get connected
Welcome to the children's ministry of Bettendorf Christian Church!
The staff of our children’s ministry here at BCC strives to provide a fun and safe environment where your children can draw closer to Christ. Whether you come on Saturday night and partake of our Kid’s Club for nursery through preschoolers, attend Sunday morning Sunday School classes, Kid’s Church or Pre-Teen Power Hour, or join us on Sunday evenings for youth groups, we have something that will appeal to everyone!
Check-In
During your first visit, we will ask you to fill out a visitor information form which you will bring to our Shepherd’s Watch check-in counter. We'll give you information on our children’s programs and guide to your child’s classroom.
In the classroom, your child will be given a wristband and you will be given the tear-off portion that matches the wristband number. You must have this tear-off portion to re-enter our secure children’s area whether you are checking on your child or picking them up after services. Your portion will be matched to the number on your child’s wristband when you pick them up. If you lose this tag, a minister, elder or our Christian Education Director must accompany you to your child to verify that they came with you.
After the third visit, a photo will be taken of the parents and an identification card will be made. You will use this card to check your child in electronically and a receipt will print out for each child, listing their name, class, allergies, parent’s names, and phone number. You will need to present your card to enter the children’s wing when you are checking on your child or picking them up after services. The number on your card will be compared with the receipt in your child’s classroom and they will be then be released to you. These identification cards are not transferrable to other people. Only the person whose name and picture are on the card may pick up the child.
Safety Precautions
Our facilities and emergency procedures have been approved by the Bettendorf Fire Department.
For your peace of mind, we have pagers available in our nursery which you may check out when you drop off your child.
We have security cameras in place in several locations throughout our children’s wing as well as other security implementations for your child’s safety.
Teacher Qualifications
Everyone that works with children or students, whether paid staff or volunteer, goes through a four step process to ensure the safety and security of each child in our care:
- Screening
- Our screening process includes an application form, questionnaire, personal reference checks, background check, and interview to find the best position for each person.
- Training
- We offer various training sessions throughout the year which provide opportunities to inform and equip our children’s ministry team, learn new teaching techniques, and share resources with one another.
- Supervision
- Supervision occurs during the time that children’s ministries are taking place. This is done by the staff in each area but we are all responsible for holding one another accountable. Our goal is to ensure that the interactions taking place in the children’s wing between the leaders, adults, and children are appropriate. This is not only for the protection of our children and students, but also for our leaders and adults as well. We have a minimum of two unrelated adults in each classroom for nursery through 4th grade with most of the nursery through preschool classrooms having at least three or four adults in them.
- Reporting
- All people, whether on staff or volunteers in the children’s ministry, have a responsibility to report any actual or suspected abuse or neglect, anywhere in the child or student’s life including church, home, school or community. After careful investigation by trained staff, we report to the state authorities any cases of suspected child abuse towards a minor.
What's Available for Kids
Saturday Night Kid's Club
Bible stories, crafts, interactive play, and snacks are provided for nursery through preschoolers in a multi-age format. “Bible Buddy Bags” which contain a child-friendly Bible, activity sheets, and crayons are available at the Welcome Center for elementary age kids to use in the sanctuary during the Saturday night service.
Sunday School Classes & Children's Worship
Our dedicated teachers and helpers are committed to drawing all children closer to Jesus through great Bible stories, music, hands-on activities and interactive learning opportunities. Come learn and grow with us!
9 a.m. classes include:
- Nursery
- Toddlers
- Pre-A
- Pre-B
- Pre-Kindergarten
- Kid’s Church for Kindergarten through Third Grade
- Fourth Grade
- Fifth & Sixth Grade Girls
- Fifth & Sixth Grade Boys
10:30 a.m. classes include:
- Nursery
- Toddlers
- Pre-A
- Pre-B
- Pre-Kindergarten
- Kindergarten
- First Grade
- Second Grade
- Third Grade
- Pre-Teen Power Hour for 4th, 5th & 6th Graders
Sunday Evening Youth Groups
Youth groups offer an opportunity for children to learn in a fun and relaxed atmosphere. Using curriculum from Group Publishing, the children are encouraged to memorize scripture, learn from the Bible lessons and be able to apply it to their daily lives while interacting with one another.
Vacation Bible School
VBS is a wild and wacky week of Bible-based fun, activities, fun, crafts, games, fun, skits, music, snacks, and yes, lots of fun! This is usually held for one week at the beginning of the summer during the evenings.
Children's Praise Dance
The goals of the Praise Dance ministry are for children to learn to worship God with their bodies and minds, for them to draw closer to Him through their heartfelt worship, and to be able to share this with others. Praise Dance is a response to God for his precious love toward us. Praise Dance is open to boys and girls in kindergarten through sixth grade. We currently have three groups based on age which practice on a weekly basis during the school year on Sunday afternoons and present during the adult and children’s worship services about four times each year.
Kids Care Club
Kids Care Club is a program of the Points of Light Foundation. Our mission is to develop compassion and the spirit of service and philanthropy in elementary aged youth. We provide hands-on opportunities to help others locally and around the country. Some of the activities that we have participated in have been the Souper Bowl of Caring – collecting food and money for local food pantries, collecting diapers and baby supplies for CPC/Pregnancy Resources, staffing a kettle for the Salvation Army at Christmas, collecting school supplies for the needy in Korea, bringing joy to the members of the Bettendorf Health Care Center, and making thank-you bags for VBS volunteers. Kids Care Club generally meets on the first Sunday of the month and is open to children in kindergarten through sixth grade.