Hello Parents! We believe you (parents) are the most significant influence in your kids' lives and are in the best position to help your kids know God. We also believe that we can uniquely equip and partner with you along the way as a kid’s ministry. With this in mind, this newsletter will highlight resources, events, and opportunities for us to partner together in raising the next generation. 

May Series Description: There was a time when learning how to tie our shoes was a big thing. Walking into a new preschool class was a big thing. And sleeping in our own bedroom by ourselves, that was a really big thing—like SO BIG! And now that we’re all grown up, the big things keep coming. God is going to give our preschoolers big things to do. God is going to give them little things to do. And whether it’s a big thing or a little thing, we want our preschoolers to know that they have the Lord our God to help them. God helps me do big things!

Monthly Memory Verse: "I know that God helps me.” Psalm 54:4, NLT

Monthly Bottom Line: Ask your child: WHO HELPS YOU DO BIG THINGS? Say with your child: GOD HELPS ME DO BIG THINGS!

Weekly Bible Story and Focus: 

Find the weekly videos and parent guides on our Preschool Resources Page.

May Series Description: Think about some of the most popular toys ever - Legos, Lincoln Logs, Building Blocks. These are classic and timeless toys! Why? Because people have always enjoyed building things. During “The Big Build” series, kids will have a chance to put their building skills to use while they hear stories about how God used ordinary people to build the early Church. 

Key passages, verses, and questions for this month: Read the passages together as a family and ask the following questions. Also, take the time to watch the weekly lesson video (around 10 minutes) together as a family.

May 4: Jesus Appears to Thomas

Big Idea: Jesus wants us to have faith in Him, even though we can’t see Him. 

Bible Basis: Luke 24:13-53; John 20:11-29; Acts 1:6-11

Key Verse: “Jesus said to him, ‘Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.’” John 20:29

Discussion Questions for Younger Kids: What did you find interesting about today’s story? Why do you think Thomas had a hard time believing Jesus was alive? 

Discussion Questions for Older Kids: What do you think this story teaches us about Jesus? If you were Thomas, would you have struggled to believe that Jesus was alive without seeing Him for yourself? Why or why not? 

Watch the weekly lesson video together as a family.

May 11: The Great Commission

Big Idea: God wants everyone to know the good news of Jesus, so I can share my faith with others. 

Bible Basis: Matthew 28:16-20; Acts 1:1-11

Key Verse: “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in[a] the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.” Matthew 28:19

Discussion Questions for Younger Kids: What did you find interesting about today’s story? If you were one of the disciples, how would you have felt when you saw Jesus rising up into the sky? 

Discussion Questions for Older Kids: What do you think this story teaches us about Jesus? If Jesus’ church isn’t built out of any physical material, what do you think it’s made of? 

Watch the weekly lesson video together as a family.

May 18: The Believers Form a Community

Big Idea: God wants us to share our life with other believers. 

Bible Basis: Acts 2:42-27

Key Verse: “And all who believed were together and had all things in common.” Acts 2:44

Discussion Questions for Younger Kids: Can you remember some of the things that believers did together? If you were one of the early believers, how hard or easy would it be for you to share everything you had? Why? 

Discussion Questions for Older Kids: Can you remember some of the things the believers did together? Why do you think the believers did these things together instead of by themselves?

Watch the weekly lesson video together as a family.

May 25: Peter and John Before the Council 

*Online only! There is no Elementary programming this week due to the holiday weekend. Enjoy family worship!*

Big Idea: The Holy Spirit gives us the courage to boldly tell others about Jesus. 

Bible Basis: Acts 3:1-4:22

Key Verse: “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” Acts 1:8

Discussion Questions for Younger Kids: What was your favorite part of this story? Why do you think John and Peter were so brave? 

Discussion Questions for Older Kids: If you were John and Peter, do you think you would have been able to speak so boldly about Jesus? Why do you think they were able to be so brave? 

Find the weekly videos and parent guides on our Elementary Resources Page

May Series Description: In this 3-week series, Faithfulness in Exile will explore key moments from the life of Daniel. The preteens will learn how Daniel remained faithful to God despite the overwhelming pressures of the Babylonian empire to conform. From standing firm in the lion’s den, to boldly praying in a land that sought to silence God's followers, Daniel’s example challenges us to live out our faith, even when the world pushes us to blend in. Ultimately, we’ll see how Daniel’s life points to Jesus, who displayed perfect faithfulness by enduring the agony of the cross for you and me. 

Key passages, verses, and questions for this month: Read the passages together as a family and ask the following questions. 

May 4: Faithful in Life

Big Idea: Daniel remained faithful to God, even when the culture pushed him to conform by forsaking his faith.

Bible Basis: Daniel 1:1-20

Key Verse: “But Daniel resolved that he would not defile himself with the king's food, or with the wine that he drank. Therefore he asked the chief of the eunuchs to allow him not to defile himself.” Daniel 1:8

Please see your preteen’s weekly family guide for further activities and questions.

May 11: Faithful in Prayer

Big Idea: Babylon tried to silence his faith, but Daniel remained faithful in prayer.

Bible Basis: Daniel 6:1-10

Key Verse: “When Daniel knew that the document had been signed, he went to his house where he had windows in his upper chamber open toward Jerusalem. He got down on his knees three times a day and prayed and gave thanks before his God, as he had done previously.” Daniel 6:10

Please see your preteen’s weekly family guide for further activities and questions.

