Dear 6ers and Parents,

Welcome to a new dimension of the ministries of Fredericksburg Baptist Church! Our ministry with 6ers (sixth graders) is a very intentional and special year. It is designed to focus on the wonderful preteen year when our 6ers are just past the point of being involved in children's activities and are just about ready to become active participants in our youth ministry. With the dynamics of focusing on one grade level for activities and mission projects, we are able to prepare these students for the experiences they will have as adolescents in our church family.

Our ministry with 6ers allows for a little more independence than our ministries with younger children and provides opportunities for sixth graders to explore new abilities in safe contexts. During the school year, I will be the primary staff person responsible for the planning, coordinating and conducting of ministries with this age group. By the summer, David Haun will begin serving more and more in this capacity until 6ers are promoted in August to their Youth Bible Study Classes and they begin participating fully in the Youth Ministries of the church.

Both of us will work together throughout the year and will be striving to learn with the 6er in your household as we journey through this special year together. 6ers will have special opportunities to serve our church in wonderful ways throughout the year, like during the season of Advent when our 6ers light the Advent Wreath and lead our congregation in the reading of scripture and explanations of the significance of each candle lit in those worship services. They will also do some special ministry projects for senior adults in our church family as a part of their Sunday evening discipleship activities and as a part of our Wednesday missions activities.

It is our prayer that each of our 6ers will be as intentionally involved in all of the opportunities as we are in planning them. The rewards will be great for our whole group if each one of us is committed to growing together in our love and service in the Lord Jesus Christ!

Sincerely,

Ann Marlow

Minister with Preschoolers and Children