A Child Will Lead Us
A New Faith Based Community Initiative for Watertown Area Children and their Families.
The Little Child Will Lead Us Ministry and Pastor Anne has been a huge asset for my family. The ministry has truly helped my children, Johnny and Nevaeh in many ways, as well as our entire family. If it were not for this program and Pastor Anne, my significant other would not have been able to obtain a full time job. Both him and I have been able to maintain a full time job and provide our children with a better home. We have been able to save up and are now moving to a new home, with a big yard. In addition to the help with child care for us to be able to both work, it has also allowed the children to have somewhere to be when I need to run errands or take care of things that would have made them go out in the public with all of the COVID pandemic going on. This has been very reassuring to not have them as exposed as often.
Also, having the children's ministry has given the children a social experience that they would not have gotten otherwise. They have been able to make new friends and learn new things that they would not have been able to experience without the program. We also found an excellent babysitter that the children adore through the church program that helped us throughout the summer, and will continue to help us with for school breaks. It has helped them both socially and has given them a little extra help with school as well, just simply by allowing them to have someone to help them.
If it were not for the Little Child Will Lead Us Ministry and Pastor Anne, I feel our family would not have excelled and grown so very much over the last year. Thank you so much for all that you have done for us!!
My family would like to articulate our deep gratitude for this church; specifically Pastor Anne, Mr. Larry, and the children’s ministry, “A Little Child Will Lead Us.” Our girls Emma and Meredith were welcomed with open arms during the 2021 summer childcare ministry. They were cared for holistically, and quickly became part of the larger church family. While our children were being cared for, my husband and I were able to spend much needed time together and complete practical tasks following our move to Watertown, NY.
As a military family, we are in constant transition, and in search of finding community quickly. We are so pleased to have found a church home that includes and celebrates the contributions of children. Far beyond tolerating children, they are a most valued part of the congregation at First United Methodist Church.
The uncertainty of army life is most definitely a stressor for our family. For other children in the community; financial, relationship, and other instabilities are a daily reality. Regardless of the need, this children’s ministry has provided a safe place for children of all situations to experience God’s love and to know they matter and belong.
It is our deep hope the church will continue to support this ministry and secure adequate funding to grow in the coming year. From background checks, recruiting staff, facility maintenance, supplies, equipment, and meals; there is a lot that Pastor Anne manages as she directs this ministry. We intend to participate and give, and hope that the larger church will partner in doing so as well.year. Thank you so much for all that you have done for us!!
I'd like to take the time to tell you the difference in my families lives and so many others the programs Pastor Anne offers. I am a single mother of three kiddos; 2/3 special needs. They have grown to love the staff, especially Pastor (Grandma) Anne. Through their programs my children have made friends, learned so much and have a community based "home" that they can feel safe.
Which as a parent I can tell you is priceless.