Family Ministry

We have identified 8 Milestones that we feel represent significant moments in both the lives of children and their parents. We pray that these Milestones will serve and equip parents and families at Sojourn J-Town to reach kids and students with the gospel and build in them a love for Jesus that lasts a lifetime.

You and your children are loved by our church and more importantly, they are loved by God. We are praying for you as we walk through this journey as a family.

Birth - 2 years old

All parents and guardians in this season of life are invited to attend the Child Dedication Class where they will be encouraged, provided resources, and given space to hear about how the church is committed to coming alongside them in the effort to reach their children with the gospel and building in them a love for Jesus that lasts a lifetime. 

The following Sunday, the parents and children will participate in Child Dedication Sunday where they will be recognized in front of our church body, celebrated, and prayed over.

Here are some details about the Child Dedication Class:

● It's offered every March and October

● Classes are in the Community Room

● Parents/guardians who have recently celebrated the birth or adoption of a child are welcome to attend

● For more information email Dana Gribbins

3 - 5 years old

As children begin to experience the world around them, they also begin asking questions. Many of those questions begin with the word, “Why?” as their curiosity about the world around them, who they are, God and the Bible develops. They will usually look to a trusted adult to provide an answer to these questions. During these years we believe it is important for parents to model healthy marriage habits, have a family worship plan and routine, and practice gospel-directed discipline with their children.

We recognize that many parents may feel ill-equipped to do these things, and while there is no silver bullet for every family to practice, and routines and schedules change with different life stages, we want to come alongside parents and equip them with some principles and ideas to practice family discipleship and family worship. Parents in this life stage are invited to attend our Family Discipleship Class. 

In this class, we will discuss:

● The Importance of a Gospel-Shaped Marriage

● The Bigger Story for Family Discipleship / Remembering Who Children Really Are

● The Role of Parents in Different Life Stages / Gospel-Directed Discipline

● Practices for Family Discipleship

6-8 years old

Learning to read is a big moment both for kids and parents. Not only are children learning to do something that they will continue to do for the rest of their lives, but they are also learning to be able to read the Word of God. We believe that teaching kids how to read their Bible as soon as they learn to read is one of the most important ways we can help build in kids a love for Jesus that lasts a lifetime.

To facilitate this, all children entering Kindergarten will be provided a Bible, The Biggest Story Bible. This Bible has short chapters that are easy for kids to understand. It shows the Bible as one big story from Genesis to Revelation, and it will help them interact with scripture in a way that is natural and age-appropriate. One of the goals we have with providing a Bible for your child is that they will bring their Bible with them to church on Sunday mornings. This will give them the opportunity to read the story that corresponds with the curriculum in their very own Bible.

 9-11 years old (4th - 5th grade)

The world has a lot to say about gender and sexuality and we want our kids to know what the Bible says about these things. Because of that, we are providing an ID weekend to teach and equip both parents and kids on how to navigate through this new season of life. Here are some topics we are going to cover at ID weekend:

● Identity

● Gender and Relating to Opposite Gender

● God’s Good Design for Sex

● Using Technology Wisely

6th - 8th grade 

In this Milestone, we are encouraging parents to take advantage of this time in the life of your student by having a Rite of Passage Ceremony around the time they become a teenager. 

Here are some ideas on how to have a Rite of Passage Ceremony with your student:

● Choose a date around your student’s 13th birthday and invite the significant male figures in their life (for boys) or the significant female figures in their life (for girls). This could be grandparents, an aunt or uncle, their small group leader at church, their coach, etc. Let your student share who they would like to invite.

● Let your student choose their favorite meal and their favorite dessert to eat and enjoy a time of food and fellowship with one another.

● Have each of the people you invite write your student a letter encouraging and affirming them. Also in the letter, have them write some encouragement and words of wisdom as they enter into this new season of life. At some point in the night, have each of the adults read the letter out loud to your student. At the end of the night, let the student collect all of the letters to keep.

● To finish the night, spend time having everyone pray for your student and thank the Lord for the gift that they are and ask the Lord to help them to follow Him for the rest of their days.

9th - 12th grade

In this milestone, we are encouraging students at some point in their high school years to go on a church-sponsored mission trip. On this trip, students will be spending a week with one of our partner churches where they will serve their church, serve their community, share the gospel with their neighbors, and see what it looks like to love the church, serve the church, and follow Jesus in an unfamiliar place. We believe that serving the church and seeing the Kingdom of God in a different city will play a key component in helping students have faith and love for Jesus that lasts a lifetime. 

Here are the details of what the Mission Trip will look like:

● Who Can Attend: 9-12th grade students who are actively involved in Sojourn Students

● When Will This Take Place: Every other summer

● Where Will They Go: One of our partner church plants

Graduating Seniors

Graduation Sunday is the capstone of our Family Ministry Milestones. When seniors graduate, we celebrate not only a graduation from high school and a transition into the next chapter of life, but we also celebrate all that the students have learned and experienced during their time with Sojourn Kids and Sojourn Students. This is a special time for parents and students where we will reflect back on God’s goodness and faithfulness over the last 18 years while at the same time praying for God’s protection and blessing in the years to come.

In order to celebrate our graduating seniors, we have Graduation Sunday every May. What to expect:

● Graduation Sunday Service - In each of our services on Graduation Sunday, we will

have a time of recognizing our Graduating Seniors, a word of encouragement from Pastor Lisle, and a time where our church prays over our graduating seniors and their parents.

● Graduation Sunday Lunch - You and your immediate family are invited to celebrate your graduating senior. This will be a time of food, fellowship, a time of sharing memories, a time of encouragement, and a time of prayer. This will take place immediately after the 11 am service on Graduation Sunday.

For those who profess faith in Jesus Christ and/or are asking questions about salvation, the gospel, and baptism.

When students begin asking questions about salvation, the gospel, baptism, or profess faith in Jesus Christ, it's exciting! This is a time when it is evident to see God working in the hearts of students and when years of prayers are beginning to be answered. In this milestone, we want to both celebrate with you and equip you to navigate these conversations with your students.

Family Baptism Class is a class that is meant to clearly teach students the meaning of the gospel, salvation, and baptism, as well as facilitate spiritual conversations between parents and students.

Here’s what to expect:

● Family Baptism Class will take place for two consecutive weeks every spring and fall

during the 11am service.

● At least one parent and their child are expected to attend.

● We will have a light brunch and time of fellowship.

● We will have times of teaching followed by discussion questions for parents and their

child to discuss in class that particular morning followed by homework for parents and students to complete together.

● At the end of the class, you will be given instructions on next steps for your student who you believe is still ready to be baptized.