(New Braunfels, October 13, 2015) Hermann Seele, one of New Braunfels’ well known founders, was considered the “Soul of New Braunfels” in part because of his commitment to the education of children. A lifelong member of First Protestant Church, Seele’s legacy has continued through the many members of the church who have dedicated themselves to the teaching profession and to First Protestant’s children’s ministries through the years. Today, this legacy continues with the recent call of Pastor Darin Roberts as First Protestant’s new Director of Children’s Ministries.

While First Protestant’s children have been blessed by many other wonderful children’s ministry directors in the past, Roberts is the first to be selected after an exhaustive nationwide search.

Unlike many pastors for whom “children’s ministry” is a stepping stone to future ministry with adults, Robert’s ambition is to one day be the “oldest living children’s minister” in continuous service. That’s another way to say that Pastor Darin has devoted himself to mastering the skills necessary to communicate expertly with children, and, just as importantly, faithfully communicate the Christian Faith to children. For Roberts, children’s ministry is the foundation for a life of serious discipleship, not simply entertainment or “babysitting”.

To keep children interested and engaged, each week’s “Kid’s Church” session is fast paced. Educational games, interesting activities, and spirited competitions channel the children’s energy to prepare them to focus on lively scripture lessons.

But don’t confuse these lessons with the “sermons” you may have heard. These lessons are specifically designed for kids and are illustrated with often amazing object lessons designed to communicate profound truths in concrete terms even children can understand and recall. Parents are welcome to enjoy them too if they would like to preview the Kid’s Church with their children on any given Sunday.

The Seele Parish Hall of First Protestant has long been “home base” for the children’s ministry. Roberts’ first task after arriving was to upgrade the space for maximum effect, giving the area a new beauty and utility for children’s ministry. Each week, children and adult leaders assemble for Sunday School at 9:15 am and the “Big Top Kid’s Church” at 10:30 am.

But Kid’s Church activities aren’t just for Sunday morning. Just recently the families of the Big Top Kid’s Church completed the first annual “Treasure Hunt” that took participants on their own fun search for a hidden key to unlock some special gifts. While the gift certificates were fun to win, the real value was allowing families to spend time together on a project where all could cooperate and participate!

As a result of programs like these, children’s ministry is frequently the pathway to seeing families revitalized. Through the years of Roberts’ experience, he’s often seen the simple lessons children take home transform whole families. Households seeking to find a way to weekly “recharge” their faith or even just “reconnect” will find the Big Top Kid’s Church a welcoming place to start the process!