Children’s Ministry Blog

Hello! The aim of Rock City Kids is to partner with families in the development of your children’s spiritual foundation. We want to see your children KNOW the love of God, see them GROW in their relationship with Christ and GO share it with their friends and family.
One way that we are able to partner with you is by providing resources and answers to questions. On this page you will find an assortment of different links to resources we think will be helpful. If you are looking for anything or have any questions, feel free to send us an email at jmortley@allnationschurch.ca.

YOUTUBE CHANNELS FOR CHILDREN
KIDVUE
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJnduq_9f_n1q0CgCqxli3w
A Sunday morning style TV show centered around the Bible and Christian Values.
PARENT CUE
https://www.youtube.com/c/ParentCue/playlists
Orange Curriculum shorts and stories.
CJ & FRIENDS
https://www.youtube.com/c/CJandFriends
Worship music videos for kids and dance tutorials.
SADDLEBACK KIDS
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCEbM1vIWVubIANRR54YuS0g
Saddleback Church Sunday morning curriculum and animated bible stories.
VEGGIETALES MUSIC ARCHIVE
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCipiwlEhda6AfTEL0wayrzA
Full Length Veggie Tales shows and song compilations.
PRINT AND DIGITAL MAGAZINES FOR CHILDREN/TEENS
CLUBHOUSE MAGAZINE
https://www.focusonthefamily.com/clubhousemagazine/
Print and Digital Magazine for kids aged 8-12
CLUBHOUSE JR.
https://www.focusonthefamily.com/clubhousejrmagazine/
Print and Digital Magazine for kids aged 3-7
BRIO
https://www.focusonthefamily.com/parenting/briomagazine/
Print Magazine for girls aged 13+
BOLD GIRL MINISTRY

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Digital magazine and website for girls 12+
FOR GIRLS LIKE YOU https://forgirlslikeyou.com
Print and Digital Magazine for girls aged 8+

WEBSITES FOR GUARDIANS
PLUGGED IN

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Movie/TV/Books/Music/Games/Youtube Channel review website, lists positives and concerns that parents might have.
CHRISTIAN PARENTING

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Blog and Podcasts with multiple contributors about Christian Parenting.
PARENT CUE
https://theparentcue.org
Orange Curriculum Blog, broken into sections for each age/grade/stage.
CHOSEN GEN
https://chosengenministry.org
Discipleship Parenting blog, podcasts and resources.

PARENTING PODCASTS/SERIES
PARENTING BEYOND YOUR CAPACITY SERIES
https://www.familylife.com/podcast/series/parenting-beyond-your-capacity/
A 3 Part Podcast Series by Reggie Joiner
FAITH IN KIDS
https://www.buzzsprout.com/237067
A Podcast for parents and kids.

In my childcare provider roles over the last few months (Overnight Camp Staff, Children’s Ministry Director, Tutor, Nanny) I have heard a lot of the same things from parents. I have been asked over and over again, “Is this the right choice?” Do we send our kids to overnight camp, do we bring a tutor into our home, do we send our kids to school, do we do playdates, ballet, hockey, go back to church, homeschool, what is the right choice?

There are a lot of questions, worries and unknowns. Far more than there are answers and directions. We despair because we do not know what to do, what is the best decision for me, for my family. God does not want us living in this despair though. He wishes to rescue us from it. He is the everlasting hope that rises with each new dawn.

2 Corinthians 4:18
So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.

We often say unprecedented times, or there’s never been a time as difficult or as challenging and without hope as this. That isn’t true, all throughout history and especially in the Bible, we see story after story of people who don’t know what to do, who are hopeless and do not know what decisions to make.

Naomi, Esther, Moses, Paul, The Disciples, Mary, Joseph, Job, David; each person had terrible things happen to them and had incredibly bleak moments, moments of unprecedence where they had to make decisions. Where they were doing what they hoped was best for them and their families.

Proverbs 23:18
There is surely a future hope for you, and your hope will not be cut off.

Now, none of the afore mentioned did it alone, they always had God, as do you. You are not alone in this journey, God is with you in the lows and the highs. Lately it feels like a lot of lows, I’m sure that’s how Job felt as he sat alone, all his family gone and hearing nothing from the Lord. His faith in God’s goodness and hope in God kept him strong and able to turn to God in the worst of his circumstances.

2 Peter 1:2
Grace and peace be yours in abundance through the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord.
I want to encourage you in this time of hardship and rejoice in the strengthening of your faith. Pray for your families, pray for you pains, pray for the hurts of the entire world. Let God hear your anguish, your fear of the unknowns and of making the wrong decisions. Give them to him, let him share in your burdens and guide you back to hope.

We will get through this low and into another high, but more lows will come. We are not promised a pain free life, but we are promised a God who is walking before and with us. God is ready and excited to give you the hope you seek.

Romans 15:13 May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.

I will be praying for you and your families, praying for the hope and joy of God to invade your homes and guide you out of this low and into everlasting hope.

Isaiah 40:28-31
Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom. He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.

One of our largest goals in Rock City Kids and at All Nations Church in general is, community. We believe that Christians need each other, that fellowship with other believers is essential. We need people in our lives who can call us on our faults, rejoice with us in our successes, pray for us in the ups and downs of life. People who we can turn to for advice, comfort and truth.

Ecclesiastes 4:9-12
Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor: If either of them falls down, one can help the other up. But pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them up. Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm. But how can one keep warm alone? Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.
It has been a hard couple of years, a lot has happened and we have all been doing our best and making decisions that are best for our families. If online still feels best for your family, we support that. We have a great online program, with our monthly boxes and printable activities. But online is not the whole experience. There is worship, a message and even a discussion, if you follow along with the whole program, but there is no fellowship. Unfortunately there is no way to recreate the incredible Sunday morning fellowship and community in an online format.

In person, there are trusted leaders, teenagers and adults, who are passionate about children and their growing faiths in Jesus. Our leaders are a very special and important part of Rock City Kids. They are other people in your children’s lives, who care about their spiritual journeys and lives. They are a safe place for your children to discover who God created them to be. They are partnering with you and coming alongside your children to develop them spiritually and show them the deep love God has for each of them. They are something we can not recreate online.

The other very important piece we can not create online is the fellowship of other young believers. Children are very smart, completely capable and wonderfully curious. God is ready and waiting to be discovered by them. The small group discussion where Children get to share their growing faiths, ask questions and encourage each other are key in maturing their faiths. There are countless places in the Bible where we are called in to community and fellowship.

Romans 1:11-12
I long to see you so that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to make you strong – that is, that you and I may be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith.

We are not meant to walk this life alone, we encourage adults to participate in Bible Studies and Small Groups because we know how important they are. It is equally, if not more important for children to be developing their faith and spiritual practices alongside of other Christians going through the same stages as them.

1 Thessalonians 5:11
Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.

If you haven’t made the move back to in person, what is your reason? It could be because there are still worries and unknowns. That’s okay, give yourself grace, know that following online, doing the activities and having discussions with your children is still valuable. Keep doing what you’re doing, when the time is right, we have a place in Rock City Kids for your children. If you haven’t made the move back to in person because of convenience (online is easy) or you’re out of habit, remember how important in person is. You and your children will benefit from the community and fellowship that is continuing to grow here at All Nations Church.

Hebrews 10:24-25
And let us consider how we may spur one another on 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.

Rock City Kids is here to partner with families to develop your children’s spiritual foundation. We would like to be a resource for all areas of raising children. If there are resources or topics which you would like information on, or if you have any questions, please reach out; jmortley@allnationschurch.ca.