About
Our desire is for your children to grow roots here at Altadena that will produce a genuine relationship with God. We aim to partner with families as they build a Biblical foundation in the lives of their children and strengthen their children’s relationships with friends, peers and adults, as well as the church community.
Our goal is to equip them to flourish as we teach the Bible and communicate the Gospel clearly, in a manner children are able to comprehend. It is our honor to serve and lead children as they begin their spiritual growth and a gift to partner with parents as they endeavor to encourage and lead well for God’s glory.
I’m New. What should I expect for my children?
Feeling awkward and out of place will not last long at AVPC! With smaller class sizes and dedicated teachers, our community ensures each child is given both individualized and relational attention during their time on campus. From babies to fifth graders, our team desires to provide your children and family an excellent and encouraging experience, which in turn equips your family to delight and live in Jesus Christ.
As you arrive, greeters and team members will happily welcome you and direct your children to the appropriate programs according to their ages. Follow the signs to the Welcome Center, where a team member will lead you to the children’s area. Our staff and volunteers have completed appropriate background checks, as well as extensive training, in order to provide the safest and best care of your child while they are with us. For added security, our children’s workers always serve in teams of two or more.
Nursery
We offer families with small children a safe, secure nursery in for infants and toddlers up to 3 yrs old.
We know babies have specific needs and schedules, so when you bring your child to the classroom, we have a simple form which allows you to inform our team of your child’s feeding, sleeping, and changing needs. We also take time to intentionally love and pray for your child each week.
Your child will experience personal care from our well-staffed team. We keep our nursery rooms ready for your little ones with age-appropriate toys that are thoroughly cleaned and disinfected between services and events.
Weekly Activities
Altadena provides weekly activities which are fun, Bible-focused and Christ-centered gatherings in a welcoming and safe environment. Come check us out this week. You and your children will be glad you did!
Sunday Morning Worship Center
There are two Sunday morning worship gatherings specifically for children ages four, five and six. These times begin with children attending the adult worship service, and then being dismissed as a group to the children’s Worship Center area in the children’s building.
Our children’s Worship Center aims to model the format of a regular church service, yet on a child’s level. Children will have time to fellowship, sing, hear God’s word, and finally apply what they have learned through crafts and tangible manipulatives. They are repeatedly reminded during this time that Jesus loves them and invites them to share His light with others.
At the end of early service Worship Center, children will be taken by their teachers to their appropriate Sunday school classrooms. After late service, parents will need to collect their children from the Worship Center room.
Children’s Sunday School
Our children’s Sunday school hour correlates with the adult Sunday school. Between early and late services, children are broken into their small groups where they begin to learn what it means to be part of a Biblical community. With their peers, they have time for Godly play, sharing and prayer and Biblical discipleship on appropriate levels. Our teachers are committed volunteers who desire to help children grow in their understanding of scripture, God’s love for them, and the adventure He has invited us on as Christians. We are richly blessed at AVPC to have instructors who intentionally love, pray for, and invest in our children.
After Sunday school, parents will need to pick up their children from the appropriate classrooms.
Kid’s Bridge Nights (Sunday Evenings)
At AVPC, we desire for children to experience the earliest stages of Gospel-centered community, while building a foundational understanding of the Bible. Sunday evening Bridge Nights aim to further these goals.
Bridge Nights occur from 5:00-6:30 PM on most evenings from September through early May.
Children’s Ministry Staff
Catie Lumpkin
Children’s Ministries Director
Responsibilities:
Catie serves as our Director of Children’s Ministries. She oversees and coordinates all children’s activities, including Sunday school, worship center, summer Camp Solid Rock, and our annual Trunk or Treat. Catie works with the Children’s Ministry Team to show and teach the love of Jesus to the children we serve and to partner with parents in their efforts of Christian education.
About:
Catie and her husband Jamie have attended Altadena since 2001 when they were married. However, Altadena and its ministry of God’s House have been part of Catie’s life since she began attending there when she was two years old. Together, she and Jamie have six children: Caleb, Benjamin, Daniel, Bentley, Ayla Joy, and Isaac. Catie is honored to serve on staff as the children’s ministry director as Altadena has so faithfully partnered with them in showing and teaching her children the love of Jesus.
Abi Bostrom
Nursery Director
Responsibilities:
As our Nursery Director, Abi provides leadership and oversight to our ministry that serves children from birth to kindergarten and their families. Abi is responsible for scheduling workers to take care of the little ones during worship services, Bible studies, group meetings and other events that require childcare.
About:
Abi was born and raised in Greenville, South Carolina and graduated from North Greenville University with a major in Exercise Science. She moved to Alabama after college and met her husband Joel who had just moved to the states from Japan. Together they have two children, Zach and Rosie. The Bostroms started attending AVPC in 2021 when Abi was 9 months pregnant with Zach and were so overwhelmed by the love shown to them by the church after his birth.
Danielle Harris
Children’s Administrative Assistant
Responsibilities:
About:
Danielle was born and raised in Atlanta, Georgia. She later attended Samford University, receiving a Bachelor of Arts in Family Studies and a Master of Education in Early Childhood and Elementary Education. Danielle taught elementary school for five years and is so grateful to now work with the kids at AVPC. She and her husband Blake married in July of 2018 and enjoy having many adventures with their three young kids.
Amanda Amerson
Children’s Ministry Assistant
Preteen Coordinator
Responsibilities:
About: