Children's Ministry Committee Demonstrates Leadership

The Children's Ministries Committee oversees all ministries related to children, infant through fourth grade. Some members of this team are Sunday school teachers and others have taught Sunday school. Other members have skills in creating and leading children's ministries. All members of the team have a heart for helping children to become disciples of Christ.

In recent months, this committee has been in transition and has offered leadership in significant ways.

In September 2015, Children's Ministry Director Anne Walters resigned. Because the Staff-Parish Relations Committee (Human Resources) was in the midst of redefining staff roles and purpose, the committee chose to delay hiring a new director. Brighton First was without a director from October 2015 through January 2016.

For the last several years our children's ministries, as well as other program areas in the our church, have been staff-led. In many cases most of the organization and specific preparation for events has been carried out by staff members. Through Vital Church Initiative we have discovered that this model does not allow for leaders to rise up in the congregation nor for members of the congregation to participate fully in the ministry and mission of the church.

When the director resigned, the Children's Ministries Committee made the choice to carry on. In the past, staff members did much of the preparation for special events, provided Sunday school teacher coverage and carried out curriculum ordering and design. This all changed. Committee members and other volunteers took leadership in those areas.

Not only did children's ministries special events continue strong, but children's missions and Brighton First's special ministry to foster care children in Livingston County, Hope's Closet, continued under the leadership of congregation members.

Brighton First is a gifted congregation. I give thanks for the leaders who give time and effort in the name of Jesus Christ. Our newly hired Children's Ministries Director Missy Setty understands her role to be vision-caster, leader and equipper.

The goal for Children's Ministry is that all projects and programs will be informed by the mission and vision of Brighton First.  Congregation members will lead and be encouraged, equipped and assisted by the Children's Ministries Director.