Christian Education

WEDNESDAY NIGHT PROGRAMMING

Wednesday night begins with a Fellowship Dinner followed by programs for all ages. Please check our calendar for times and other information.

The Adult programming includes a wide variety of offerings. Some examples are:

• Bible studies by the Pastors and by members of the congregation
• Game nights
• Training in Christian disciplines
• Discussions of congregational and community issues
• Presentations of community service groups
• Questions and answer sessions with the church staff
• Worship services geared to the seasons of the church year

Children and Youth Programs are a half hour of mission education presented with a relaxed, interest-centered approach. Mission activities are appropriate for children of each age. Other activities include learning Bible verses, supervised outdoor play and interaction with other age groups. The children participate in local missions programs to support local charities and outreach projects. Nursery care is provided.

Mission Angels

These young children spend an hour listening to stories, singing songs, doing simple crafts and playing. Each activity is designed to help them learn about God's love for them, God's love for other people, and God's love for the whole world. Kindness and sharing are emphasized, as is cooperation and taking turns.

Mission Friends:

The Mission Friends are ages three through six (or the end of first grade). Every month the children study about missionaries in different parts of the country and world. They make crafts to go along with the place that the missionaries are serving and learn that missionaries teach people about God's love.

Children in Action:

Children in grades 2-5 enjoy a fun-filled half hour of missions education, games, food, and Bible study! Previous curriculum has included Spark, by the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship. The children learn about and pray for specific mission work in the world. They learn about the different cultures by playing games that children in each locale would play; they also learn about the languages, sample the foods and create arts and crafts from different cultures. Games and activities are used to learn Bible verses relevant to each unit of study. Children participate in as many local mission projects as possible - helping the Central Virginia Food Bank, for instance. They also participate in a card ministry, creating cards to send to church friends.

The Lion’s Den:

This year our band of 6th and 7th graders are focusing on making an impact on their community with a focus on a specific project related to the church's memorial garden. The running theme is giving back to the community. The main project is to raise money throughout the year to provide funds to improve the quality, appearance and longevity of the memorial garden. The youth are working on other projects to provide their point of view and add something to the church.

SUNDAY MORNING PROGRAMMING

Infants – Pre K

Every child is a gift from God, needing love and care, attention, affirmation and a sense of hope for the future. In a safe environment, children are invited to participate in a hands-on group activity while exploring, sharing, and creating. Fine motor skills and physical activities are woven into the lessons from the Bible and stories of Jesus. Children develop relationships with each other, their teachers, and the church family ultimately learning to trust in a loving God.

Kindergarten – 2nd Grade:

This very energetic class is all about learning of God’s love through the Bible, stories, art and the children’s own experiences in God’s world. We have spent lots of time “finding” God – that is to say – God is everywhere – in our school, our parents, friends, strangers, and nature – everywhere! After finding God we are learning and teaching each other how to show God’s love in his beautiful world!

3rd – 5th Grade:

Information coming soon!

Youth- ages 11-16:

The youth of Ginter Park Baptist Church are a dynamic, growing group of young people. Youth Sunday School focuses on developing the Christian faith of each individual by examining the stories of the gospels, pulling in contemporary issues relevant to young people, and finding fresh, engaging ways to apply the lessons of scripture to daily faith. Sunday school is a personal time of mentoring, open conversation, and reflection for young people aged 11- 16. Curriculum generally follows the lectionary schedule, but the class has the freedom to follow thematic lessons as interest peaks.

Coffee and Conversations:

Coffee and Conversations is a vibrant study of contemporary issues in the modern age and how faith is relevant in this time and place. The group uses various pieces of literature, including fiction, nonfiction, and current events, as springboards for conversation. Recent studies have discussed Putting Away Childish Things, The Shack, and a DVD series entitled Living the Questions. Class members take turns bringing refreshments, and of course we always have coffee.

We Can Do:

Senior men and women comprise the “We Can Do” class on Sunday mornings at 9:00 in Room 200. The class is conducted by lectures and the use of devotional materials presented by the class leader, Mr. Al Bowen. The class meets on the second floor, the same floor as the Sanctuary. An elevator is available for those persons who cannot manage the stairs.

Companions:

This women's class typically studies topics in 6-8 week units, sometimes using a DVD series orbook studies. We always have a Lenten and an Advent study. We aim to think theologicallyand grow in Christian maturity, and the Bible under girds everything that we do. We are committed to our prayer time each week, as well as to our time of Christian education and study.

Seekers:

The Seekers class “questions the answers” by studying various books of the Bible as well as books of popular interest. The Seekers class is welcoming and open to all.

Harrell Class:

The Harrell Class is named for Sam and Melody Harrell, important early members now serving with the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship in Kenya. The class usually studies biblical books or selected biblical texts. While teaching duties get passed around, recently class discussions (and they ARE discussions!) have most frequently been led by Don Polaski and/or Sandra Hack Polaski.

Fidelis Class:

The Fidelis class is a group seasoned with grace and the experience of living long Christian lives. The traditional meetings feature stories of real-life experiences as well as a thirst for Bible study. The class ends every Sunday with a prayer, “May the Lord watch between me and thee while we are absent one from the other, Amen” (Gen. 31.49).

^top