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: Quiet on the set—it’s movie making time! During “Lights, Camera, Action!” the preschoolers will give the performance of a lifetime as they act out scenes from Bible stories about the early church. When shooting wraps up, they’ll have discovered that the church is our supporting cast, but Jesus is the real star of the show!

Monthly Memory Verse: 

• “Carry one another’s heavy loads. If you do, you will fulfill the law of Christ.” Galatians 6:2 
• “Never stop praying.“ 1 Thessalonians 5:17
• “There is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.“ Proverbs 18:24

Weekly Bible Story and Ideas: 

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

May Series Description: Sometimes, life feels like a big puzzle—we don’t always see the full picture right away! In “Puzzled,” kids will watch as scrambled images slowly come together, piece by piece. As they race to figure out what the picture is, they’ll uncover incredible stories from the life of Paul. Through each story, kids will learn that even when things don’t make sense at first, God is always at work, putting the pieces together for His perfect plan!

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 3rd: Paul and Silas in Prison

• Big Idea: The good news of Jesus is for all people, so we should always be ready to share why we believe.
• Bible Basis: Acts 16:16-40
• Key Verse: “Always be ready to give an answer to anyone who asks you about the hope you have.” 1 Peter 3:15
• Discussion Questions for Younger Kids:
  • What was your favorite part of this story?
  • What kind of things do you think Paul and Silas told the guard about Jesus?
• Discussion Questions for Older Kids: 
  • What do you think this story teaches us about God?  
  • If you were Paul or Silas, what would you have told the guard when he asked how to be saved?

Watch the weekly lesson video together as a family.

May 10th: Paul is Arrested

• Big Idea: The good news of Jesus sets us free from sin, so we can tell our story to others.
• Bible Basis: Acts 21-28
• Key Verse: “Let those who have been set free by the LORD tell their story.” Psalm 107:2
• Discussion Questions for Younger Kids:
  • What was your favorite part of this story?
  • Why do you think Paul loved telling people how Jesus changed his life?
• Discussion Questions for Older Kids: 
  • What do you think this story teaches us about God?
  • Why do you think Paul chose to tell his story to the crowd of people?

Watch the weekly lesson video together as a family.

May 17th: A New Heaven and New Earth

• Big Idea: Jesus will return to make all things new. 
• Bible Basis: Revelation 19-22
• Key Verse: “I will come back. And I will take you to be with me. Then you will also be where I am.” John 14:3
• Discussion Questions for Younger Kids:
  • What did you find interesting about this story?
  • What do you think will be the best part about the new home Jesus is going to create? 
• Discussion Questions for Older Kids: 
  • What do you think this story teaches us about God?
  • What do you think it would be like to live in the New Jerusalem? 

Watch the weekly lesson video together as a family.

May 24th: NO ELEMENTARY SERVICE (MEMORIAL DAY)

Watch the weekly lesson video together as a family.

May 31st: Jesus is the True Vine

• Big Idea: Jesus is the vine, so we can grow by staying connected to Him.
• Bible Basis: John 15:1-17
• Key Verse: “I am the vine. You are the branches. If you remain joined to me, and I to you, you will bear a lot of fruit.” John 15:5
• Discussion Questions for Younger Kids:
  • What do you think it means that Jesus is like a vine and we are like the branches?
  • What are some ways that you can stick close to Jesus?
• Discussion Questions for Older Kids: 
  •  What does this story teach you about Jesus?
  • What do you think it means to remain connected to Jesus?

Watch the weekly lesson video together as a family.

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

May Series Description: This series reminds students that Easter isn't the end of the story. In fact, it's really just the beginning! Over the course of three weeks, your students will discover three timeless truths from Jesus' last moments with His disciples: God always keeps His promises, the Holy Spirit gives believers the power to be bold and magnify Jesus, and Christ-followers have a responsibility to proclaim the risen Jesus to the world. 

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

May 3rd: The Plan

• Big Idea: Christ-followers have a responsibility to proclaim the risen Jesus to the world.
• Bible Basis: Acts 1:8
• Key Verse: “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” Acts 1:8

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

May Series Description: In this 2-week series, dig into the words of Jesus from Matthew 5:13-16 where He called us to be Salt and Light to the world. As you connect the images and uses of salt and light to life in Christ, students will be challenged and encouraged to see the role they play in God’s mission for this world.

