Children’s Director
ext. 231
jan@fccnapa.org

I’ve called Jesus my Savior, Lord and Friend since 1988.  Almost immediately He drew me in to children’s ministry, first as a volunteer, and then in 2000 as a vocation.  My husband Brad has been my “right hand man” serving alongside me as a kids’ ministry volunteer all these years.  We have two amazing adult sons, Kyle and Cody.  We became a part of the FCC family in April 2009 when God favored me with this role on the pastoral staff as Children’s Ministry Director.  As my personal relationship with the Lord has grown, so has my passion for ministry to kids and families.  I’m blessed to shepherd, teach and serve at Kids@First!

Hanging around kids keeps my spirit in tune with Holy Spirit, awakening me to the freedom of worshiping with a child-like faith (Matthew 18:2-4closeMatthew 18:2-4 2 And calling to him a child, he put him in the midst of them 3 and said, “Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. 4 Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.” (ESV) closeMatthew 18:2-4closeMatthew 18:2-4 2 And calling to him a child, he put him in the midst of them 3 and said, “Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. 4 Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.” (ESV) 2 And calling to him a child, he put him in the midst of them 3 and said, “Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. 4 Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.” (ESV) )!  (If you think I’m kidding, just watch me sing and dance with the kids in our worship time!  Think David before the ark of the covenant!  On second thought, don’t watch me!) My heart’s desire to is to strengthen kids’ relationships with God while strengthening their relationship with their parents (Deuteronomy 6:4-9closeDeuteronomy 6:4-9 4 “Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. 5 You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. 6 And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. 7 You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise. 8 You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. 9 You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.” (ESV) closeDeuteronomy 6:4-9closeDeuteronomy 6:4-9 4 “Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. 5 You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. 6 And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. 7 You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise. 8 You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. 9 You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.” (ESV) 4 “Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. 5 You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. 6 And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. 7 You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise. 8 You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. 9 You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.” (ESV) ).  I also find it challenging and rewarding to encourage the whole FCC family to share and pass on God’s big story with kids (Psalm 78:4-7closePsalm 78:4-7 4 We will not hide them from their children,
but tell to the coming generation
the glorious deeds of the Lord, and his might,
and the wonders that he has done. 5 He established a testimony in Jacob
and appointed a law in Israel,
which he commanded our fathers
to teach to their children,
6 that the next generation might know them,
the children yet unborn,
and arise and tell them to their children,
7 so that they should set their hope in God
and not forget the works of God,
but keep his commandments. . . . (ESV) closePsalm 78:4-7closePsalm 78:4-7 4 We will not hide them from their children,
but tell to the coming generation
the glorious deeds of the Lord, and his might,
and the wonders that he has done. 5 He established a testimony in Jacob
and appointed a law in Israel,
which he commanded our fathers
to teach to their children,
6 that the next generation might know them,
the children yet unborn,
and arise and tell them to their children,
7 so that they should set their hope in God
and not forget the works of God,
but keep his commandments. . . . (ESV) 4 We will not hide them from their children,
but tell to the coming generation
the glorious deeds of the Lord, and his might,
and the wonders that he has done. 5 He established a testimony in Jacob
and appointed a law in Israel,
which he commanded our fathers
to teach to their children,
6 that the next generation might know them,
the children yet unborn,
and arise and tell them to their children,
7 so that they should set their hope in God
and not forget the works of God,
but keep his commandments. . . . (ESV) ).

Things that make me smile:

• Watching kids and leaders interact at Kids@First on Sunday mornings
• Welcoming new families and encouraging the regulars as we become ‘orange’ together
• Laughing at – I mean with – the pastoral staff
• Mocha Lattes (hot or iced, I’m not picky!)
• The belly laughs that occur with my family due to the odd and corny sense of humor we share

Books beyond the Bible I’m currently reading:

• Uprising: a revolution of the soul (Erwin Raphael McManus)
• Indivisible: Restoring faith, family and freedom before it’s too late (James Robinson & Jay W. Richards)
• Killing Lincoln (Bill O’Reilly & Martin Dugard)

Recommendations:

• Parenting Beyond Your Capacity: Connecting Your Family to a Wider Community (Reggie Joiner & Carey Nieuwhof)
• Family Time Bible Storybook (Gospel Light, for preschool)
• The Action Bible (David C. Cook, for elementary)
• www.orangeparents.org
• Case for Faith for Kids (Lee Strobel)
• The Goodness of God (Randy Alcorn)
• The Battle Belongs to the Lord (Joyce Meyer)
• The Chronicles of Narnia (C.S. Lewis)

Favorite Bible Verse:

I find that my favorite verse changes depending on the season I’m in and what God is pouring into me.  Recently it’s been “… the joy of the LORD is your strength.” from Nehemiah 8:10closeNehemiah 8:10 10 Then he said to them, “Go your way. Eat the fat and drink sweet wine and send portions to anyone who has nothing ready, for this day is holy to our Lord. And do not be grieved, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.” (ESV) closeNehemiah 8:10closeNehemiah 8:10 10 Then he said to them, “Go your way. Eat the fat and drink sweet wine and send portions to anyone who has nothing ready, for this day is holy to our Lord. And do not be grieved, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.” (ESV) 10 Then he said to them, “Go your way. Eat the fat and drink sweet wine and send portions to anyone who has nothing ready, for this day is holy to our Lord. And do not be grieved, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.” (ESV) .