Children's Ministries
It was through an outreach to children in the Hilltop neighborhood that Hilltop Urban Church was born, and children have continued to be a top ministry priority at Hilltop every since. Here are some of the ways our Children’s Ministry Team leads us in ministering to children.
SUNDAY MORNING
Sunday morning when we gather at 11, children and their parents worship together during the first part of our worship service. This shared worship time includes singing together and singing Happy Birthday to everyone (kids & grownups) who will be having a birthday during the coming week.
Sunday morning when we gather at 11, children and their parents worship together during the first part of our worship service. This shared worship time includes singing together and singing Happy Birthday to everyone (kids & grownups) who will be having a birthday during the coming week.
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CHILDREN'S CHURCH
On Sunday about 11:45 children from age 5 to 5th grade go to Children's Church, a time for learning Bible stories, sharing happy/sads, doing crafts, an playing together. The most important part of Children's Church though isn't the lesson. It's the relationships that kids build with loving teachers who pour into them. |
NURSERY
We have two bright, colorful nurseries, one for infants (birth to 2) and one for toddlers (2’s & 3’s).
We have two bright, colorful nurseries, one for infants (birth to 2) and one for toddlers (2’s & 3’s).
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FAMILY SUNDAYS
Whenever a month has five Sundays, we have a Family Sunday. Adults and children stay in worship together for the entire service, and the Children’s Ministry Team is in charge of the teaching time. We often do crafts together around our tables, have guided sharing and prayer as families around our tables, and experiment with things we might not do on other Sundays! This is a special time for our kids, and the grownups learn a lot too! |
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FAMILY BASH
One of the guiding principles of our Children’s Ministry Team is that we are committed to families, not just kids. This means that parents do not have the option to drop their kids off at church and go somewhere else during church. It also means than rather than having a traditional Vacation Bible School where parents drop off kids, we have a Family Bash for the whole family! It starts with a meal together. Then children and adults go to their separate groups for the Bible lesson. Teens, who have been trained in advance, help with the children. Adults and children study the same Scripture, and go home with activities to do together to apply what they have been learning. The adult group is less a class than it is a support group to help parents disciple their children. After Bible study time, children go to the gym for games, where they are later joined by their parents for dessert and table sharing (Snack n Yak) and sometimes singing. Here is a story about our first ever Family Bash (link to article). |
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CHURCH RETREAT
Our church retreat at Prairieview Christian Camp (near Arkansas City) each spring is a great time for families to spend a weekend together. Families do a lot of activities together, but when the grownups are doing boring stuff, kids have their own fun activities. This is a highlight every year. |
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SUMMER CAMP
Most summers a group of our kids go to summer church camp together. Camp scholarships are available thanks to the generosity of some of our ministry partners. |
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SCHOOL SUPPLIES
Each August before school starts, we have a one-day special sale of school supplies for students who attend Hilltop or one of our partner churches. The school supplies are offered at deeply discounted prices, thanks to the generosity of some of our ministry partners. This normally takes place one Sunday after church. |
ANNA MENDOZA Children's Ministry Team
Anna Mendoza is our Children’s Ministry Team leader.
Anna and her husband Leo have an amazing ministry as foster parents. For nearly two decades they have officially and unofficially been offering their home as a safety net for hurting and wounded children where they can receive unconditional love. More than two dozen children have passed through their doors and have blessed their lives.
Anna writes poetry as a way of processing what God is teaching her through His Word. Here is a link to one of her poems entitled “The Ugly Beautiful.”
Anna Mendoza is our Children’s Ministry Team leader.
Anna and her husband Leo have an amazing ministry as foster parents. For nearly two decades they have officially and unofficially been offering their home as a safety net for hurting and wounded children where they can receive unconditional love. More than two dozen children have passed through their doors and have blessed their lives.
Anna writes poetry as a way of processing what God is teaching her through His Word. Here is a link to one of her poems entitled “The Ugly Beautiful.”