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. 

April Series Description: Have you ever been somewhere where it was so dark you couldn’t even see your hand in front of your face? No light shining under the door. No stars in the sky. No screen glaring back at you. Just darkness. So much darkness that you have to shuffle slowly, stumbling your way across the room with arms stretched out, hoping, searching . . . and then finally, with the flip of a switch, LIGHT! Light changes everything. 

This month, we’re talking about light, but not just any light. We’re talking about Jesus—the light of the WORLD—and how when we do what Jesus says, we shine. We shine the light of Jesus! After this month, we hope every time you and your preschoolers see a lamp or a star-filled sky, you remember that people were made to shine, and we have Jesus—the light of the world—to show us how. So let’s not hide our light. Let’s SHINE and light up the dark so others can see their way to Jesus.

Monthly Memory Verse: “Let your light shine.” Matthew 5:16 NIV

Monthly Bottom Line: Ask your child: WHO CAN DO WHAT JESUS SAYS? Say with your child: I CAN DO WHAT JESUS SAYS.

Weekly Bible Story and Focus: 

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

April Series Description: Look up in the sky. It’s a bird! It’s a plane! It’s…just a kid posing as Superman! When kids strike a pose, they can become just about anything - a superhero, a prehistoric monster, even a slice of pizza. They can also become characters in the Big Bible Story! During “Strike a Pose,” kids will be pushed, pulled, and shaped into different poses to help tell the stories of how the early church was started and exploded into the world. More than that, kids will learn how they can help build God’s church today. 

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.

April 7: Jesus’ Power over Sin and Death

Big Idea: Jesus has power over sin and death, so we can call on Him to be saved. 

Bible Basis: Romans 1-10

Key Verse: “For everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” Romans 10:13

Discussion Questions for Younger Kids: What was your favorite part of this story? If you were one of the two men, how do you think you would have reacted when you recognized Jesus for the first time? 

Discussion Questions for Older Kids: Why do you think God kept the two men from recognizing Jesus? Why do you think it’s so important that Jesus died and was raised from the dead? 

Watch the weekly lesson video together as a family.

April 14: Jesus Forgives Peter

Big Idea: Jesus wants us to build His church, even though we’re not perfect. 

Bible Basis: John 21; Luke 24:50-53

Key Verse: “And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” Matthew 16:18

Discussion Questions for Younger Kids: What was your favorite part of this story? Do you think Jesus was mad at Peter for pretending not to know Him, or do you think Jesus forgave Peter? Why do you think that? 

Discussion Questions for Older Kids: What does this story teach you about Jesus? Why do you think Jesus asked Peter if he loved Him three different times? 

Watch the weekly lesson video together as a family.

April 21: The Pentecost

Big Idea: The Holy Spirit gives us a new heart and helps us follow Jesus. 

Bible Basis: Acts 2:1-41

Key Verse: “Jesus said to him, ‘I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.’” John 14:26

Discussion Questions for Younger Kids: What was your favorite part of this story? How do you think the Holy Spirit helped the crowd of people learn about Jesus? 

Discussion Questions for Older Kids: What does this story teach you about the Holy Spirit? In what ways did the Holy Spirit help the followers of Jesus? 

Watch the weekly lesson video together as a family.

April 28: Barnabas the Encourager

Big Idea: God wants us to build His church by encouraging others. 

Bible Basis: Acts 4:32-37; 9:20-31; 11:19-26

Key Verse: “Therefore encourage one another and build one another up.” 1 Thessalonians 5:11a

Discussion Questions for Younger Kids: What was your favorite part of this story? What are some ways that Barnabas helped the followers of Jesus? 

Discussion Questions for Older Kids: What differences did Barnabas make in the lives of the believers? What could you do to be more like Barnabas? 

Watch the weekly lesson video together as a family.

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

April 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: We can trust God's promises, the Holy Spirit has the power to transform, and we are entrusted with the responsibility to share our story!

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

April 7: The King of Kings

Big Idea: Jesus is our King now and forever!

Bible Basis: Matthew 28:16-20

Key Verse: “They will wage war against the Lamb, but the Lamb will triumph over them because he is Lord of lords and King of kings—and with him will be his called, chosen and faithful followers.” Revelation 17:14

Discussion Questions of the Week: What does it mean to say that Jesus is the “King of Kings”? What hope do we have to look forward to because of Jesus? How should this hope change us?

