Monkey Joe's Back-Pack Party - Feb 24th

Do you need your kids to expend some ENERGY? Join us on at Monkey Joe's and let them bounce that energy out all while meeting other parents and did we mention FREE Pizza and drinks!

• Date: Friday, Feb 24
• Time: 5-7pm
• $5 per child (parents free) plus 3 items for our Back Pack Program
• FREE Pizza and Drinks 
• More information coming soon...

Spring Break Cabin Fever Family Pizza and Movie Night - March 16

Do you have Spring Break Cabin Fever? We have the cure...Pizza and a Movie at Bettendorf Campus.

• Date: Friday, March 16
• Time: 5:30-8pm
• RSVP Required
• $1 per person and 3 items for our Back Pack Program gets you Pizza, Drinks and a Movie
• Movie: TBA
• More info coming soon....

Princess Tea - April 21

On Saturday, April 21, little princesses and escorts will grace the Bettendorf campus in royal pomp. Decadent treats, sweet punch, pink balloons, tiara, crafts, book readings all to bless these little women!

• Date: Saturday, April 21st
• Time: 1:30-3pm
• Age: Preschool to 3rd Grade
• RSVP required
• Escorts (parents) required to attend and participate!
• More Information coming soon....

Check out our Princess Tea 2010

  

DO Something Now! - Family Edition - May 19

Bring the Family and join us on May 19th for DO Something Now! Family Edition.
Date: Saturday, May 19th
Time: TBA
Projects: TBA
More info coming soon....

Check out DO Something Now! Spring 2011

A Night in Bethlehem

This Christmas take your child to an interactive Nativity Story that they will never forget. Your Toddler, Preschooler or Kindergartner will experience the town of Bethlehem on the night Jesus was born. Wide-eyed children will enter the city gates of Bethlehem and talk to the Magi, a Money Changer, Roman Soldiers, Shepherds, eat in the Market Place and finally sit with a tired young couple in a stable. A Night in Bethlehem will not only excite your child but also provides a great opportunity to invite guests to experience the birth of Jesus like never before!

Heritage Church Bettendorf Campus:
Friday, Dec 23 @ 7pm
Saturday, Dec 24 @ 12, 2, and 4PM

Click on one picture to expand and get a filmstrip view...

Operation Christmas Child Shoe Box Party

Pictures of the event....click on picture below.

Back Pack Program

Bettendorf Campus GO! Kids has partnered with the Bettendorf School System and "adopted" Mark Twain Elementary School to supply food for kids that may be going hungry. Participating kids will be given a backpack once a month filled with nonperishable food to meet their nutritional needs when they do not have access to free breakfast and lunch at school, mainly during weekends and school breaks.
Currently, there are 50 kids that are participating in this program at Mark Twain Elementary School and Heritage Church Bettendorf Campus and GO! Kids are stepping up and helping these kids so they don't go hungry!

The following list of items are needed to fill these Backpacks:
GRAINS-

• Graham Crackers
• Whole Grain Cereal
• Individual Cereal Boxes
• Nutri-Grain Bars
• Animal Crackers
• Granola Bars
• Crackers

PROTEIN-

• Peanut Butter
• Canned Tuna (flip top)

FRUIT-

• Canned Fruit (flip top)
• Dried Fruit
• Apple Sauce cups
• Fruit Cups
• Raisins

MISCELLANEOUS-

• Pudding Cups
• 100% Juice Boxes
• Jelly (plastic jars only)

Donations can be dropped off at in the oppropriate grocery carts in the lobby.
Any Questions contact Pastor Steve

HEALTHY CHILD WELLNESS POLICY and CLASSROOM RATIO POLICY

Wellness Policy
Our goal is to provide a safe and healthy environment for all our children (and our wonderful teachers!). Therefore, we cannot accept a child who is exhibiting the following symptoms:

• A fever of more than 100 degrees F within the past 24 hours.
• A persistent or heavy cough, green runny nose, sore throat (redness, white spots or an accompanying fever).
• Stomach aches accompanied by vomiting or diarrhea.
• A contagious rash or infection of any kind. 
• Conjunctivitis (Pink Eye).

Children on antibiotics should have been on the medication for at least 24 hours before coming to class to ensure they are no longer contagious.

