Children's Ministry

Children and Family Ministry Coordinator: Bethany Woods

About Bethany:  I grew up with my parents and younger sister in North Bay. At my home congregation I was involved with teaching church school, leading Jr. Choir, and initiated the formation
of a youth group and contemporary worship band. During middle and high school I was a provincial level cross-country skier and also traveled to New Zealand for a semester with my family. I spent my summers working as a counsellor, and horsemanship instructor and director at children’s summer camps in both Ontario and Manitoba. I completed an undergraduate degree in Animal Biology at the University of Guelph, during which time I owned my own horse, named Dakota, and volunteered with the middle-school program at a down-town church. I moved to Toronto in September of this year to start my Masters studies at Knox College, UofT. For fun these days I enjoy knitting, reading, and biking along the lake. Graham and I are also looking forward to our wedding in September, which will be at my home church in North Bay.

Vision: The key to a sustainable Child and Family ministry program is a strong sense of community. My goal for the summer is to help create a space and a program where children and young people are able to feel a sense of belonging within their own groups and within the whole family of God. Working with the Church School Superintendent, I will be developing teacher/volunteer training programs, refreshing the church school space, and planning for community building events throughout the year. Matthew, Mark, and Luke highlight how much Jesus cared about children. Once, when parents were bringing their children to Jesus so that he could lay his hands on them, the disciples tried to stop them. But when Jesus saw what the disciples were doing he said, “Let the children come to me and do not stop them, for it is to such as these that the kingdom of heaven belongs”. It is to such as these infants, toddlers, children, and youth of the Alderwood community that we need to share the very good news of God’s love. In committing to the creation of strong Child, Youth, and Family ministry we are fulfilling Jesus’ call to let the children come. I look forward to working with the wonderful AUC congregation, to discover their gifts, and talents and to equip and encourage leaders for our various church school programs.