Over the past few years in Redeemer Kids, I've enjoyed a unique view of a vibrant part of our parish that happens mainly behind the scenes. Each Sunday about ten minutes after the hour, a wave of parishioners (mainly under 4 ft tall) swells through the sanctuary and into the classrooms where they stay until they come flooding back in before Holy Communion begins. For many sitting in a service at Redeemer, this sweet movement begins and ends as they pass through the doors of the sanctuary. But what happens on the other side of those doors?
As I think about telling the story of our children’s ministry to those who don’t know the answer to that question, I would start by inviting you to come meet our volunteers! The individual stories of each volunteer do more to tell the bigger story of our ministry than I could on my own. Please enjoy reading these testimonies, and next time you watch that wave of children flow into the back for their spiritual formation classes, look for the men and women in blue volunteer t-shirts walking back with them, and say a prayer for those who are doing the kingdom work of forming the future generations of the Church.
Casey Cisco
Director of Redeemer Kids
Q: What role do you currently serve in Redeemer Kids, and how long have you been in this role? What led you to first signing up to volunteer in children’s ministry?
”I still remember going to Sunday School long ago when I was in fourth and fifth grade. Although I can’t remember specifics lessons, I look back at those lessons and the teachers who taught them as being important in the start of my walk with the Lord. The chance I could play a small role in giving that same experience to the children here at Redeemer led me to volunteer for the children’s ministry shortly after I joined Redeemer in early 2019. Six years later I consider it a privilege and a blessing to continue as part of our wonderful 4th-5th grade teacher team.”
-Dan Simonds
“I began assisting the lead teachers for the combined 3s-Pre-K class in September 2024. I signed up in response to an expressed need for volunteers; I really wanted to contribute to my Redeemer family.”
-Meg Hardt
“I currently serve in the nursery. I chose to volunteer out of a shared sense of responsibility to care for the children of our parish and nourish the well-being of families in our midst.”
-Claire Lewis
“We started volunteering with Redeemer Kids upon becoming members in 2018. We volunteered in the nursery when we first joined, and then transitioned to the pre-K class after resuming services after COVID. We've served in the pre-K class or 3s class for all of the time since then! We signed up to volunteer for children's ministry for 3 main reasons: 1. We have kids that use this ministry regularly, so we wanted to understand it better and give back to the service that serves our kids so well. 2. It was the volunteer opportunity that fit best with our varying work and travel schedules. 3. It was the easiest way for us to learn about other families in our church community that we don't regularly interact with in small groups or other ministries.”
-Will & Jenn Killmer
“I've been serving as an assistant with the 2nd and 3rd graders at Redeemer Kids since the summer of 2024. My decision to volunteer stemmed from a genuine desire to build deeper connections with the children and families within our Redeemer community, while also contributing to the vital work of the ministry team. On a more personal level, I was profoundly influenced early in my faith journey by a childhood Bible teacher who truly knew me, invested in me, and shared the Gospel in a way that resonated deeply. Volunteering at Redeemer Kids provides an opportunity for me to, in some small way, offer that same kind of influence and support to these kids.”
-Drew Goodwyn
“I have been serving in the Redeemer Nursery for the past two years. When we first arrived at Redeemer, we had a 3 year old and a 1.5 year old, and I spent many of my first Sundays back in the nursery helping our boys feel comfortable in a new place. As a young mom, I felt pulled between wanting to be in the service to experience the liturgy and worship and, on the other hand, knowing that our boys were struggling with the separation and newness of it all (we had also just moved from Chicago!). I realized that committing to consistently serving and building relationships with the littlest ones in our congregation allows parents space to worship and receive from God each week, trusting that their kiddos are nurtured and held.”
-Ally Berttucci
“I teach the 4th and 5th grade class, which I’ve done for several years. I volunteered for children’s ministry for two reasons: First, I wanted to help with a ministry that my own kids were benefitting from and second, it was lonely to be stuck in the half-empty sanctuary when the exodus of children occurred!”