Classroom Ratio Policy

Our number one priority in GO! Kids is the safety and security of your children and maintaining the appropriate ratio of adults to kids will help us keep things safe. With that in mind and for the safety of your child, we may at times close a classroom once we have reached the ratio of kids to adults for that classroom. We will do our best to not let this happen but we want you to be aware of the possibility and the reason behind it. We also want to remind you that, if that does happen, our Family Room is available for you to take advantage of. The following ratios for Adult:Child are posted at the entrance of each room.

• Nursery 1:2 - 1 Adult to every 2 Children. We will always have a minimum of 2 adults in the nursery, thus with 2 adults the class can hold a maximum of 4 children.
• Toddler 1:5 - 1 Adult to every 5 Children. We will always have a minimum of 2 adults in the nursery, thus with 2 adults the class can hold a maximum of 10 children.
• PreK/Kindergarten 1:10 - 1 Adult to every 10 children.
• Elementary 1:20 - 1 Adult to every 20 children

Heritage Church - Bettendorf Campus Men's Breakfast-Saturday, Oct 15th

Are you Courageous? What does it mean to be Courageous? Do you desire to be a courageous Father, a courageous Husband, a courageous Citizen in your community?

Are you up for the challenge? If so, join us on Saturday, October 15th, 8-9:30 am for a pile of bacon and pancakes as we learn how to be Men of Courage and hear from a man that is has been courageous in life (and in the cage).

Heritage Church Bettendorf Campus
October 15th from 8-9:30 am
Sign up at Heritage Church - Bettendorf Campus (or email Pastor Steve)

KEY NOTE SPEAKER: JENS PULVER, UFC WORLD CHAMPION

Parent Partnership

Bettendorf Campus Parents,
I’d like to personally invite you to be part of an amazing thing that God is doing in the Heritage GO! Kids Ministry @ Bettendorf Campus and introduce you to the GO! Kids Parent Partnership. The GO! Kids Parent Partnership is just that—a partnership. Every parent has special gifts, talents, and experiences that can be used in GO! Kids. You don't have to be a "kid person" to Invest in the Next Generation. It is a GO! Kids Ministry expectation that every family that utilizes the GO! Kids ministry invests back into GO! Kids. As a GO! Kids team member you will get to know what your child is learning, see who they hang out with, and meet other parents in the church. Most importantly, you'll be investing in the Next Generation to build God’s Kingdom. You might also be surprised and amazed at your own personal and spiritual growth serving in GO! Kids!

I’m looking forward to adding your gifts and passions to the team as we Invest in the Next Generation together! The investment is minimal (start serving just one service per month), the rewards are endless. Download a Servant Application Here. GO! Kids has many different serving opportunities, ranging from greeting families at Destination station, helping teach kids about Jesus, or setting up the rooms during the week.

Testimonies from GO! Kid Team Members:
"Teaching kids at church definitely played a pivotal role in leading my daughter to Christ. If it's worth my time to teach, then obviously my kids see the importance of this whole Christ thing. I'm modeling servant leadership to my kids."  Todd

"Serving makes me be a better parent because I am leading by example.  The scripture talks about doing good for others so volunteering is a good way to walk the walk. I enjoy serving with my daughter, without providing my daughter this opportunity, she wouldn't be able to experience the riches of volunteering."  Stacy
From a GrandParent, "Serving the kids keeps US young and helps us stay in touch with the newest generation. We have a wealth of parenting experience and love! I am so grateful for the people who cared for my children over the years.  They became positive reinforcement for my kids. Lastly, I'd rather wear out from serving than rust out from sitting!"  Gail

From a Davenport Elementary Teacher, "Even though I am a teacher and work with students all week I still love teaching at another level and the whole reason I am there is to help these little ones know the Lord."  Cassie

"I feel that serving on the Go!Kids Team has made me a better parent by exemplifying service, meeting other people--of all ages and walks of life--and hearing their stories, knowledge of lessons taught and how they are being taught and what stradegies seem to work best for certain ages, being involved in my children's lives and seeing them in a learning and group situation, and seeing how they relate to peers and elders" Liz

Pastor Steve

Heritage Church Bettendorf Campus Back Pack Program

Heritage Church Bettendorf Campus has partnered with the Bettendorf School System and "adopted" Mark Twain Elementary School to supply food for kids that may be going hungry over the weekends. Participating kids will be given a backpack once a month filled with nonperishable food to meet their nutritional needs when they do not have access to free breakfast and lunch at school, mainly during weekends and school breaks.

Currently, there are 50 kids that are participating in this program at Mark Twain Elementary School and Heritage Church Bettendorf Campus is stepping up and helping these kids so they don't go hungry!

