Deuteronomy 6 gives us three Biblical truths about families that shape and change our lives:

1. You: God has picked YOU and will use you as the key to help your kids grow.

2. Your Marriage: God wants your marriage to thrive and serve as rich soil in which your kids grow. If you are a single parent, we know this is a challenging journey, and we want to support you and encourage you in it, because we are confident that God is doing beautiful things in and through you to grow your kids.

3. Your Family: God wants to use your family more than you can imagine to impact those around you and those who come after you with the love of Jesus.

Explore each area below to find out more:

Because we consider it a privilege to partner with you as you raise the next generation to know and love God and love people, we in Children’s and Student Ministry make these four significant commitments to you and your families.

We Commit to . . .

1. Teach God’s Word and God’s ways to fit your kids.
   The Word of God is God-breathed and works in our lives to teach us, correct us, train us, and equip us for every good work (2 Timothy 3:16-17). It is a lamp to our feet and light to our path, giving us God’s design, will, and purpose for our lives (Psalm 119:105). Knowing that God’s Word is the most important thing we can ever learn, we are committed to ensuring that all our teaching is grounded in and driven by the Word of God and communicated in a way that fits the needs of your kids developmentally, relationally, personally, and spiritually.

2. Offer biblical relationships in a community of peers and godly leaders.
   Children and students need relationships. Though different in their developmental needs, both need the voices of authentic, godly leaders in their lives (Psalm 71:18; Proverbs 19:20; 1 Thessalonians 2:7-12; 2 Timothy 2:2). As they grow, their need for healthy peer relationships develop from learning relational skills (children) to a full-blown need for community support, input, and encouragement for spiritual growth (Galatians 6:1-2; 1 Thessalonians 5:11, 14-15; Hebrews 3:13; 10:24). We are committed to the continual development of our leaders to be authentic followers of Jesus and effective shepherds of your kids. We also are committed to creating space for healthy spiritual age-level relationships to thrive.
   
   
3. Provide opportunities, experiences, resources, and milestone celebrations for family’s and individual’s growth.
   When we think about Children’s and Student Ministries, we think about families and partnering with parents in their role of discipling their children. Families need a “village” called the Church in order to grow their kids to love and follow Jesus (Ephesians 4:11-16). We are committed to designing our ministry experiences around that partnership in our gatherings, events and activities, celebrations, and practical resources to utilize at home.
   
   
4. Partner with parents by providing spiritual and relational support.
   Partnering with parents means more than the gatherings, opportunities, and resources we offer. We are committed personally to the flourishing of your family. We are FOR YOU!  (Romans 12:10-11; Ephesians 4:29; 1 Thessalonians 5:14-17). We commit to pray regularly for you and provide open doors of communication and support for you from our student and children’s teams.

To Help Your Family thrive, we invite you parents to consider making these four commitments from God’s Word.

We invite you to commit to . . .

1. Pursue Jesus and your pathway to spiritual growth.
   The single most important thing a parent can do is to be an authentic, growing follower of Jesus and, if married, together with their spouse, to build a marriage that lays the foundation for the whole family to grow (Deuteronomy 6:4-6). Scripture gives us a clear pathway for spiritual growth, and we encourage you to engage in that process. (Possible Next Step:  Attend Discover Hill Country to learn about your pathway to spiritual growth.)
   
   “The single, most powerful casual influence on the religious lives of Americanan teenagers and young adults is the religious lives of their parents. Not their peers, not the media, not their youth group leaders or clergy, not their religious school teachers. Myriad studies show that, beyond a doubt, the parents of Americans play the leading role in shaping the character of their religious and spiritual lives, even well after they leave home and often for the rest of their lives…. The influence of parents on children while they still live at home—including their influence on their religious identities, beliefs, and practices—is paramount, lasting for years, decades, often lifetimes. The best general predictor of what any American is like religiously, after comparing all of the other possible variables and factors, is what their parents were like religiously when they were raising their children. – Smith, Christian. Religious Parenting (p. 5-6). Princeton University Press.
   
   
2. Plan for growth for the year for each child and your family as a whole.
   Since you, parents, are the primary disciple-makers of your children and students, intentionality is key (Deuteronomy 6:7-9; Ephesians 6:4) — "A goal without a plan is just a wish.” (Antoine de Saint-Exupéry). We invite you to take time intentionally to identify how you are asking God to grow your family and each of your kids this year. (Possible Next Step: Use our simple Family Growth Plan to help you form your plan.)
   
   
3. Prioritize Sunday morning family worship and age-specific growth opportunities.
   We encourage you to prioritize Sunday morning worship as a family, allowing your kids to see your value of worship in practice (Hebrews 10:23-25; Luke 10:38-42). We also encourage you to prioritize the age-specific growth opportunities for yourselves and your children/students, allowing them to experience the essentiality of growing together in community with other Christ followers (1 Corinthians 12:27; Ephesians 4:11-16). (Possible Next Step: Consider the Opportunities and Details below.)
   
   
4. Practice living as a BLESSing.
   Together, our purpose as individual followers of Jesus and as families who follow Jesus is to love those around us on behalf of Jesus and offer them abundant and eternal life with Him (Colossians 1:28-29; Matthew 28:19-20; Acts 17:26-27). That calling defines our life on earth, our core identity as individuals, and the outward focus of our family. At Hill Country, we use the acrostic of BLESS to help us practically and effectively live out this calling (Begin to pray, Listen, Eat together, Serve, and Share Jesus).  (Possible Next Step: Learn in further detail about our BLESS approach.)

For a PDF of the Family Commitments, click here.

Students

• On Sunday afternoons, through a large-group gathering and small groups, our students come together in a loving environment, geared to affirm who they are in Christ, while they establish friendships through fun, games, biblical teaching, and intentional age-based discussion. Throughout the year, we also provide our students with fun and engaging events geared to create lasting connections, develop leadership, and foster our students’ impact beyond themselves.

• Small Groups (various times/in-person or online): Sign up here for a small group.

• More Information and updates: Hill Country Students
  Simply select your age range and location preference (Lakeline, Steiner Ranch, or Online)

Children

In-person

• Early Childhood open now at 9 am at our Lakeline location and 10:45 am at both our Lakeline and Steiner Ranch locations. Register weekly here.

• Elementary open now at 9 am at our Lakeline location and 10:45 am at both our Lakeline and Steiner Ranch locations. Register weekly here.

• More information and updates:  Welcome Back Home!

Online

• Sunday morning videos and activities geared for your child’s age and stage

• Seasonal Bible at Home bags for special fun

• Subscribe to a regular “At Home Resources and Support for Families with Children” communication for helping your child(ren) grow.

• More Information and updates: Children's Online

Family

• Family Discussion Questions for after sermon discussion following family worship

• Order your copy of the Family Weekly Devotional Guide

• Family Growth Plan for making a simple plan for each child and your family