-Jeromy Lewis
“I’ve been serving in the 4-5th grade classroom since around 2019. I started volunteering after feeling convicted after responding to the corporate baptismal vows we make.”
-Alex Burlingame
Q: What is something you wish more people at our church knew about this area of our children’s ministry?
“Seeing how the truth of the gospel translates to different ages is awe-inspiring. The children's ministry makes it easy for people to get involved because the lessons and materials are readily available, which is good because I don't know how I would independently teach 4 year olds about the Tabernacle! It's also a rare space where I can be questioned about my faith in a good-natured, curious way, instead of a combative/skeptical way. I appreciate the challenge of having to articulate to kids some complex spiritual truths, and I appreciate the opportunity to regularly say, 'I don't know! That's the mystery of faith!"about a faith that I still feel secure in.”
-Will & Jenn Killmer
“You don't have to have any special talents, just a friendly and welcoming face, ready to play! [The nursery-aged kids] are so sweet and they LOVE to be read to! They love to build, to play a good game of peek-a-boo, and they make some delicious food in their play kitchen!”
-Ally Berttucci
“It is so fun! The kids are so smart, well-behaved, and kind. They can really engage with serious theological questions or inductive bible study, while also being willing to act out a dramatic skit.”
-Alex Burlingame
“I wish others knew how thoughtfully and deliberately the youngest members of our parish are cared for. Our volunteers and paid nursery staff seek to understand the preferences of each family and serve with a fairly robust understanding of infant and toddler development, attachment, and emotion regulation. I also wish folks in our parish knew how frequently each child is prayed for by name and how well each child’s temperament and preferences are seen and known by our volunteers and paid staff.”
-Claire Lewis
“Participating in children's ministry is a good way to get to know more of your congregation than you might otherwise meet. Not only does serving in children's ministry allow us to know the younger members of our congregation, we also get to know the parents. In many good ways, the hour or so in the classroom is a glimpse into the family lives of our church. Even at 3 years old, a child's unique personality is coming through. God has done a good work in creating these young people.”
-Kaity Hauter
“It's a blast and can be an incredible way to participate in the spiritual formation of the children at Redeemer. You don't need to be a Bible scholar or ministry expert, just a willing spirit to love kids and share God's Word with them.”
-Mike Berttucci
“As an older woman who has never had her own children, I value yours in a way that is hard to describe. I am deeply touched by every interaction, no matter how small. A smile, a hand, a hug - it all means so much. Some Sundays feel challenging, but I am learning to lean into God's presence for confidence and wisdom to say or do whatever is needed. I pray for your kids continuously. I count it a great privilege to grow with you in community, to love your children, to consider them family. Thank you for sharing them with me.”
-Meg Hardt
“Parents already know this, but children between 1-5 years old are developing incredibly quickly and have an extraordinary capacity for absorbing information. They are constantly observing, listening, and learning about the world around them, all of which is shaping their worldview. Even if they aren't as verbally expressive, they're internalizing a lot, especially through their interactions with adults. I also love spending time with children at this age because they're so funny — just listen closely!”
-Jodie Lee
Q: How has your faith been impacted by investing in children’s spiritual formation in this way?
“I’ve been reminded that change is often hard to notice day-to-day or even week-to-week, but it is happening and requires commitment and consistency because over time, it all adds up. The difference becomes more apparent over the years, both in our walk with God and in raising children. I love seeing the kids I've known in Threes and Pre-K now growing into elementary schoolers and reflecting on the many people who have poured into their lives at different stages. It truly takes the faithfulness and dedication of the whole church body, as God has blessed us with 'the joy and care of children.'”
-Jodie Lee
”For me, teaching in general and teaching children in particular, requires a more thoughtful approach and deeper reflection on the content. I’ve found that to be especially true with our RK curriculum. My investment of time and effort in the children of Redeemer has definitely had a positive and powerful impact on my own faith and how I live it out.”
