First Kids Waco

A message from Pastor Mike:

Dear Church Family,

I've been impatiently waiting for this Sunday to arrive, as Rev. Ana Harrell, our new Associate Pastor of Children and Family Ministries begins ministry with us. You can read more about Ana below. She brings with her many years of ministry experience with children and their families. Please join me in making Ana and her family feel right at home.
The timing is perfect for her arrival, as this Sunday is our traditional blessing of the backpacks. We encourage you to have your children bring their school backpacks to any worship service.
For many years, I served as both a children's pastor and youth pastor, and I place priority on these ministries. Having both Ana Harrell and Youth Director Pat Bray with us are two examples of how we at First Methodist place a priority on the discipleship of children and youth. I’m energized when I think of these two important ministries being led by these ministry leaders. I hope you’ll join me in supporting their discipleship efforts.
As you’ve heard me say, the faithfulness of the church comes from the faithfulness of each person in the church. My prayer is that we’ll be a church filled with people who yield their lives to the Spirit of God. The Lord is with us!

MEET ANA – Our New Children’s Minister!
We’re thrilled to welcome Ana Harrell to the First Methodist Waco staff as our new Pastor to Children and Family Ministry!

Ana brings over 15 years of experience in ministry and education, having served in both children’s and youth ministries and taught a range of age groups, including Pre-K, kindergarten, and middle school.

She is deeply passionate about walking alongside children and their families as they grow in their relationship with God, encouraging them to share their faith from an early age. Ana believes that discipleship begins in the home and is excited to support parents as they nurture their children’s spiritual growth in the rhythms of daily life.

Outside of church, Ana enjoys cooking, baking, and spending time with family and friends—especially in nature, where she loves swimming, bike riding, and hiking.

Ana is married to John. They have two sons, Josiah and Jeremiah.

It’s August, and there are many fun and exciting things happening in First Kids!

This Sunday (August 3rd) we will have our backpack blessings and promotion Sunday. During all worship services, we will pray back-to-school blessings over our kids and send each one of them with a backpack tag to remind them that God is always with them through everything. We also extend this blessing to our educators, so bring your back-to-school bags too.

All of our kids will promote to the next grade level Sunday school class (3-5 preschool, Kinder - 2nd, 3rd & 4th grade). We will also re-introduce a new class and curriculum for our friends entering 5th & 6th grades.

Mark your calendars for these upcoming events:

🗓️ 3YR/4YR AND 3RD/4TH GRADE BIBLE PRESENTATIONS: August 17th in all services
-3yr/4yr bibles will be given in the classrooms while 3rd & 4th grade bibles will be presented during all worship services at both campuses. If you would like your child to receive a Bible, please be sure to email [email protected] to reserve their Bible.

🗓️ FALL MIDWEEK:
September 3-October 22 | 6p

Tonight was the last night of VBS. What a wonderful week it has been! For those who volunteered, thank you for your time and energy you poured into our kids this week. #vbsweek #FirstMethodist #youbelonghere

We are preparing the final volunteer assignments but wanted to give you one last chance to sign up to serve.

Why volunteer? VBS is a 15-hour intensive and equal to 6 or 7 months of a typical small group interaction on Sunday morning and Wednesday evenings. EVERY INTERACTION MATTERS!

It’s going to be a week filled with fun, friends, and the privilege of serving Jesus as His disciples who disciple others!

Use this link to register: https://vbspro.events/p/firstkidsvbs2025