The following list of items are needed to fill these Backpacks:
GRAINS-

• Graham Crackers
• Whole Grain Cereal
• Individual Cereal Boxes
• Nutri-Grain Bars
• Animal Crackers
• Granola Bars
• Crackers

PROTEIN-

• Peanut Butter
• Canned Tuna

FRUIT-

• Canned Fruit
• Dried Fruit
• Apple Sauce cups
• Fruit Cups
• Raisins

MISCELLANEOUS-

• Pudding Cups
• 100% Juice Boxes
• Jelly (plastic jars only)

Donations can be dropped off in the designated grocery carts in the Bettendorf campus lobby.
Any Questions contact Pastor Steve

2011 Fall Block Party

Saturday, September 10th @ 6pm and
Sunday, September 11th @ 12pm

• Bounce Houses
• Free Hotdogs, Chips, Drinks
• Games for the Family
• Prizes

Invite your friends, family, neighbors, co-workers!
Check out the fun from last year, GO! Kids Bash

Father/Son Camping Trip - Leaving a Legacy

Friday, Sept 30-Saturday, October 1st @ Wild Cat Den State Park, 30 minutes south of the Quad Cities. Fathers and Sons (age Pre-k to 6th grade). If you are a single mom email me and we will set up a "camping dad" for your son.
Registration needed  (email me) before Sept 27th.

Details:

• Tent Set-up begins at 3pm, Friday, September 30th
• Meat Grilling starts @ 5pm
• Father/Son Blessing @ 7pm around the camp fire
• S'mores
• Saturday Breakfast
• Hike
• Lunch
• Pack up
• Travel to QC West Campus for mission project
• Back to Quad Cities @ 3pm, Saturday, October 1st
• Cost: $5 per person - covers camping registration and all food! Please register (email me) before Sept 27th.

Check out last years camping trip Leaving a Legacy 2010

Pastor Steve

Operation Christmas Child Shoe Box Party

What a great time bouncing around and packing shoe boxes for kids around the world!

 


Come and joine the GO! Kids Team at Monkey Joe's on Friday, November 11, 5pm-7pm for a great time having fun and packing up shoes boxes for Samarian's Purse Operation Christmas Child.

What do YOU need to do BEFORE

arriving at the Shoebox Party?

• Determine if you are sending your gift box to a boy or girl and which age group (2-4, 5-9, 10-14).
• Please bring items to fill the shoe boxes.  See below Gift Ideas
• Operation Christmas Child Shoe Boxes Provide.
• Show up at Monkey Joe’s to help fill shoeboxes and watch the kids have fun bouncing around.
• FREE Pizza and Drinks for the family!

Check out the fun from last year at the Operation Shoe Box 2010

GIFT IDEAS
TOYS-small cars, balls, dolls, stuffed animals, kazoos, harmonicas, yo-yos, jump ropes, small Etch A Sketch®, toys that light up or make noise (with extra batteries), Slinky®, etc.

SCHOOL SUPPLIES-pens, pencils and sharpener, crayons or markers, stamps and ink pad sets, writing pads or paper, solar calculators, coloring and picture books, etc.

HYGIENE ITEMS-toothbrush, toothpaste, mild bar soap (in a plastic bag), comb, washcloth, etc.

OTHER-Hard candy and lollipops (please double bag all candy), mints, gum, T-shirts, socks, ball caps; sunglasses, hair clips, toy jewelry, watches, flashlights (with extra batteries)

A PERSONAL NOTE
In a separate envelope, you may enclose a note to the child and a photo of yourself or your family. (If you include your name and address, the child may write back.)

DO NOT INCLUDE:
Used or damaged items; war-related items such as toy guns, knives or military figures; chocolate or food; out-of-date candy; liquids or lotions; medications or vitamins; breakable items such as snowglobes or glass containers; aerosol cans

Pajama Movie Night - December 9th

When it's cold outside, there's nothing better than putting on a comfy pair of PJ's, enjoying some fresh popcorn and watching a great family movie. On Friday, December 9th at 6:00pm, GO! Kids will be showing Cars 2. A night of totally FREE family entertainment! Well, almost totally free...GO! Kids is asking each person to bring a food item for the Back Pack Program (click here for a list of items needed).

