Mission Statement
Our mission is providing a safe, loving, protective environment into which parents and guardians may place their children confidently for care and Christian instruction.

About our Children’s Ministry
We believe in the spiritual development and nurturing of all God’s children. We are invested in equipping both our parents and our volunteers so they may intentionally lead and shepherd our children as they grow in their faith.
We achieve this through these foundational building blocks:
Hands-on Multi-Sensory Curriculum
Special Needs Support
Family Nurturing
A Safe and Protective Environment

“But Jesus called for them and said,
‘Let the little children come to me, and do not stop them; fot it is to such as these that the kingdom of God belongs. Truly I tell you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will never it enter it.’” Luke 18:16-17

Our Programs
Preschool Ministry
Originally called the Church Nursery, we have changed the name to the Children’s Ministry Area to reflect the importance of this ministry of the church. Whether your child is six weeks old or four years old, they will benefit from the children’s workers who have a passion and gift for working with young children and who love to rock, hold, hug, sing and play with children. This teaches children about love and trust, at an early age; that God loves them by sending them someone to hear and respond to their needs.

Newborns – 4 Years Old: Nursery Suite
Pre-K (Room 123)

Sunday Morning Discipleship 9:45 AM
Kindergarten and First Grade (Room 121)
Second and Third Grades (Room 117)
Fourth and Fifth Grades (Room 311)
Children’s Worship is held weekly during the 11:00 Community Service for children four years old through Kindergarten. Children learn about worship, Bible stories, and create an activity that reinforces what they have learned.

Wednesday Children’s Music Ministry
Children grow spiritually and musically as they learn through choir rehearsals and worship leadership. Loving adults use new and fun approaches to teach the children about God. See the Music Ministry page for a break down of the different choirs available and the weekly worship schedule for the times they meet.

The Early Learning Center
The Early Learning Center is a ministry of RABC. The weekday preschool enrolls children as young as two years old and includes a before and after school program. The experienced staff loves and nurtures the children in this Christ- centered environment. For more information, please call Greta Morris at the ELC office at (434) 845-6575.

Children’s Workers and Paid Workers
Children’s workers are members of RABC who are at least 15 years old and who have a passion and gift for working with preschool children.
Although church members serve without pay, paid workers will be used frequently to supplement the work of the Children’s Ministry when volunteers are not available. The paid workers have childcare experience . A background check is conducted for all workers.

Policies

Registration Policy:
Preschoolers will register at the check in desk.  At check-in you will be given a pager assigned to your family.  You will need to present this pager in order to pick up your child from his/her class.
Babies and one-year olds may be brought to the Nursery Suite at any time during the morning service (8:15-12:00pm).
All children must be picked up by a parent at the end of service by 12:30pm.

Personal Belongings:
Children should not bring personal toys or food (unless a snack is needed due to allergies) from home.
Please label any belongings (bags, bottles, cups) with your child’s name.

Accident Policy:
If a child is injured, an accident report will be completed and signed by both the teacher and the Children’s Minister and the accident will be reported to the child’s parents.

Moving up to the next class:
Children in the infant room will be promoted to the next class based on emotional and intellectual development at approximately age 2.
Children who are 4 years or older will move up on the first Sunday in September of every school year.

Guest Policy:
In the case of first-time guest, if siblings of different ages would like to stay together and go to the same class, they may both attend the class of the younger sibling.

Wellness Policy:
Our classes operate on a “Well Child Policy”.  Please do not bring your child to out classes if these symptoms are present:

*Fever
*Green/yellow runny nose
*Excessive coughing
*Diarrhea
*Vomiting
*Questionable rash
*Conjunctivitis (pink eye)
*Any communicable disease