Little Campers | Birth - PreK
Contact:
Angela Buck, Little Campers 0-2 Coordinator
Sue Seggerman, Little Campers 0-2 Coordinator
In Little Campers, birth through pre-K will play, sing, and listen to a Bible story. We want little ones to know that God made them, God loves them, and Jesus wants to be their friend forever!
Basecamp | K - 5th Grade
Contact:
Beth Thelander, Kids Ministry Director
In Basecamp, we're helping kids grow in faith and build great friendships. They'll have so much fun learning:
• God loves me.
• I can trust God no matter what.
• I should love others the way Jesus loves me.
Find out more about Sunnybrook Kids
Sign Up for the Kids Parent Email
Follow Us On Instagram
Like Us On Facebook
Middle School | 6th-8th Grade
Contact:
Jessi Johnson, Middle School Ministry Director
The Sunnybrook Middle School Ministry desires students to know they BELONG in God’s Family. They’ve been created for a PURPOSE and can develop an unshakeable IDENTITY in Jesus Christ.
Every Wednesday from 6:30-8:00 pm during the school year we meet in the auditorium for our large group session that includes games, worship, a biblically relevant message, followed by small group time.
Find out more about Middle School Ministry
Sign Up for the Parent Email
Follow Us On Instagram
Like Us On Facebook
High School | 9th-12th Grade
Contact:
Carter Prescott, High School Ministry Director
The Sunnybrook High School Ministry exists to show students the importance of living a life connected to Jesus Christ.
Every Wednesday night, from 7:30-9:00 pm during the school year we meet in the auditorium for our large group session that includes games, worship, a biblically relevant message, followed by small group time.
Find out more about High School Ministry
Sign Up for the Parent Email
Follow Us On Instagram
Like Us On Facebook
Unlimited- All Ages
Contact: Sarah Mitchell, Special Needs Coordinator
We believe that everyone has the ability to worship, learn and serve.
Unlimited is designed to provide inclusive support to help your preschooler, child, or teenager with special needs transition smoothly into one of our worship environments with their peers. Our goal is to help them participate at their comfort level, build a community of friends, and learn about the love of Jesus - all with the support of a well-trained Unlimited Volunteer.
Milestones
Birth – Pre K
First Steps & Infant Baptism/Dedication
First Steps is a required, 30 minute class parents attend before their child’s baptism or dedication. The class prepares parents for the commitment of the celebration and shares how Sunnybrook partners with parents to raise children to love and serve God.
More information about First Steps and Infant Baptism or Dedication can be found here:
Little Campers | Birth - Pre K
In Little Campers, birth through pre-K will play, sing, and listen to a Bible story. We want little ones to know that God made them, God loves them, and Jesus wants to be their friend forever!
Starting School
- Preparing for Kindergarten:
- Have a special pre-kindergarten celebration!
- A special dinner that they get to choose, or a trip out for ice cream!
- Conduct a “First Day of School” Interview
- New school year interviews are such sweet keepsakes, to freeze the moment in time and list current favorites. It will be fun to see what the kids say they want to be when they grow up, and how their interests change over time. You can make this a yearly tradition! We have a free template you can print out here – and the kids can color it themselves!
- Talk to them about the upcoming transition.
- Discuss what the morning schedule will be like, what sort of transportation they will be using, and what they will be learning.
- Tips & Ideas for Adjusting to Kindergarten:
- Try to create a consistent “goodbye” routine.
- Expect big emotions – from you, and from your child.
- Draw a heart on their hand before they leave for school – then all day they can look back at it and remember that Mommy & Daddy love them.
- Morning affirmations
- Grab an extra pad of sticky notes on your back-to-school-supply-shopping trip, and use them to plaster their bathroom mirror with positive affirmations:
- Have a special pre-kindergarten celebration!
“You’ve got this!” | “You’re going to do great!” | “I’m proud of you!” | “You are going to ROCK _____ grade!”
Resources
The Morning Rhythm Checklist - Parent Cue
Make the Most of Mornings - Parent Cue
K - 5th
SALVATION
Parents, what an incredible opportunity you have as a parent to guide your children on their spiritual journey! We’re here to help you.
God’s message of salvation is simple. It’s as simple as God loved us. He gave us his one and only son and all we have to do is believe in him and make the personal decision to receive this gift. Faith can be a big thing to explain to your kids, and they may have questions along the way. Jump Start Jump Start link is a 30 min. gathering where parents and kids learn what it means to put their trust in Jesus. It’s designed to help parents jump-start a conversation about faith. We’ll get the conversation started and give you a tool to help continue it at home.
Is your child ready to believe in Jesus and receive the free gift of salvation? Here are some questions to consider: here!