See ya Friday, December 9th for a great evening of fun! Pastor Steve

View last years Pajama Movie Night

The New Bridge Room (4th/5th/6th Graders)

The old garage has gotten a new face lift, transformed into the Sunday classroom for our tween ministry, The Bridge. Pastor Miguel and Pastor Steve are partnering up with this ministry to 4th, 5th & 6th graders.
The new motif is a Graffiti design with a hint of Global Missions. During the year the students will not only learn about the Bible and how to live it out but also learn about Global Missions, learning about cultures, food, politics and religions from our mission fields.

The Transformation...

Bettendorf Campus Fall Family Events

Dates and Information coming soon....
Welcome Back to School Blowout
Father/Son Camping Trip
Operation Christmas Child Shoe Box Party
Pajama Movie Night

172

This last Sunday, Heritage Church baptized 172 individuals at the Rock River. The sheer number is awe inspiring! I think a baptism is the most moving experience one can witness. And add the emotion of the mom or dad participating in the baptism is even more memorable. The parents are the primary influence in this child's life and I encourage parents to be apart of this ceremony. I encourage parents to also have a family celebration, like a "spiritual birthday". An email from one of the families,

"We went out for dinner to celebrate as a family... but most of all she enjoys sharing pictures and articles from her baptism to her summer class".

What an incredible testimony from a young disciple of Jesus! 

Back Blogging

I'm back in the game! For some reason I have not been able to blog for the last 4 weeks. I'm sure it was user error but I'm back ready for some blogging action!

GO! Kids Renovation 2.0

Parents, you will begin to see some construction down in the GO! Kids area starting in July. We have a few big projects to move classes and enhance the hallways and Destination Station. First up is the new Bridge Class for 4-6th graders. The Bridge class will be moving into the "garage". The space will be fully renovated in a global mission theme and decked out in all the cool stuff that any tweener will be excited to attend! The second project, we will split the Toddler room into 1 yr olds and 2 yr olds. The new 1 year old room will be moving into the old Bridge class (next to the current toddlers class). This class will be themed out into a Quad City motif, full of John Deere, Bridges, Mississippi mud, Bandits baseball, and High School fan memorabilia. All these moves are because Bettendorf GO! Kids continues to grow and prosper. Praise God and excuse the mess!
P. Steve

Baptism Weekend

This last weekend was one of those weekends that I will remember for a long time. The weekend was filled with smiles, fear, tears, joy, and a little bit of stress thrown in for good measure.
This last weekend we celebrated baptisms, the first act of obedience for a new Christ follower, and some powerful things happened at the Bettendorf campus. We had 7 scheduled baptisms but we baptized 13 people over the course of the weekend. We heard testimonies about rebellion, addiction, joy, freedom and love. We heard about how others influenced these people’s lives: parents, grandparents, and GO! Kid teachers. I held shaking hands as these people shared in front of their church family their personal testimonies of failures, their struggles, their fears but saw tears of joy in hundreds of people in the crowd as we heard of the power of God in their lives and their courage to follow Jesus. I witnessed, firsthand the glow of these faces as they rose from the water. I held the hand of parents as they helped baptize their child with tears running down their faces, a child that they have prayed for and modeled Christ in their own lives for years. I watched as three grown men baptized a young man they mentored and prayed with at many weekend Statik events, a young man that contemplated suicide until he found God and these men that sacrificed their time and energy at Statik. I personally was blessed by the opportunity to baptize my sister-in-law and my niece- these two were not scheduled and I found myself holding back tears as they stepped up the stairs of the baptismal. There was a common theme in each of these stories – people! People that sacrificed their time to invest in others, their own kids, in GO! Kids, in Statik, in small groups. People that stepped out of their comfort zone to share their life with someone else. This is what Christ’s Church is all about!

Blog from one of the "walk-ups"

Fathers Day - Quad Cities Bandits Baseball

Give Dad (and the entire family) a fun day at the ball game! Join GO! Kids as the Bandits take on state rivals Peoria Chiefs!

Game Time: 2pm

Location: Berm Seating - bring your blankets or small lawn chairs and have a great time with the family!

Tickets: $5 at the gate or online at Bandits website

July 4th Celebration

Monday, July 4th join us at the Bettendorf campus as we celebrate with our community!

Time: TBA

Chick Fil A

Parents, some cool family events coming up at Chick-fil-A this month....
Family Night
All Pro Dad
Toddler Time

The world our Kids will grow up in....

59% of children said religion has a negitive impact in the world, according to a survey conducted by Penguin Books in the UK

GO! Kids April e-News

(click on image to go directly to the April e-news)

DO Something Now - RECAP

Click the photo to read about the DO Something Now - Family Events!