-Dan Simonds
“There are some Sundays when I feel the pull to be in corporate worship rather than in the nursery, but I am reminded that my time in the nursery is in fact worship— just worship in a different shape. I find myself sitting cross-legged while reading books about God as the Good Shepherd, or bouncing a baby on a hip to soothe and console, or playfully reflecting the delight of the Father to a child while playing peek-a-boo. It’s a very embodied kind of worship and it is shaping me as I receive God’s presence in the midst of the tears, the laughter, the pretend play, the towers built and the runny noses!”
-Ally Berttucci
“Investing in the spiritual formation of Redeemer Kids has profoundly impacted my own formation. Their insightful questions often lead me to explore Scripture with fresh eyes. Turning to prayer for their growth, engagement, and obedience has cultivated my own reliance on God's Spirit and witnessing their simple faith through prayer requests, both big and small, is deeply moving and encourages my trust in the Lord. Guiding their growth has functioned as scheduled reminders for myself of foundational truths and a source of renewed joy in my walk with Christ.”
-Drew Goodwyn
“Going through the Signs of John has been a very formative experience for me as I sit with each of these miracles week by week. Asking the kids to memorize scripture calls me to memorize scripture. I also see them growing in the church calendar as I seek to do the same.”
-Alex Burlingame
“I am always encouraged by the genuineness of kids' faith, and their eagerness to learn and grow. Also, having kids in class for two years, it is a true gift to see how God works in their life over that time.”
-Mike Berttucci
“As I learn to teach Bible stories in accessible ways to young children, I find the child of my adult heart is also ministered to. Our adult spirits still often need the mystery of the Gospel given to us in the simplicity and majesty of language designed for children, full of imagery and wonder. The structure of the 3's and PreK classroom is also valuable for adults as well as children. Just as we have our liturgy in the sanctuary, the children have their liturgy in class. We greet each other with "The Lord be With You". We light the Christ candle to remind ourselves that Jesus is always present. We sing songs of praise and learn stories about the Triune God. We pray to God, thanking Him for loving us and we learn the Lord's Prayer. The Lord's Prayer has been particularly powerful for me. In the 3's and PreK class, we use hand motions to move through the prayer given to us by Jesus. The repetition of the words and the motions of this simple and profound prayer work the truths of scripture further into my heart. Ask your children to teach you the motions! My prayer for your children is that, over time, these building blocks formed in the children's ministry will be some of the stepping stones of accepting faith in Christ for themselves.”
-Kaity Hauter
“We have felt the Holy Spirit lead us and support our classroom time. The children's questions and answers amaze us and make us delve deeper into our understanding of the scripture.”
-Kim & Kevin Hankins
“Serving in the nursery has grown my faith by deepening my awareness of the image of God within each of us. It is good to appreciate how fearfully and wonderfully we are each made - infants and toddlers haven’t yet learned to work or perform in order to convince others of their goodness - they just show up and their identity as image-bearers is on brilliant display. Serving in the nursery offers a front-row view to the unique way each of our infants and toddlers reflects something of who God is and helps me know Him more. It has honed my eye to see and appreciate God’s image in myself and those in my midst each day.”
-Claire Lewis
“I benefit from seeing the manner in which other adults faithfully and creatively serve our children in a small but significant way. I also am challenged by the simplicity of faith in 9-10 year olds who pray to their Father for their daily needs and then wait for Him to move.”
-Jeromy Lewis
“It feels like most of the other spiritual disciplines-- I can't always tell if the actions I'm performing or the words I'm saying are 'doing any good' in the moment, but over time I can see the seeds that have been planted begin to take root. When kids make connections about God and his character through the stories we're teaching, it reminds me that He is doing the work and we just get the opportunity to participate. But my favorite part of serving in children's ministry is how it highlights every part of the church calendar-- Ordinary Time is boooooring and the kids reflect that easily... and the kids' enthusiasm for seasons of celebration like Easter and Christmas is the best reminder that our story doesn't end in Lent or Ordinary Time. Kids lament and celebrate so enormously and so easily, and that has been a beautiful gift and challenge to me every year.”
-Will & Jenn Killmer
