Southgate Kids Ministry offers your children, ages 0-5th grade, a welcoming, safe, age-appropriate class where they can get to know God who made them and loves them. The truths of the Bible come to life. Kids are fully engaged through worship, skits, creative videos, games, and activities. We have fun! As we mentor kids, we hope to see them grow in understanding of the Bible, true connection to Jesus, wisdom in the Holy Spirit, and closeness to God in prayer.

Our greeters will point you to the Welcome Desk. There we will meet your family and check your child into our name tag system. NOTE: We value your privacy and will not share this information with anyone: parent/guardian name(s), child’s name, phone number, and any special instructions (allergies, special needs) for your child. You are not required to fill out a visitor form, however if you decide you would like to keep coming and want to put your information in our system, we have visitor cards for your convenience at the Welcome Desk.

Before Service: You can check-in your child and print name tags at the self-serve kiosk or at the Welcome Desk. You and your child will be given matching name tags that are exclusive to your family and your visit. Your child will need to wear the name tag portion while you hold on to the matching tag. 

After Service: When the service ends, return to your child’s class. You will show your portion of the name tag at the door, and your child will be released to you. 

During Service: In the event that we need to contact you during the service, your child’s teachers will text you using the phone number you gave us.

Here at Southgate Church we offer childcare during service for infants. But we also have a Nursing Mother's Room that is available for mothers and caretakers with infants. This room is reserved exclusively for parents with infants to enjoy the service in a more private and quiet environment. This room is located down the main hall past the bathrooms on the way to the cafeteria in Room 10.

Southgate Kids

Grades K-5

In Southgate Kids, our mission is to help kids know God, follow Jesus and love the people around them. We dig into the Bible through story-telling, creative videos, games and visits from “real life” Bible characters. In small groups, kids connect to their small group leader, make friends, and share their ideas and learn from the Bible and one another. We also provide time for quiet reflection and prayer. We hope you will visit us soon!

Sprouts

Ages 3-6/Pre-K

Sprouts is a class founded on the love and acceptance of Jesus, where every child is welcomed and treasured. Dedicated volunteers get down on your child’s level to help them make friends and feel comfortable. In the learning circle, children worship, pray, learn a simple Bible verse, and hear a Bible story with truth they can understand. Activities and play time round out the morning. Your child is welcome!

Seedlings

Newborn-3 years

In the Seedlings class, every child is welcomed, comforted and cherished. We seek to care for your precious little one as if they were our own, calming fears, playing with them at their level, and showing them the love of Jesus. In our sharing circle, children worship, pray and hear a Bible story that connects to a young child. Simple activities and play time complete the morning. We welcome your child!

SGMiddle

Sunday Mornings (2nd & 4th of the Month)

ALL 6th, 7th, and 8th graders are welcome to join us as we learn more about how to follow Jesus and grow our faith together. On the 2nd & 4th Sunday of the month, students gather at the Welcome Desk after worship and meet in the ZAP Room during the sermon.

I’m Becky Powell, and I am thrilled to be the Children’s Pastor at Southgate Church. I grew up going to church and loving the stories of Jesus and other Bible heroes. When I was 8, I was told in a kids’ meeting that Jesus would live in my heart if I just asked. I gave my heart to Jesus that day, and my life changed forever.

I was blessed to have parents who had also recently given their lives to Jesus. I was able to learn and grow along with them. They bought me a little purple paperback New Testament, and I read it over and over. This foundation has shaped my life. 

As I grew older, I also grew in understanding and relationship with Jesus. It wasn’t always a straight line up. I failed and learned and succeeded and struggled, and my faith became my own. I also felt God pointing me toward a life of serving children, introducing them to Jesus, and encouraging them in their faith. 

After college, Southgate Church--then Victory Fellowship--became my church home. I’ve been volunteering at this church for over 30 years! A teacher by profession, I’ve taught kindergarten through 12th grade. And for 20 years I’ve been part of KOV, writing and leading the teaching room –so Southgate Kids has a lot of KOV flavor! 

It is an honor and thrill to lead an incredible group of dedicated volunteers as we come alongside children and families, helping them grow in relationship with Jesus. I am grateful to be Children’s Pastor at Southgate, and I am here to support your family in any way I can!

I’m Nigel Darvel, Sprouts Director. I am a psychotherapist in private practice and a professor of psychology at Mckendree University. I have been involved with Children’s Ministry since 2006. I have always had a belief in God but not a direct relationship. Growing up in the village of Wales in Great Britain and 1 of 12 siblings (10 brothers 1 sister) I always felt there

was more to God than just going to church. I joined Southgate--then Victory Fellowship-- in 2003 and in 2005 received Jesus to be my Lord and Savior. For the first time I witnessed the power of relationships over rules, and connection over correction.

I love what the Lord loves, and he loves the children. I also have multiple nieces and nephews and have always lived life around children. I want to see people come to Christ, beginning with the youngest. Children matter to God, and reaching our children should be the top priority for the church.

I’m Elizabeth Ritter, the Seedlings Director. I am a high school math teacher currently teaching at NCNAA, which is a school specifically for immigrants and refugees in St. Louis city. We are currently housed in part of Roosevelt High School.

I have been involved in children’s ministry on and off for the last 40 years. I was raised in a church family but not a believing one. As a teenager I got involved in Young Life in my high school and during one of the retreats gave my life and heart to Jesus. It was a powerful moment of experiencing God‘s total love for me and His presence.

Authors like Watchman Nee--Sit, Walk and Stand or The Latent Power of the Soul; Francis Schaeffer--The Mark of a Christian; or Dietrich Bon Hoffer--Life Together helped create my early foundation of this new life.

Now I have my own grandchildren and still find their wonder and delight in the small things (sunshine, wind, flowers, leaves, puddles) as a constant reminder that God is ever present in all things. And if God cares about the small things for my grandchildren, surely he will guide me in all the things that I think are too big. Because for God everything is a small thing.

The Sprouts Team and I look forward to being a part of seeing how God will form and mold each of our little ones into His hands and feet to their neighborhoods, school, friends and community.

If you have further questions concerning the Southgate Kids experience or visiting Southgate Church with children, simply fill out this short form, and we would love to answer any questions you may have, and to welcome you with your children to Southgate Church!