Family Engagement – The Hills Church

Family Engagement

We will equip and partner with every family in every circumstance to exponentially multiply influence and firmly establish a God-given sense of identity in the next generation through significant milestones, family experiences, coaching and cues.

Milestones

We encourage and equip families and the church to celebrate and disciple through significant events and phases in the life of their child.

Family Experiences

We provide consistent opportunities for families to learn together in a shared experience.

Coaching & Cues

We provide readily accessible resources for parents and guardians. We have a strategy to help parents have spiritual conversations with their kids and students.

Milestones

We encourage and equip families and the church to celebrate and disciple through significant events and phases in the life of their child.

Family Experiences

We provide consistent opportunities for families to learn together in a shared experience.

Coaching & Cues

We provide readily accessible resources for parents and guardians. We have a strategy to help parents have spiritual conversations with their kids and students.

Milestones

Baby Dedication

The scriptural root of a baby dedication is found in 1 Samuel 1:27–28 – “For this boy I prayed, and the Lord has given me my petition which I asked of Him. So I have also dedicated him to the Lord; as long as he lives he is dedicated to the Lord.” Baby dedication is a public commitment by parents to raise their child according to the Way and teachings of Scripture. Every year at The Hills babies born or adopted during that year are publicly dedicated by parents and blessed by church leadership. This moment allows the parents and church to express gratitude and seek blessings for this one unique life set apart to God.

February 11, 2024

Kinder Blessing

Kindergarten Blessing marks the beginning of a thirteen-year journey that shapes a child like no other time in their life. At the Kindergarten Blessing, we celebrate and bless kindergarteners and welcome them and their families into the next stage of Next Gen Ministry, connecting them with other families and leaders who will be on the journey with them. In addition, we offer special prayers of guidance, protection, and formation as they embark on their educational journey.

August 20, 2023 (WFW & Keller)

Kid to Student Ministry Transition

The purpose of transitioning kids to student ministry in church ministry is to provide children with a more age-appropriate and relevant spiritual education and community as they grow and develop. This transition is an important part of a child’s spiritual journey, as they move from learning the foundational principles of faith in a children’s ministry to exploring and developing their own personal relationship with God in a student ministry. This marks the time when children make the transition from the affiliative (the faith of their parents) to searching (beginning to doubt and question) stage of faith development. This also mark a time of significant change and development both socially and emotionally. During this time, children begin to develop their own sense of identity and are often seeking to establish deeper connections with peers who share similar interests and experiences. Student ministry can provide a safe and supportive environment for teenagers to explore their faith, ask questions, and connect with others who are going through similar experiences.

Senior Send-Off

The end of the senior year of high school marks the official end of Next Gen ministry. During this time, we honor and celebrate graduating high school seniors and offer them blessings and encouragement as they begin a new phase of their lives. The senior send-off ceremony is often designed to help graduating seniors feel valued, supported, and appreciated by their church community. It is an opportunity for the church to acknowledge the significant milestone that these young adults have achieved and to offer them words of wisdom and encouragement as they prepare to enter the next chapter of their lives. The blessing and commission part of the ceremony is intended to invoke God’s blessings and protection on the graduates as they move forward into the future. This is a moment for parents and the entire church community to mark this important transition and to provide graduates with the spiritual and emotional resources they need to navigate the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead as they are further released in their identity and purpose.

Baptism

Baptism is a sacred ceremony that signifies a person’s acceptance of Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior and their commitment to follow him in faith. People decide to become baptized when they are ready to surrender their lives to Jesus. The person being baptized is immersed in water symbolizing their death and the washing away of their sins and their rebirth as a new creation in Christ. The act of baptism is a public expression of a person’s faith and is often accompanied by a profession of faith, in which the person being baptized declares their belief in God and their commitment to following Jesus Christ. In addition to its symbolic significance, baptism is also seen as a means of receiving grace and being incorporated into the body of Christ. It is a transformative experience that marks the beginning of a new life in Christ and serves as a foundation for the ongoing journey of faith and discipleship. Next Gen Ministry offers baptism classes and is happy to talk with kids, students, and parents together about this step.

Baptism Podcast
Keller Kids – 8th grade 1st Sunday of every month
NRH Kids – 4th Sunday of every month at 11:30am in the Student Game Room
NRH Students – 3rd Sunday of every month at 11:30am in the Student Ministry Offices
WFW Kids & Students – 3rd Sunday of every month at 10:15am

Family Experiences

Family Mission Trip

The purpose of a family mission trip is to provide an opportunity for families to serve together in a meaningful way and to deepen their faith and commitment to serving others. This typically involves families engaging in service projects and activities that are designed to address the needs of the local community. Our desire is to put faith into action by serving those in need and embodying the values of compassion, generosity, and service that are central to the Christian faith. By working alongside each other in service, families have the opportunity to grow closer together, to deepen their relationships with each other, and to gain a deeper understanding of the world and the challenges faced by others. In addition to the benefits for the local community and the family members themselves, family mission trips can also have a transformative effect on the wider church community. By sharing their experiences and insights with others, families can inspire and motivate others to become more engaged in service and to live out their faith in practical ways.

Family Gathering

These Gatherings are times when students and their families are specifically invited to experience The Gathering (a midweek opportunity for students to encounter God through worship, teaching and small groups).

Family Worship

Several times a year, the entire church family comes together to worship and pray as a community of faith. It involves the participation of all family members of all ages as Bible classes are not provided on these days. The purpose of family worship in the church is to provide a space for families to connect with each other and with God in a meaningful way within the context of the larger faith community. By engaging in worship and prayer together, families can deepen their relationships with each other and with God, and grow in their faith and understanding of scripture.

