There’s a sign in the hallway just inside the main entrance to First Christian Church’s children’s ministry that reads “Please Walk.” Little feet that quickly scamper by might miss the sign, which is part of a large mural painting of a forest that reaches all the way to the ceiling. The excited children are too mesmerized by the green landscape stretching the length of the corridor to notice the sign and are sometimes running to get to their new classrooms.

The FCC Camp Reach-N-Up Children’s Ministry opened its doors on Aug. 13 with new classrooms, an expanded curriculum, and new interactive lessons for all its age groups, which range from newborns through 5th graders. The classes for kids in pre-kindergarten and below made a permanent move to the FCC Family Life Center to join the older children for worship services. The services take place at 8:45, 9:50 and 11 a.m. on Sundays and 7 p.m. on Wednesdays.

The first two weeks of the new Camp Reach-N-Up welcomed more than 125 children.

The new classrooms each have their own themes and names – the “Wiggleworms” room gives visitors a perspective of a bug’s life – and are customized for each age group. They offer an array of resources to keep the children engaged, including interactive activities, toys and books. The design in each room offers an inviting setting with vibrant colors and décor and the curriculum includes a Bible lesson for children ages 1 year and older.

The lessons are reinforced with two puppet theaters. A new theater for the 3-5 year olds has been built right into the classroom. The Lakeside Worship Room, a larger theater with a full ensemble cast of stuffed and live characters, is for the kindergartners through 5th graders.

“Many changes have taken place,” said Derrick Skelton, the children’s ministry director. “Our new theme in the Lakeside Worship Room is a camp clubhouse. To start the new school year, we will focus on various relationship issues that children deal with.”

Rather than traditional Sunday school classes for the older children, FCC has implemented rotating classes that include Bible exploration, arts-and-crafts and the Little Red Snack shop where kids make snacks that reinforce the week’s Bible lesson. An additional movie mini-theater and refitted arts-and-crafts room opened in August.

Right in the middle of the bustling children’s ministry is the Happy-Dollar Store that all children may use to cash in happy dollars that they earn. Learning Bible verses, bringing their Bibles to class and participating in activities can earn children happy dollars.

The children’s ministry expansion is one of the first outward steps in a new plan to promote the church’s commitment to practicing and teaching the Word of God to church members, the Forsyth County community and other communities the FCC family can help. First Christian Church is celebrating its 30-year anniversary this year and is implementing a long-term plan, called 30/30 Vision, that recognizes the first 30 years of the church’s life and is designed to advance FCC’s work for the next 30 years.

For more information about First Christian Church, contact 770-887-5542 or go online to www.reachingasone.org. Click on “children” on the home page to see pictures of Camp Reach-N-Up.