Remember, it’s not about being good enough. It’s not about praying the perfect prayer. It’s about putting your faith in Jesus as your savior. Making the decision to trust Christ is a life-long journey of following and growing in a relationship with him.
BAPTISM
When someone chooses to believe and receive Jesus, the Bible tells us there’s a next step, and that’s showing others! Baptism is telling your family, friends, and church that you have made the decision to believe and receive—to follow Jesus. It’s a “show and tell” about the decision you’ve made. At Sunnybrook, we do baptism in the auditorium in a pool of water. There’s nothing special about the water, we don’t sprinkle anything magical in it or fly it in from any special place. (It is heated!) Jesus set the example and was baptized and then he told us to do the same. It reminds us of Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection.
OWNING FAITH
Growing in faith (at any age) is an ongoing process that includes prayer, worship, reading the Bible, and serving others. Here are some practical ways to help your child grow in their relationship with Christ:
- Spend time together reading from God’s Word and learning how he wants us to live. Resource: STUDY GUIDES
- Make it a regular habit to pray with your child and remind them that they can tell God anything and they can trust him no matter what.
- Attend Basecamp. Your child will be connected in a small group with other kids, learning and growing in their faith. (Basecamp is offered on Sundays during all service times, for K-5th)
- See what your child is learning every Sunday and follow up at home with resources we share on our Sunnybrook Kids socials.
Grow your relationships at Sunnybrook by attending Sunnybrook events as a family (i.e. Christmas at the Orpheum, Smore’ Siouxland, Skill School) or serve together.
ENTERING MIDDLE SCHOOL
Ready or not, at the end of 5th grade, your child will be MOVIN’ UP TO MIDDLE SCHOOL! Here’s what we provide to help make it a smooth transition:
• Movin’ Up to Middle School meeting for soon-to-be 6th graders (in May). This gathering includes all the info and fun you’ll want to know about middle school ministry.
• Summer Middle School Ministry: your incoming 6th grader can start participating in summer middle school youth group fun!
Resources:
Your child is constantly changing. Their favorite shows, activities, foods, sports, friends—it all changes. Even what they dream about, what they want to be, and how they see the world is changing. Get to know who they are now in the phase of life they are in now with these questions:
How to Have a Mental Health Check with your Preteen
Listen to Family Mininistry Team podcast with Dr. Williams...
6th - 12th
Salvation
Salvation is God's free gift to us, but we must receive it. We can never make up for our sin by self-improvement or good works. Only by trusting in Jesus Christ as God's offer of forgiveness can anyone be saved from sin's penalty. When we turn from our self-ruled life and turn to Jesus in faith we are saved. Eternal life begins the moment a person receives Jesus Christ into his or her life by faith.
“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is a gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast.” Ephesians 2:8-9
Baptism
In a believer's baptism, the person being baptized is publicly professing his or her own decision to receive Christ as their Savior. It is considered a step of obedience following one’s declaration of faith in Jesus Christ.
"Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” (Acts 2:38)
Communion
Communion is one of two sacraments we practice. The other is baptism. A “sacrament” is a religious act or ceremony of the Christian Church that is regarded as an outward visible sign of an inward divine grace. These are the two that Jesus instituted in the New Testament. Anyone who has received His forgiveness and surrendered their lives to Him is invited to share the communion table at Sunnybrook.
“While they were eating, Jesus took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying, ‘Take and eat; this is my body.’ Then he took a cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them saying, ‘Drink from it, all of you. This is the blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.’” Matthew 26:26-28
“For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.” 1 Corinthians 11:26
Owning your Faith
Owning your faith is as easy as ABC. Admit that you’re a sinner and you have fallen short of God’s standard. Believe that God sent His Son, Jesus to die for your sins. Commit to receive this gift of grace and follow Jesus. Deciding to follow Jesus is more than just a one-time prayer. It’s a lifelong journey of getting to know God and growing deeper in your faith. If your heart and spirit have changed, your outward actions, ambitions, and priorities will follow.
“…for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.” Romans 3:23-24
Identity/Relationships
People are made in the spiritual image of God, to be like Him in character. Although every person has tremendous potential for good, all of us are flawed by disobedience toward God called "sin". This attitude separates people from God and causes many problems in life. However, because of Christ’s redemptive sacrifice on the cross, we can experience an abundant life in Him. We sincerely believe here at Sunnybrook, that life is better connected, and that life change happens best in the context of community.
“And let us consider how we may spur one another toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.” Hebrews 10:24-25
Graduation
Graduating high school is a pivotal moment for students. Our desire is for students to know they belong in God’s family, they’ve been created for a purpose and can receive an unshakeable identity in Jesus Christ.
“For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” Ephesians 2:10