GuyWire - New study starting April 21

Bettendorf Campus March E-News

Elementary Class - March 19/20

Parents, the elementary class learned that Servant Leaders Work Hard to Help Others! The bible story was out of Genesis 39:2-6, 39:21-23, 41:37-57, where we read about Joseph working hard to help a lot of people. The bible verse Ecclesiastes 9:10a.

Not only did the kids learn that servant leaders work hard to help others, they actually helped others in class. This last weekend the Elementary class packet 50 backpacks with food for the BackPack Program.

Another opportunity you have, as a parent to model servant leadership is coming up in a few weeks, called Do Something Now! on April 13th at 8:30am. Family sign ups are located next to Destination Station (checkin area).

Have a great 1st week of spring, Pastor Steve

PreK/K Class - March 19/20

Parents, this last weekend, your child learned that Jesus Prayed. The bible story was out of Luke 11:1-4, where Jesus taught his disciples how to pray. Our fantastic PreK/K teachers (if you have not thanked these teachers lately, please do so next time you see them) talked about how to pray, that it's just talking to God, no fancy words or speeches necessary. They talked about when to pray. They talked about when Jesus prayed--when he was happy, when he was sad, when he praised and thanked God. Jesus prayed often, as we taught the kids to do also.

As parents, we have so many teaching moments during the day to really reinforce the importance of prayer, but like so many things as parents, we must model it. Some ideas to model prayer with your kids:

• Before meals
• Before bedtime
• When you hear an ambulance or fire truck
• Before a thunderstorm
• Praying for family members that are sick
• Praying for friends at school
• Set a evening every week that the family comes together to pray

The list is endless but the important thing is, Just Do It, model it everyday!

Enjoy spending time with your family, Pastor Steve

Toddler Class - March 19/20

Parents,

your toddler learned this last weekend that "Jesus Loves Me!". The bible story was out of Matthew 19:13-15, were Jesus rebukes his disciples for trying to keep the kids away from him. Take some time this week and read your toddler this story and talk to them about how much Jesus loves them and how much you love them, and while you are at it...tell your spouse how much you love them (your toddler needs to hear that also). This is all part of your families Faith Talk time, see the Family Devotional below for more ideas. I have included a coloring page for your child to help reinforce the lesson this week.

Have a great week and take some extra time this week to spend with your family, your mission field!

P. Steve

Bridge Class

Bridge...The connection between GO! Kids and Statik JV….coming April 3rd. For 4th & 5th Graders only!

Elementary Class - March 12/13

Parents,
the elementary class learned that Servant Leaders Use Their Gifts to Help Others! and the bible story was out of Genesis 40. This month the class room is having a challenge, a point for each of the following:

1. Bring a Friend
2. Bring your Bible
3. Know the Bible Verse (this weeks bible verse is 1 Corinthians 12:7)

The Family Devotional this week has some excellent activities for the entire family. Check those out and don't forget to help your child with the "challenge" above!
Have a great week, Pastor Steve

PreK/K Class - March 12/13

Parents, this last weekend your child learned about the lesson Jesus Teaches Me. The bible story came out of Matthew 5-7, where Jesus teaches about the Beatitudes, heart issues and the wise and foolish builders.

One of our goals my wife and I have set this year is to teach our son something new everyday. Somedays it may something small or other days it may be showing him how to spell his name. This morning, my son and I made french toast together. Of course cooking with a 5 year old takes patience. An egg landed on the floor (good for my dog as she always stays close when my son is cooking) and the egg mix was a little crunchy from all the egg shells that fell in the mixing pot. The point was not to outdo Julia Child but to teach my son something new and spend that all so important TIME with him.

Take some time this week and review these 3 chapters and have fun with the two activities on the Family Devotional that was sent home, Pastor Steve

Toddler Class - March 12/13

Parents,

the toddler class covered the story of Jesus' birth this last weekend. Your child was read the story out of Luke 1:26-2:20 of how an angel appeared to Mary and birth of Jesus.

Take some time this week and read your child this story out of Luke and review the Family Devotional that was sent home this last weekend (also inlcuded to the right).

I have included a picture of the Nativity scene for you to print out and have your child color after you talk about the birth of Jesus. The important thing is not how well you read or how well you tell a story, its about spending time with your child and reading the bible together as a family.

Have a great week, Pastor Steve