Planning a visit to Graceway?
We desire to provide a fun, safe learning environment for your children so they can experience the love that God has for them. Each Sunday our children connect with people who desire to see the next generation understand the love they can find in their Heavenly father through songs, bible stories and activities that help reinforce what they are learning.
Is your family visiting Graceway soon?
We know what a struggle it can be to wrangle all the kids on a Sunday morning, and we want your visit to Graceway to be a convenient and enjoyable experience. We also take the security of your children very seriously. When a new guest arrives at Graceway we ask them to fill out some information about your family to ensure we have any important allergy and contact information. If you are planning on visiting us in the near future we encourage you to use our online pre-registration form below to speed up your check-in time on your first Sunday. After your first Sunday your family will be added to our system to ensure the quickest possible check-in.
Partnering with families
With 168 hours in a given week, we recognize that the two hours spent at church are a small fraction of influence. As parents, you have the opportunity to invest all week long and we want to partner with you in the spiritual development of your children. We partner and equip families by providing you with tools to engage your child in conversations about what they are learning on Sunday. As a guide, we provide a GodTime and Parent Cue that will be sent home each week. The GodTime is a suggested devotion designed to encourage children to read the Bible. The Parent Cue card gives parents suggested questions to ask about what your child has learned at church. The following is a list of resources that we believe can greatly help you continue your child’s spiritual growth at home.
Parent Cue & God Time Resources
Pre-K
K – 1st Grade
2nd – 3rd Grade
4th Grade
Other Resources
Websites
Pastor Donivan Best
Donivan is a creative, caring individual with a passion for connecting children of all ages with their Heavenly Father. He came to Graceway in 1997 with a degree in music education and several years experience teaching rural, suburban, and urban students in Kansas and Missouri. As a family, Donivan, wife Kelley, son Philip, and daughter Rebekah enjoy cycling, boating, hunting, camping, and hiking, as well as a good movie at the theater. The Best family has visited the lower forty-eight states in their mini-van and explored many of the natural wonders God has blessed us with here in America.
You can contact Donivan at (816) 358-1515 or dbest@visitgraceway.org
How will I know what was taught?
Every child should walk away with a Parent CUE handout each Sunday. The Parent CUE includes four things from this week’s lessons: the month’s character trait, memory verse, the week’s Bible story, and a specific question(s) for parents to ask their child(ren) and talk about.
What if I have a child with special needs?
We strive to have children integrated into the regular classroom with others. We help determine what the needs are for each child on a case-by-case basis, and work with each family to develop a plan that best suits them and their child. If you have a child with special needs, please contact Children’s Ministry staff so that we can work with you to best meet your child’s needs.
Who is taking care of my child?
We believe our SkyKids volunteers are the best! All volunteers are required to pass a background check and attend orientation before stepping into the classroom. Additional training opportunities are provided throughout the year to make your child’s (and our volunteer’s!) experience the best possible.
Who can pick up my child from their classroom?
An adult with a matching security tag is the only one allowed to pick up children from the classroom.
Can an older sibling in Middle School or High School pick-up my other children?
Unfortunately, no. We ask that for safety reasons, an adult be required to pick up from the classroom.
How will you contact me if I am needed during a church service?
The three-digit security code that appears on your pick-up tag will be placed on the screen in the main auditorium. If you see your child’s code on the screen, we ask that you report to their classroom as soon as possible. If you are in an adult class and not in the main auditorium, please let the check-in person know where you will be located so that we come get you if need be.
We have a variety of age-appropriate activities every Sunday designed for children to engage in learning and fun. During our large group time, children will fill Worship Falls for live music and drama during the week’s lesson.
Once the children have heard the story they return to their small group where they have an activity to reinforce what was learned in large group. Arts & crafts, games, and small group discussion are used to emphasize what was learned during their large group time.
The Skybucks store is filled with toys including Barbie, Matchbox cars, Legos and much more. Kids can purchase items from here with their Skybucks, which can be earned each week by bringing their Bible, memorizing a verse, and doing the Parent Cue & GodTime cards. A first time guest will receive ten Skybucks the first Sunday attended.