KidCity is The City Church’s ministry to preschool-aged and grade school children, birth through fourth grade [click here for information on 5th grade and older]. God calls parents to raise your children in the ways and truths of God. Parents are primarily responsible for training your children how to live as a follower of Jesus, in the family of God, and on the mission of God. However, as the old African proverb asserts, “it takes a village to raise a child.” So as a church family, we believe in coming alongside parents to help you raise your kids well.  We believe we can best do this in different ways, in different environments, with different ages of kids.  And please click here for more logistics, specifics, and FAQ’s regarding KidCity.

Even our littlest ones can learn, and as a church family, we have the great privilege to love them, train them, and introduce them to Christ. During All-Church Gatherings, our nursery is a safe, healthy, and fun environment for babies, with lots of planned learning experiences including stories, songs, and play, designed specifically for the youngest minds. As the All-Church Gathering moves into communion and closing songs, most weeks we encourage parents to bring their kids into the Gathering, to share in communion as a family and to and worship with their parents.

Preschoolers’ energy is amazing and magnetic. As a church family, we partner together to introduce our children to Christ, in a safe, fun, healthy environment during All-Church Gatherings.  Kids learn a story from the Bible and a verse that emphasizes the theme of the story, generally focused on a theme that's similar to the rest of the church's current discussions. We surround the story with lots of songs, imaginative play, art, and other fun learning experiences, shaped specifically around preschool abilities. As the All-Church Gathering moves into communion and closing songs, most weeks we encourage parents to bring their kids into the Gathering, to share in communion as a family and to and worship with their parents.

While our Nursery and Preschool is designed to free parents from being distracted and give them an opportunity to fully engage in All-Church Gatherings, we believe that involving children into the greater church family is vital at the earliest logical age.  We value kids worshipping with their parents, parents leading in the training of their kids, and the biblical image of the church as a family, which includes many generations worshipping and living on mission together [read more about our philosophy here].  

So beginning in kindergarten, we encourage parents to bring their kids into the All-Church Gathering with you. We provide activity sheets for elementary-aged kids in the Gatherings, and it is up to you as a parent to determine whether your child should take advantage of these sheets or not.

Since regular “church life” happens in your Village, once a month we don’t hold an All-Church Gathering; instead, we worship in a way long-forgotten in the American church: instead of singing, preaching, and sharing together, we instead worship through loving our neighbors, seeking the welfare of our city, and resting for Sabbath [we call these Sundays "Scattered Worship"].

 On Sundays when our entire church family is serving our city or loving neighbors together, we encourage parents to take your kids and let them be involved in your activities, regardless of their age or that Sunday’s mission.  It’s a great opportunity for kids to be involved in giving of themselves from an early age, and for parents to instill the value of service and mission in their children.  And even if parents get distracted by your child, or have to repaint what your kiddo just "painted," it’s a beautiful picture of an intergenerational family, loving your neighbors and seeking the welfare of our city together.

Instead of making our Sunday Gathering the focal point of what we do, the primary venue for life in The City Church is “Villages,” or intentional communities meeting in homes, coffee shops, and pubs in various parts of Fort Worth [click here to find a Village, and look for *KidCity provided*].  At every Sunday’s All-Church Gathering, parents will be given a follow-up sheet with questions and activities to do with your kids throughout the week. During your Village gathering, we encourage someone to walk through that sheet with the children, and spend time playing and doing activities with kids in your Village. But we leave it up to you to best care for kids in your Village: some Villages rotate through having someone from your Village watch the kids each week; others pitch in together for childcare; still others include the kids (at least some ages of kids) in the Village activities and discussion.

How safe is KidCity on Sundays? What are these “Five Basic Truths” you’re teaching my child? When and where do I check in? Are there snacks? Where can I get a Parent Sheet if I miss an All-Church Gathering? Can I get an application to work in KidCity? What is your sickness policy?