge to enter into a vibrant relationship with Jesus Christ as they grow. At the same time, we want to provide tools for parents, so they can reinforce what their children are learning.
First, we want to establish safe and encouraging relationships that introduce children to the loving, accepting, supporting and developing community that is found at a Christ-centered church.
Second, we want to give our children the tools they need to navigate the Bible and take ownership of their own faith as they grow. Over and above mere moralistic lessons, we seek to give our children a glimpse into the larger story God is telling in the Bible, a story that points to Jesus and a story that each of us are invited into.
Finally, we want to have fun. While having a good time should never take precedence over growing in community and learning about God, there is no reason why kids can’t be kids as we pursue these goals. Look around this page to see the specifics of what we’re talking about and don’t hesitate to jump in and join us. The more the merrier. [LEARN MORE]
Here’s a pop quiz: After a child’s first couple of years, what age and period of development is most consequential in his/her cognitive and social development? If you guessed preteen, approximately defined as ages 8-11, you would be correct. The preteen age range is, more often than not, a child’s first experience with true autonomy. No longer are relationships formed simply by proximity and convenience but rather by the discovery of shared interests and aspirations. Identity formation jumps forward, becoming the driving narrative in the life of a preteen. So helping to form a strong identity in Christ should be at the forefront of a parent’s mind. As students begin asking who they are and why they are here, as friendships are navigated and as bullying is experienced, our role is to provide God-centered answers to your preteen’s most pressing life questions.
Rock Point’s Preteen Ministry exists to soften the strain that this transitional period often inflicts on parents and families. Our lessons are designed to tackle the subjects of faith and identity in a way that is not only practical and applicable, but also points preteens back to Christ, as it prepares them for the challenges of adolescence. This is also a time when our partnership with parents is renewed and strengthened. We offer many opportunities for parents to join with us in our mission, not only at home but also in our programming, to fully prepare both parents and students for the obstacles that lie ahead. This can be one of the most exciting periods in a child’s life. It can also be one of the scariest. We hope you’ll join us as we capture the exciting and overcome the scary. [LEARN MORE]
Middle school (grades 6-8) has traditionally been an awkward, in-between time for the American adolescent. The transition towards autonomy that began in the preteen age range has hit full stride and the pressures and stressors of being a teenager have arrived all too early. This seems to have become even more pronounced in the 21st century as the advent of the internet and social media has created an environment where middle school students cannot help but grow up faster than ever before.
Rock Point’s Middle School Ministry tackles the issues of early adolescence directly and our primary means of doing so is through community. Our weekend services include live worship and messages that tackle relevant, middle school issues from a Biblical perspective. But our primary emphasis is on our small groups. Group life is something we model all the way down through our children’s ministry but it really takes center stage in our middle school environments. All programming and events we offer serve to move students into relational Biblical community. As with all our Family Ministry areas, the middle school age remains an important time to keep the partnership between parents and the church strong. We hope you will stay as involved as possible during the crucial season of a student’s life.
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High school students are powerful. Younger students look up to them. Adults are afraid of them. Advertisers target them heavily. And the opinions of their peers affect them more powerfully than any other influence. Perhaps no other stage in a student’s development is as daunting for parents and church leaders alike as the high school years. Yet with studies showing an increasing number of young adults walking away from their faith after high school, there has never been a greater need to minister to this crucial demographic.
Our mission in Rock Point’s High School Ministry is to foster a faith that’s worth celebrating, that has answers for the challenges of secular society and that is intellectually satisfying while remaining spiritually uplifting. We want our students to develop a practical faith that readily applies Biblical truth to actual situations they face today and will face as they undertake the transition into adulthood. Serving as the culmination of each prior area of our Family Ministries, Rock Point’s High School Ministry seeks to build on that foundation and equip our students with a legacy worth celebrating. We want them to wear their faith proudly, not in shame, and equip them to share that faith with others. [LEARN MORE]