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

April 14: The Promise

Big Idea: We can trust God’s promises.

Bible Basis: Acts 1:4-5

Key Verse: “John baptized with water, but in just a few days, you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.” Acts 1:5

Discussion Questions of the Week: Has someone ever promised you something but didn’t follow through? How did that impact your relationship with them? How has Jesus kept his promises to us? Can you name some of these promises? In your own words, what does it mean when we say that we believe that God is a part of something called the Trinity?

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

April 21: The Power

Big Idea: The Holy Spirit has the power to change us. 

Bible Basis: Acts 1:8

Key Verse: “But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!” Galatians 5:22–23

Discussion Questions of the Week: What is the role of the Holy Spirit in the life of someone who trusts in Jesus? How does the Holy Spirit change (or transform) us? In your own words, what does it mean to feel conviction?

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

April 28: The Plan

Big Idea: We have a responsibility to share our stories.

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

Discussion Questions of the Week: Who is someone whose salvation story has made an impact on you? Why? Do you think that sharing your story could make an impact on someone? Have you ever tried it? How did it go? What is the scariest part about sharing your faith with others?

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

Did you know that our Thrive students are learning a verse of the Bible each month? We have an amazing volunteer who records a video of the memory verse in sign language for our students. If you are curious about the memory verse, just ask a leader to show it to you. We encourage you to practice the memory verse at home with your children. Here are three ways you can integrate it within your routine: 

• Meal time
• Riding in the car
• Bedtime

Upcoming Events: 

Camp Greenville has a family weekend coming up in May for families who have a child with Autism or Down Syndrome. You can learn more about it on their website! 

RightNow Media: Did you know that Fellowship Greenville offers a variety of media resources that you have free access to? One of those resources is RightNow Media, a video-streaming website that offers a large variety of Biblical resources. Look up videos from some of your favorite Christian authors or follow along to a Bible study series. There’s even video resources for children, whether it be a fun, Christian show, worship sing-a-longs, or Bible lessons. Follow the link below to register for your free RightNow Media account.

FG Kids Serving Needs: We need leaders for Thrive, Preschool Lower 11am, Preschool Upper 9am & 11am, K-3rd 9am & 11am. If you are interested in serving, please fill out the serving interest form online.

FG Kids Easter Weekend Schedule - March 30-31, 2024: For Easter weekend, we will have services at 4 PM and 6 PM on Saturday, March 30, and services at 9 AM and 11 AM on Sunday, March 31. All of FG Kids ministry will be available during Saturday 4 PM and 6 PM services and Sunday 9 AM and 11 AM services. On Saturday, K-5th grade will meet together in room 155 (the current K-3rd grade space). Nursery and Preschool will still meet in their normal rooms in the FG Kids building. All ages and grades will meet in their regular classrooms for Sunday Easter services.

Easter Serving: Easter weekend is one of our biggest weekends as far as attendance, and we would love for you to serve with us! We have needs in all of our areas! If you are interested in serving during one of the services, please sign up using the link below: Easter Serving Opportunities

Known & Loved Pieces of Me Kids Camp - July 22-26, 2024: Pieces of Me Camp is a therapeutically informed day camp that includes teaching, discussion, and fun activities to help adopted children and teenagers explore their identity, process their past, celebrate who God created them to be, and discover their story. Visit their website for more information! 

“If you are looking for a wonderfully illustrated book that helps your child understand the ultimate promise of salvation being fulfilled through Jesus, then I recommend The Promise: The Amazing Story of Our Long-Awaited Savior. This book is easy to read, yet it still maintains just the right amount of Biblical depth. This book does a fantastic job exploring the broken relationship between God and humanity throughout the Old Testament.  

In a pattern that follows with the flow of the Old Testament, this book explores the question of ‘Who can save us,’ followed by a robust introduction of stories and characters - ‘Is it a good man like Noah? A faithful man like Abraham? Maybe a prophet like Moses?’ 

No. None of these can save us and fulfill the promise of God to bring reconciliation. Every page of this book illustrates how each earthly example offered hope, but ultimately falls short and points ahead to Jesus every time. It beautifully ends with examples of Jesus being the better fulfillment to all of the Old Testament foreshadowings, bringing us to the conclusion that God kept His promise…and it is found in Jesus alone.”

The Promise: The Amazing Story of Our Long-Awaited Savior

Recommended ages: 4-9

- Matt Densky, Next Gen Pastor