1. God Loves Children
God’s love for children is a recurring theme in His Word. In response, Sunridge is a church where God’s love flows into the lives of children.
Throughout Scripture, we see God’s love and concern for children. Jesus, as God in the flesh, uniquely prioritized children in His ministry, showing us that they are not just the future of the Church—they are the Church today. At Sunridge, our children’s Ministry is a place where God’s love flows freely from leaders into the hearts of children, all in an effort to help them learn to know and trust Him. (Deuteronomy 6:4-9; Psalm 78; Matthew 18:1-6; Mark 10:13-16; Luke 1:16-17)
2. Life Change
God wants children to experience the transformed life He intends for them, as people set apart from the world for His good purposes.
God desires ongoing transformation in every child’s life. From the Shema in Deuteronomy 6 (our Bible’s first mention of “Children’s Ministry”) to the Great Commission, Scripture makes it clear that God desires children to know, love, and follow Him with their whole lives (heart, soul, and strength). At Sunridge, we guide and accompany children toward this transformation, knowing that life-changing ministry starts with leaders who are also being changed by God. (Deuteronomy 6:4-9; Psalm 78:2-7; Mark 9:14-29; Ephesians 6:1-4; Proverbs 22:6; Proverbs 3)
3. Children Doing Ministry
Each child has a gift, and we want Sunridge to be a place where they can use their gift to minister to others.
Children are not just recipients of ministry—they are ministers themselves. Throughout the Bible, God works powerfully through children, from David defeating Goliath to the boy who shared his lunch and witnessed a miracle. In other words, regardless of age, God wants to not only minister to boys and girls but through them. At Sunridge, we believe every child has been gifted by God to serve, and we want to equip them to use those gifts to impact others for Christ. (Psalm 8:2; Matthew 18:1-6)
4. Seeking Lost Children
God’s great concern for lost children leads to our desire to see them brought into a relationship with Jesus Christ.
Jesus is passionate about seeking and saving the lost—including children. More than one-third of the world’s population is under 13, and many of these children do not know Jesus. At Sunridge, we actively go into the community, building relationships and creating fun, engaging spaces where children can encounter Jesus and enter His community. We don’t just invite kids into church—we seek to bring the love of Christ to them. (Matthew 18:12-14; Matthew 28:16-20)
5. Belonging
Boys and girls need to know they have a church family where they experience a sense of purpose and belonging in God’s family.
Every child needs to know they are loved, valued, and belong in God’s family. The New Testament continually reveals that the Church is not just a place to attend—it’s the family of God to be welcomed into. At Sunridge, we seek to create a safe environment where kids experience a deep, Christ-centered community, helping them grow in faith with the support of caring leaders and friends. (Matthew 28:16-20; Ephesians 6:1-4)