Family worship is structured in a way that is tailored to the needs and interests of families with young children. For example, it may include age-appropriate activities, songs, or lessons that are designed to engage children and help them to understand and participate in the worship experience. In addition to its spiritual benefits, family worship in the church can also have a positive impact on the wider church community. By coming together to worship and pray, families can create a sense of unity and shared purpose within the church, and can contribute to the growth and vitality of the faith community.

Family Worship Podcast
Discipling Kids in Worship Podcast
Dates:
- September 3
- November 26
- December 24 & 31
- May 26
- July 7

Renew Serve

We encourage every family to participate in Renew Serve together. We partner with several community organizations to carry out acts of compassion and service throughout Tarrant County. You are able to sign up to serve at the location or project of your choice. All are welcome – your friends, neighbors, and coworkers. You don’t need to be a member or even a follower of Jesus to serve with us. Together, we can bring a little piece of Heaven to Earth!

Renew Serve – May 4
Renew Sunday – May 19

Family Activate, Equip & Refresh

These are times for all families connected to the Next Gen ministry to receive information about The Hills’ vision, strategy and plan for Next Gen Ministry.

Coaching & Cues

Coaching: Currently Offered

Navigating Motherhood
It takes a tribe to raise a child – and a whole lot of grace. This tribe of imperfect moms makes walking through the parenting jungle a little less scary and a lot more grace-full. Get ready to learn more about leaning on God and each other.
- September 12 – November 7 (NRH)
Parent Gathering
Periodically, we will host Parent Gatherings designed to provide parents with relevant information about topics kids and students are dealing with in order to equip families to disciple their students well and to connect parents with each other.
Club D.O.K. (Daughters of the King)
Club DOK is designed to equip young ladies to emerge into womanhood with beauty, courage, and a grasp of God’s true love. This group is for tween girls (grades 4th & 5th) and their mothers. (WFW only).
- September 13 – March 6
Primal Path
A YEARLY DISCIPLESHIP PROGRAM TO MAKE MEN OUT OF OUR SONS.
A curriculum focused around the main shifts every teenage boy must make to transition into manhood in a healthy and powerful way. We focus on character development, theological development, as well as many other facets of what it means to be a man. And you are given everything you need as a father to feel equipped–just show up, be intentional, and we will do the rest for you!

Cues: Resources

Resilient: Child Discipleship and the Fearless Future of the Church
As new research continues to show, the cultural gap between secularism and the convictional Church continues to widen. KidMin and youth leaders are asking, “Are we adequately discipling today’s kids to lead the future of the church in a culture that’s becoming increasingly hostile to the gospel?” For many, the answer is “no,” and a new conversation around making Resilient disciples is emerging. Resilient is an honest calling to ask robust questions about the future; it is a timely conversation in the midst of changing cultural landscapes; and it’s a love letter to KidMin leaders and disciple makers to walk this road of child discipleship together.
Resilient Child Discipleship focuses on three key areas, essential for shaping long-term faith:
- Belonging – Highly relational ministry led by a loving and caring adult
- Believing – Deeply Scriptural ministry rooted in the truth of God’s Word and the power of the gospel
- Becoming – Truly experiential ministry, designed to move kids from simulation to real-world application of faith-based living Resilient equips you with an innovative, biblical and proven child discipleship philosophy to build your ministry around – plus practical questions to equip you and your team!
Inspires and facilitates the crucial conversation of our time that will shape the future of the church Loaded with content to help your pastor cast vision and elevate the importance of children’s ministry. Helps cut through the clutter of the many responsibilities of KidMin to get to the most essential and effective aspects of children’s ministry that most influence long-term discipleship into adulthood.
Child discipleship is the leading factor when shaping the future of your church. The culture is changing so rapidly and radically that the future is likely to look far different than the world we know today. The children’s ministry community has new conversations to explore as we prepare today’s kids to lead the fearless future of the church.
Family Discipleship: Leading Your Home through Time, Moments, and Milestones
Discipling your family can feel like an intimidating task, but it doesn’t need to be overwhelming or complicated. With a simple plan in place, discipleship is something every parent can do.Pastors Matt Chandler and Adam Griffin have made it their mission to help you develop a sustainable rhythm of gospel-centered discipleship focused in three key areas: time, moments, and milestones. Filled with suggestions, sample plans, and Scripture references, this book begins with the end in mind―equipping you to create a unique plan for your family as you raise your children in the love and fear of the Lord.
Axis (website, videos, app)
Axis provides biblical teen parenting resources designed to connect parents, teens, and Jesus in a disconnected world, one conversation at a time.
Parent Cue (app)
- Establish Character: Elevate one monthly idea in your home with content from a team with over 20 years of experience developing character-based curriculum.
- Develop Spiritual Habits:Build a spiritual foundation for your kids with bible story videos created for kids preschool to preteen and daily devotionals for Kindergarten – 12th grade.
- Strengthen Your Relationship: Leverage everyday moments to create a rhythm of connection that will stand the test of time
Orange (website)
We know you want your kids to grow up: Making wiser choices, Building stronger relationships, Developing a deeper faith. That’s why Orange strives to provide you with the tools to make life easier and a strategy for both church AND home to give kids a faith that will last forever and make your church a place they want to be.
Next Gen Now Podcast
The Next Gen Now podcast is for ministry leaders, families, and the community of The Hills’ church—anyone who wants to impact the next generation for the sake of the Kingdom of God. In each episode, we’ll share timely insights to inspire, challenge and empower the church to equip and activate the next generation to love God with all their heart, soul, mind and strength and to love their neighbor as themselves by engaging every family and elevating community.
- Next Gen Now – Spotify
- Next Gen Now – Apple