His Tender Care operates from a Christian paradigm to see the truth of God’s Word established in peoples lives. We believe children are a gift from God to their parents, and are the responsibility of their parents. We understand that the role of the church is to be a ministry to parents and families, assisting them in the care, upbringing and spiritual life of their children.
We believe that children develop in a God given and observable fashion. In order to nurture and teach children appropriately, the way they develop in general, age specific ways, and child specific ways, must be known and recognized. We believe it is important to nurture the whole child, body, soul and spirit as they are created and growing as intended by God. Luke 2:52 states that 'Jesus grew in wisdom and stature and favor with God and man.' As he was a whole person, and uniquely so, each child is created in the image of God to reflect his nature though, unlike Jesus, hampered by a sin nature.
We recognize children as individuals in their formative years, affected by their heritage, environment and personal choices. We accept that we affect those around us spiritually, morally, emotionally, mentally, and physically. We do so by meeting children (and adults) in the way they can understand and be nurtured. We believe that the environment and practice that we provide must be safe and developmentally appropriate. We believe that nurturing and teaching is best when it is a coordinated and focused effort involving all significant adults in the child’s life.
We believe that we are to serve God, loving Him by loving those who are our ‘neighbors’ as ourselves. We endeavor to reflect the honor and respect that God has shown us in Christ by meeting us at our level while retaining His authority. We perceive God’s will for us is to invite Him into our day and to give the Spirit of God the freedom to confront each of us with Himself, Jesus, the Author and Perfecter of our faith. God made the first move toward us in His mercy, and in His grace He allows us to make a move toward Him. In reflecting such grace we must do the same for children and others by being approachable, honoring and nurturing. Jesus commanded the disciples to let the little children come to Him and so must we, into His tender care.
