Walking Beside Parents to Help Grow Disciples From the Ground Up
Welcome to Ripple – The Children’s Ministry of Fellowship Hi-Crest
At Fellowship Hi-Crest, we believe that children are not just the future of the church—they are an important part of the church today. That’s why Ripple, our children’s ministry, is designed to help kids from birth through 5th grade grow in their understanding of who God is, who He created them to be, and how they can love others well.
Ripple is more than a program—it’s a place where kids are known, loved, and equipped to make a difference, one ripple at a time.
Why We Call It “Ripple”
A ripple begins at the center and expands outward in widening circles. That image shapes our entire ministry: starting with a personal understanding of God’s love and growing into a life of faith, purpose, and community impact.
Our foundation comes from Matthew 22:37-39:
“‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. A second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’”
We want every child to leave Ripple knowing these core truths:
God loves them deeply and can be trusted.
They were created with purpose.
How they live matters—to God and to others.
Ages & Classrooms
Our classrooms are developmentally designed to help each child grow in faith, friendship, and wisdom.
Toddlers explore three basic truths through play, music, and simple storytelling – all tailored to the developmental stage of preschoolers:
- God Made Me
- God Loves Me
- Jesus Wants to Be My Friend Forever
Preschoolers dive deeper into Bible stories, build early friendships, and participate in hands-on learning. They continue to explore the truths introduced in the Toddlers & Twos room.
In this phase, we introduce three key truths to help kids apply God’s word in their daily lives:
- I need to make the wise choice (Wisdom)
- I can trust God no matter what (Faith)
- I should treat others the way I want to be treated (Friendship)
This curriculum incorporates Bible stories, small group discussions, and interactive activities to help elementary-aged children apply these truths to their daily lives
Our preteen group meets on the 2nd and 4th Sundays of the month for lessons and spiritual growth tailored to their age, helping to bridge the gap between childhood and Student Ministries (CURRENT). Focused on real conversations, leadership, and deeper discipleship.
On the 3rd Sunday, they join the 1st–3rd grade class for Ripple Choir rehearsal and crafts as they prepare to sing in service.
Fifth Sunday: Family Sunday + Ripple Choir
Ripple Choir performs during the main worship service on every 5th Sunday — a special moment where our children lead our congregation in worship. Then, all children will join their families in the main service for worship, celebration, and a message we can grow from together.
There will be no Ripple children’s classes that day, so we can experience worship as one united church family. We love these opportunities to welcome our kids into the full rhythm of Sunday mornings and model what it looks like to seek Jesus together—at every age.
Curriculum
We utilize the Orange Curriculum, a comprehensive strategy that combines child development research with biblical teaching to engage children at every stage of their development.
The Orange Curriculum is designed to align the church and the home, recognizing that both play vital roles in a child’s spiritual formation. By combining the light of the church (yellow) with the love of the home (red), Orange creates a comprehensive approach (orange) to guide children in their faith journey.
Orange operates on a structured Scope and Cycle, ensuring that children are exposed to a comprehensive range of biblical stories and principles over time. This approach allows for repetition and reinforcement, helping children to internalize key concepts and apply them as they grow.
Recognizing that parents are the primary influencers in a child’s life, Orange provides resources to equip families to continue faith conversations at home. Through tools like the Parent Cue app and take-home materials, we aim to create a cohesive experience between church and home.
By integrating the Orange Curriculum into our Ripple Children’s Ministry, we strive to create an environment where children can discover God’s love, understand their identity in Christ, and learn to live out their faith in community.
For more information about the Orange Curriculum, visit Think Orange.
Check-In & Safety
We take your child’s safety seriously.
Families check in at the Ripple Check-In Station in the main hallway before service begins.
Check-in opens at 10:50 AM for our 11:00 AM service. (Last check-in available at 11:15 AM)
Each child receives a name tag with a secure code. Parents receive a matching tag required for pick-up.
All volunteers are background-checked and trained in safety protocols.
Our secure, age-appropriate classrooms are staffed by loving adults who are committed to showing kids the love of Jesus.
For the health and safety of all children and volunteers, we ask that parents review and follow our Ripple Wellness Policy before checking in a child who may be sick. You can view our full guidelines on symptoms, fevers, and when it’s best to stay home by clicking this link: View Our Wellness Policy
Meet Ms. Debb, Our Children's Ministry Coordinator
Deborah Dawkins leads Ripple with decades of experience in children’s ministry and a deep love for every child who walks through our doors.
“My greatest desire is to help children have a childhood from which they do not need to recover.” – Ms. Debb
Deb has served in Sunday school, VBS, and children’s programs for over 30 years. She’s a mother of four, a grandmother of eight, and believes passionately in partnering with families to raise children who know and follow Jesus.
Want to Volunteer?
Ripple is made possible by a team of volunteers who love Jesus and care about the next generation. Whether you enjoy cuddling babies, telling Bible stories, or helping with crafts—we’d love to connect with you.
Ripple Exists to Help Every Child Know
Who God Is
Who They Are
How to Love Others Well