May 10th: Be Salty

• Big Idea: We are called to be like “salt” so that others will be thirsty for Jesus, the living water.
• Bible Basis: Matthew 5:13-16
• Key Verse: “You are the salt of the earth. But what good is salt if it has lost its flavor? Can you make it salty again? It will be thrown out and trampled underfoot as worthless.” Matthew 5:13

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

May 17th: Be Shiney

• Big Idea: We are called to be a light to the world. We “shine” by giving God the glory in our everyday life.
• Bible Basis: Matthew 5:13-16
• Key Verse: “You are the light of the world—like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden.” Matthew 5:14

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

May 24th: NO PRETEEN (MEMORIAL DAY)

May Series Description: Series Description: Emotions can be difficult to navigate, especially for preteens who are learning to understand their feelings while also experiencing the changes of a growing body. How are we called to process our emotions in ways that honor God? How do we honor Him when we feel fear, loneliness, frustration, or even hope?

This summer, we will spend time in the book of Psalms. The Psalms are prayers, often written as poems or songs, by real people facing real struggles and experiencing a wide range of emotions—both good and difficult.

We will begin by studying Psalms that reveal who God is and why we can trust Him with our feelings. He is the voice of wisdom, sovereign over the world, always faithful, and a God who fights for justice. We will then conclude the summer by exploring how we can grow in our relationship with God by trusting Him with all of our emotions.

As we study the Psalms, our prayer is that preteens will discover passages they can return to throughout their lives—passages that help them honor God with their emotions and ultimately their lives. 

May 31st: You’re the Voice

• Big Idea: Life is a journey, and what we experience is directly related to the voices we follow. The truly wise will obey the teachings of God, not the wisdom of the world.
• Bible Basis: Psalm 1
• Key Verse: “For the LORD watches over the path of the godly, but the path of the wicked leads to destruction.” Psalm 1:6

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

May Series Theme: Jesus Sends a Helper

May Monthly Verse: Matthew 28:20b

May 3rd:

• Big Idea: The Holy Spirit Comes
• Bible Basis: Acts 2

May 10: 

• Big Idea: Believers Gather
• Bible Basis: Acts 2-4

May 17th: 

• Big Idea: The Beginning of the Church
• Bible Basis: Acts 4-6

May 24th: 

• Big Idea: Phillip and the Ethiopian Eunuch
• Bible Basis: Acts 8:26–40

May 31st:

• Big Idea: Saul’s Life is Changes
• Bible Basis: Acts 9

FG Kids Summer Serve: Sign up to serve with Kids Ministry for a Sunday or two this summer! Join us this summer to connect with amazing kids, be a positive influence, and serve the many families that will visit us throughout the summer. Registration opens on May 10th to sign up for a Sunday in the summer.  

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.

Parent’s Night Out - Friday, June 5th 5:30pm: This is an event offered twice a year to our FG single parents, Thrive families, and families who are fostering or have adopted a free evening of childcare while their children will be having a blast playing with carnival games, enjoying snacks, and hanging out with other children. 

Parent Dedication - August 2, 2026: 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! 

Finishing the School Year with Celebration

You Did It! You made it through another year of waking up early, tests, reminders, projects, and much more. As the school year comes to a close, it’s easy to focus on report cards, awards, and begin planning for all the summer vacations. But…. as parents, you have an amazing opportunity to pause and celebrate who your children are becoming.

Scripture reminds us in 1 Thessalonians 5:11 "Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing". Growth isn’t just academic—it’s spiritual, emotional, and relational too. Take time this season to reflect on all the battles your little ones have overcome, on all the friendships they’ve made and nurtured, on the skills they have mastered or are slowly maturing in. Take this time to see all the ways God’s presence has shown up in your family. This season is a beautiful chance to recognize all the ways your child has grown.

Here are a few simple, meaningful ways to celebrate your child:

1. Speak Life Over Them

Take time to affirm your child with specific encouragement. Notice their perseverance, kindness, or courage this year. Words matter—"The tongue has the power of life and death” (Proverbs 18:21). Let your words build them up.

2. Reflect on God’s Faithfulness

Sit down together and talk about where they saw God this year—friendships, challenges, or answered prayers. Help them see that God was with them every step of the way.

3. Celebrate with Intention, Not Comparison

Every child’s journey is different. Instead of comparing achievements, celebrate effort, growth, and character. God has uniquely designed your child for His purpose (Ephesians 2:10 "For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.".)

4. Create a Simple Family Tradition

This could be a special dinner, a handwritten letter, or a prayer of blessing over your child. Marking the moment helps them feel seen and valued.

5. Pray Over the Next Season

As summer begins, take time to pray together for rest, growth, and continued faith. Invite God into the next chapter.

Finishing a school year isn’t just an academic milestone—it’s a reminder that God is continually at work in your child’s life. Let’s celebrate not just what they’ve done, but who they are becoming in Him.