Christian Children’s Center

“Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it.” Proverbs 22:6

A direct result of the emphasis on intergenerational ministry was the formation of the Property Evaluation and Research Team, known as PERT. From this team came a Master Plan which was approved by the Voters Assembly on June 22, 1986. The first phase of this Master Plan called for the construction of the Christian Children’s Center (CCC) on the corner of 7th Avenue and Colter at the northwest edge of the church property.

Perhaps in anticipation of this action being taken, a steering committee had been put in place in June of 1984, with Marilyn Westerkamp as chairperson. The purpose of the steering committee was to plan a children’s care center on our campus. Marilyn also became superintendent of infant care. Deane Bradley was chairman of the Building Committee for the CCC, assisted by Evelyn Campbell, Mike Caviness, Heidi Derbak, Earl Heldt, Steve Isaacs, Virginia Romberg and Dr. James Smidt.

1989 CCC Building Committee: Herb Ninker, Heidi Derbak, Richard Johnson, Mike Caviness, Evelyn Campbell, Marilyn Westerkamp.

City plans for a potential right-of-way through the church property interrupted this committee’s work, but a new group was formed in 1989 with Heidi Derbak as chairperson, assisted by Marilyn Westerkamp, Evelyn Campbell and Mike Caviness, along with new members Herb Ninker, Bob Dehmlow, Pastor Smidt and Architect Rich Johnson. Under the leadership of this group the Christian Children’s Center became a reality.

Christian Children’s Center Opens

The CCC, as it has been known for most of its existence, opened in September of 1990, and provided quality daycare for infants through preschool-aged children from Mount Calvary as well as from the community. Activities included supervised indoor care and play and outdoor recreation, as well as learning about Jesus and His love for them.

The first Director, Cleo Gillespie, stated that her job was to see that licensing codes were met, that qualified staff was hired, that curriculum and supplies were purchased, that food was prepared and served, as well as anything else that was needed to run the Center. The Center was licensed for 113 children, infants through pre-kindergarten. Cleo served as Director of the Center until December of 1995.

The unique design of the CCC lent itself to the installation of a 90-square-foot stained-glass window on the west-facing wall of the lobby. Dedication of the window was held on Sunday, June 4, 1995.

Artist’s drawing of the Noah’s Ark stained-glass window.

Sometime during 1995 a decision was made to change the direction of the Center to become something more than just a daycare facility. A decision of the church’s Board of Directors resulted in closure of the Center for refurbishment of the facilities, as well as changes in staff and curriculum. At the time of the refurbishment of the Center the Early Childhood Ministry Team consisted of Marilyn Westerkamp, Tish Smidt, Eileen Bolze, Evelyn Campbell, Biddie Druckenmiller, Pam Trueblood and Joan Tucker. Because some hard decisions needed to be made, this group met weekly—sometimes daily—to ensure that the Center would be ready to reopen on schedule.

Many volunteers from the congregation, as well as some of the parents of children who would be attending when the Center reopened, helped in the process of cleaning and preparing the Center for its reopening on January 29, 1996.

In an effort to raise funds to defray some of the costs of the refurbishment, the Early Childhood Ministry Team (ECMT) held a rummage sale. This first rummage sale was such a success that the ECMT decided to make the sale an annual event. For a number of years Tish Smidt directed these sales. In subsequent years estate sale items, antiques, crafts, German and American food sales, as well as the Martin Luther School carnival were included as part of the rummage sale weekend. This event, usually held in November, has become known as the Harvest or Fall Festival. In 1999, under the direction of Pam Trueblood, the rummage sale raised a net profit of nearly $5,000. These monies went to the Center to be used for such items as toys, room equipment, playground equipment and individual classroom supplies.

Although the anticipation that the Christian Children’s Center would serve as an outreach facility to bring children and their families into Mount Calvary’s membership was not completely fulfilled, a number of the children were baptized, and families stated their intention to become active church members in the areas in which they live.

The Holy Spirit has worked in many hearts because of this ministry to children. We can only pray that the seeds of Christ’s love sown through the Christian Children’s Center will sprout and grow as these children mature.

A piñata party in the courtyard of the CCC was a treat for children and teachers alike.