Children’s Ministry

Sarah Terpstra
Children’s Ministry Director
 
 
Natalie Walters
Children’s Ministry Assistant
 
 
Children’s Worship
A special Sunday class for 2 year olds through 3rd graders. 2 year olds – 4 year olds can be dropped off to Classroom 1 at the beginning of the worship service, while 5 year olds – 3rd graders are asked to participate in the main worship for the first part of the service, and then are excused to their designated classrooms. We ask that parents participate in a time of fellowship in The Harbor following the conclusion of the worship service, allowing the children more time in their classrooms. Pick up in classrooms will be approximately 11:35 a.m. A bell will be rung in The Harbor to indicate it is time for pick up.
 
Haven KIDS
Wednesday night program (alternating weeks with GEMS/Cadets) for boys and girls, 1st – 5th grades. We meet in The Harbor for large group activities and worship and then move to small group sessions using the 252 Kids Curriculum by Orange Ministries.
 

Jesus reprioritized what was important when he said… “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it. Love your neighbor as yourself. All the law and the prophets hang on these two commandments.” That’s why we want every kid or student to trust in Jesus in a way that transforms how they love God, themselves, and the world around them. We want them to make wiser decisions, build stronger relationships, and develop a deeper faith. We want them to be in a small group of peers connected to consistent adults who can guide their spiritual growth, combining child development with theology to create a comprehensive ministry and strategy for each phase of a kid’s life to influence their faith from age 2 and beyond. We utilize Orange Curriculum’s First Look program for 2 year olds through kindergarten and their 252 Kids program for 1st through 4th graders.

First Look (2 years – kindergarten)

Everything we teach our youngest kids is based on one of three simple, but powerful, truths.

God Made Me

God Loves Me

Jesus Wants To Be My Friend Forever

The entire curriculum is constructed to incite wonder in a preschooler and meet them where they are cognitively, spiritually, physically, emotionally and socially. Through age appropriate activities, preschoolers are building their spiritual foundation so that by the time they graduate to Kindergarten they know the three basic truths.

In 1st grade our kids move on to the next phase of our curriculum called 252 Kids

What does 252 represent? It’s not our street address or the number of questions a 2nd-grader can ask in 20 minutes. Instead, everything we teach in 252 Kids is based on one of the three basic, but powerful, truths modeled by Jesus in Luke 2:52.

I need to make the wise choice.

I can trust God no matter what.

I should treat others the way I want to be treated.

252 Kids is designed to provoke discovery and invite kids into a new understanding of how to grow in relationship with Jesus. It focuses on 150 Key Bible stories, 4 Faith Skills and 30 Life Apps.

Haven Children’s Ministry is excited to partner with Orange and implement these new curriculum programs. We desire for our kids to LOVE Jesus and LOVE His Church. Through relationships, God’s powerful Word and the power of the Holy Spirit, we pray that each child knows their worth in Him and find that their church feels like home.

GEMS & Cadets

Welcome to the GEMS girls’ club at Haven! The mission of GEMS (Girls Everywhere Meeting the Savior) nationwide is to bring girls everywhere into a living, dynamic relationship with Jesus Christ! This year’s theme is LOVED. Period. We aim to help girls understand that they are loved by God and loved by all of us. As a team, we are so excited for this year in GEMS and the opportunity we have to bless and learn from these girls! The theme verse for 2019-2020 is 1 John 3:1: “See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!”
This year, GEMS girls’ club is offered at Haven for girls entering 1st – 5th grades. We welcome anyone in the community to join our club! If you know of girls that do not currently attend Haven but are interested in joining, please contact us.
Below, you will find a schedule of our meetings for the year. We will send out updates and reminders mainly through our Haven GEMS Facebook group, so please join the group to stay up to date. We can’t wait to partner with you all this year. Please do not hesitate to contact us with any questions, ideas, or concerns!
 
Club Co-Coordinators
Leah Geenen & Lindsey Iverson
 

Counselors:

Vicki Zylstra & Ruthanne Huizenga – 1st & 2nd grades

Heather Smith & Bethany Nichols – 3rd & 4th grades

Heidi VanHuis & Erin Elenbaas – 5th grade

Craft Coordinator: Dawn Schreur
 
Date Activity January 15 Lesson & Craft
September 18 Theme Night January 29 Father/Daughter Night
October 2 Lesson & Craft February 12 Lesson & Craft
October 16 Prayer Partner Night February 26 Exercise Badge Event
October 30 Lesson & Craft March 11 Lesson & Craft
November 13 Service Night March 25 Mother/Daughter Night
December 4 Lesson & Craft April 15 Lesson & Craft
December 18 Christmas Party April 29 End of Year Party
Leah Geenen
Club Co-Coordinator
 
Lindsey Iverson
Club Co-Coordinator
 
 
 
 
Cadets
The Cadet Program is an independent (non-denominational) youth ministry organization whose purpose is to provide the local church with ministry programs that will enable them to effectively share Christ’s love with boys from their church and community. Founded in 1952, the Corps has more than 600 clubs throughout North America, a brother organization in Australia and New Zealand, and since 2006 has been working in Kenya and Uganda.
Haven Cadets is offered for 1st through 5th graders.  They meet in the Youth Building (alternating Wednesdays with Haven KIDS), then split up into age/grade groups. Activities include Christ-centered study, activities, and fellowship.
 
Counselors:
Charlie Byma
Randy Elenbaas, Club Coordinator
Chad Geenen
Ryan Lubbers
Kevin Rosencrans
Ben Smith
Randy Elenbaas
Club Coordinator