Challenge is for 4th-6th grade students. We know that children at these ages begin reexamining information they previously learned, asking more complex questions, and making deeper connections. This God-given development in their minds and hearts makes it the perfect time to equip them with the tools they will use for a lifetime of spiritual growth. The goal of Challenge is to encourage and mentor kids to pursue God through personal Bible study and prayer. We want to see them fall in love with the Lord more and more as they grow in knowledge and understanding.

Jesus said that the whole Bible is about him, but what does that mean? All through the Old Testament, God was dropping hints about the Savior he would someday send, a Hero greater than Abraham, David, Daniel, or any other hero could ever be. This year we will be taking a fresh look at some of the most well-known stories of the Bible, seeing how they all point to Jesus and make us love him even more.

We use a “come and learn, go and practice” routine. Challenge meets on the 1st and 3rd Sunday of every month (during both the 8:30a and 10:30a services) and consists of Bible teaching, small group discussion, and a ton of fun and games. After each gathering, kids will take home a Challenge Card, which provides a variety of ways to continue learning until the next gathering. We encourage kids to work at their own pace, to challenge themselves but not worry about keeping up with others. It is our hope to see each Challenge kid take their next step toward spiritual maturity. 

Because we want kids to increasingly take ownership of their faith, we encourage them to attend service alongside their families. For this reason, Challenge does not meet every week. Our goal is not to take the place of gathering with the church family but to equip kids to be active participants in services.

Brittany Stumetz