May 18: Faithful in Exile 

Big Idea: Daniel’s unwavering faith in the lions’ den points to Jesus, who remained steadfast even as He faced His death on the cross.

Bible Basis: Daniel 6:11-28

Key Verse: “Then the king was exceedingly glad, and commanded that Daniel be taken up out of the den. So Daniel was taken up out of the den, and no kind of harm was found on him, because he had trusted in his God.” Daniel 6:23

Please see your preteen’s weekly family guide for further activities and questions.

*May 25 - There is no Preteen programming this week due to the holiday weekend. Enjoy family worship!*

May Series Theme: The Church Follows Jesus

April Monthly Verse: “Be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong. Let all that you do be done in love.” 1 Corinthians 16:13-14

May 4: The Church Grows

Big Idea: When we believe in Jesus and ask God to save us, He 

Bible Basis: 28:16-20; Acts 1-4; 8

May 11: Paul Writes to the Church

Big Idea: God teaches us how to live for Him through the Bible.

Bible Basis: Acts 9-16; Paul’s Epistles

May 18: Jesus Will Come Back

Big Idea: One day, Jesus will come back as King of Kings and Lord of Lords. 

Bible Basis: John 14:1-3; Acts 1:10-11; Matthew 24:45-51

May 25: The New Heaven and New Earth

Big Idea: If believe in Jesus, we will one day live with God forever and ever in Heaven! 

Bible Basis: Genesis 1-3; Revelation 21-22

FG Kids Serving Needs: We are in need of leaders for Thrive 9 & 11 AM; Preschool Lower (18-24m and 2 years old) 9 & 11 AM; Preschool Upper 9 AM & 11 AM; K-3rd 11 AM; Preteen 9 AM & 11 AM. If you are interested in serving, please fill out the serving interest form online.

Resource Party - May 21 at 9:30 AM: Resource Parties are a time for volunteers to come in and assist in preparing lesson materials and activities for the FG Kids ministry. You'll get to enjoy a time of fellowship with some new faces and the FG Kids staff. Oh...and we have CFA mini's. If you’d like to step in and join us for our next Resource Party, please email Rachel Bailey at rbailey@fellowshipgreenville.org. 

FG Kids Summer Park Days: We would love all of our FG Kids families to join us (FG Kids staff) this summer for two parks days - June 10 at Butler Springs and July 15 at Tyger River Splashpad - for fun and fellowship! While your child enjoys a playdate with other children, parents can enjoy some fellowship time with each other. Feel free to invite any other preschool and elementary age families. You can find more information and details on park locations on our website! 

Look Up Lodge - July 22-25, 2025: Registration is now open! This fun-filled overnight, summer camp, for kids entering 4th-6th grade in the fall, will take place Tuesday, July 22-Friday, July 25, in Travelers Rest, South Carolina. The cost is $265 per child and is due at the time of registration. For more information and to register, visit our Look Up Lodge events page. **Space is limited; we encourage you to register early. If you have any questions, please reach out to Paige Diaz at pdiaz@fellowshipgreenville.org. 

Parent Dedication - August 3, 2025: Parent Dedication happens once a year on Next Gen Sunday during the main services. It is an opportunity for parents to publicly make a commitment before the Lord, their family, friends, and the congregation to disciple their child in a God-honoring home, and in turn, the congregation will take this opportunity to pray over these families. You can learn more about this event and register for it, at either the Hwy 14 location or Adams Mill, on our event page. Registration is required! 

We’re excited to introduce you to our new Preschool Coordinator, Rachel Bailey! 

Hi! I’m Rachel Bailey. I’ve been married to my husband, Josh, for 20 years. We have three amazing young adult children, and we’ve had the unique joy of raising them all over the world. From Ohio and Tennessee to Sweden, Washington, Colorado, Texas, and now South Carolina — we’ve embraced a non-traditional life centered around our family mission: “Love God, Love Others.”

As a family, we love spending time outdoors, creating art, and gathering around the table for card and board games. Each of our kids has their own unique passions — our son Isaac is a professional cyclist, our daughter Ruth has a deep love for languages and global studies, and our daughter Elizabeth is a gifted artist who creates beautiful drawings and paintings.

Josh is a Business Executive for an IT Services company, where he focuses on business process development, as well as cybersecurity and compliance. He brings his expertise and leadership to the company while keeping our family grounded and connected.

Fun fact about me — I’m the oldest of 9 children and grew up as a “Navy brat,” so moving around and adapting to new places and people has always been a part of who I am.

Over the years, God has opened doors for us to live out our mission in many ways — through marketplace ministry, coaching in health and wellness, building cycling communities, speaking at women’s ministry events about confidently living on purpose, and even writing a book to help others embrace their unique journey with Jesus as part of the bride of Christ.

Last year, the Lord led us from Josh’s hometown of Austin, TX to Greenville, SC. He provided us with a cozy little cottage we call The Fika House — a peaceful space where we invite others to rest, enjoy coffee and conversation, and encounter Jesus.

We’re so excited to be part of the Fellowship Greenville family and to partner with parents in the most important kind of discipleship — helping children feel safe, seen, and loved. As the Preschool Coordinator, my heart is to come alongside families, especially moms, and encourage them as kingdom warriors raising resilient, Jesus-loving kids.