About our Children’s Ministry Pastor
Pastor Miller was born in Canton, Ohio, but considers Chandler, Arizona to be his home town. He distinctly remembers accepting the Lord as his Savior at age 6: “I was on top of my bunk bed, wearing Mickey Mouse pajamas. I had just spent a week at day camp. A message from camp held onto my heart, and I knew I needed to ask Jesus to be my Savior. So, right there in my bed I prayed and asked the Lord to save me from my sins.” This experience undoubtedly influenced Bryan’s later decision to work in children’s ministry. He received a B.A. in Pastoral Studies from International Baptist College and Seminary and became Children’s Pastor at Tri-City Baptist Church in 1996, though he had already been serving in their children’s ministry for ten years. Bryan and his wife Debbie have three children: Erin, Emily, and Andrew.
About our Children’s Ministry
At Tri-City, children are embraced as part of our extended family, not viewed as an inconvenience or irritation. The children’s ministry assists parents by teaching children how to listen, learn, and live by the Bible. A variety of programs provides each child with a well-balanced, Bible-centered learning process.
Nursery
Care for newborns to 3-year-olds during Sunday services and on Wednesday evenings in A-169.
Children’s Church
During the Sunday morning service at 9:15 a.m., children from 4 years old to 6th-grade worship on their level. They will join the congregation during the first portion of the service, and Pastor Ken will dismiss the children to our trained children’s leaders during the morning greeting time. The K-4 – 2nd graders will go to room A-110 while 3rd-6th graders go to the chapel (A-256); pick up for K-4 – 6th graders will be in the chapel.
Sunday School
On Sunday mornings at 10:45 a.m., children from 4 years old to 6th grade meet for classes that are tailored for their own age groups. The children can be dropped off upstairs in the chapel. After Sunday School, the children can be picked up in the following rooms: A-116 (K-4 – K-5), A-104 (1st-2nd graders), A-248 (3rd-4th graders), and A-247 (5th-6th graders).
AWANA
During the evening service from August through May, TBC uses the AWANA program to instill Biblical principles to children. The program begins at 6:00 p.m. and dismisses at 7:30 p.m. You can drop off your children in the chapel and pick them up in the gym.
Vacation Bible School
Vacation Bible School will take place during the Sunday evening service from May-August, and it will focus on evangelism and discipleship. For K-3 – K-4, drop-off and pick-up will be in A-104; for K-5 – 6th graders, drop-off is in the chapel and pick-up is in the gym.
Joyful Noise! Children’s Music Program
This ministry is available from August-May on Wednesdays at 6:15 p.m. and teaches children the importance of serving their local church with their musical abilities. During the summer, the children will participate in Bible Movie Night to watch Bible and missionary stories. Your child can be dropped off and picked up in the chapel.
“We exist to make disciples of children by reaching them for Christ and aiding their parents in developing productive citizens of the Kingdom of God, prepared for a lifetime of service.”
We value…Citizenship
Everything we do will be done with the understanding that saved children are full citizens of the Kingdom of God, with all the privileges and responsibilities that accompany it.
We value…Nurture
In everything we do, we will take the utmost care to protect children physically, emotionally, and spiritually, and nourish their spiritual growth.
We value…Parents
In everything we do, we will honor parents in their God-given role as the primary earthly authority in the life of a child, serve them, and partner with them in ministering to their children.
We value…Clarity
In every interaction, we will strive to present scripture, and particularly the gospel, with crystal clarity. We will handle invitations and counseling situations with the utmost care, understanding a child’s impressionable nature.
SUNDAY SCHOOL
Primary Distinctives: Doctrinal Education
Materials Used: RBP
How the Program meets the primary objectives: Children are systematically taken through all the major doctrines, events, and characters of the Bible. These are taught through Story and activity with the focus of real life application.
Primary age groups: K4-K5 B&G, 1st – 2nd grade B&G, 3rd – 4th grade B&G, 5th – 6th grade Boys, 5th – 6th grade Girls
CHILDREN’S CHURCH
Primary Distinctives: Worship Preaching
Materials Used: In-house based on Monthly Theme.
How the Program meets the primary objectives: Children are given the opportunity to Worship on their level. They worship through song, testimony, and activity. But the central focus is Worship through a message from ‘God’s Man’ proclaiming the truth from the whole council of the Word of God.
Primary age groups: Primary Church, K4-2nd Grade
AWANA/VBS
Primary Distinctives: Evangelism Bible Memory
Materials Used: AWANA/VBS-RBP Material
How the Program meets the primary objectives: Children memorize primarily Gospel verses. First, this serves to bring a child to a saving knowledge of Christ, but also it begins to teach a child the verses and concepts of sharing Christ with others. Game times, Theme nights, and other activities serve to attract unsaved visitors.
Primary age groups: Cubbies, Sparks
CHILDREN’S CHOIR
Primary Distinctives: Ministry\Service Appreciation of Sacred Music
Materials Used: Developed internally
How the Program meets the primary objectives: Children are taught to use their talents to serve Christ. Primarily this is through Music. Children also develop their music skills and are taught excellence in service (giving God their best).
Primary age groups: JoyfulNoise!
