Milestones

At Oak Hills Church, it’s our mission to be disciples who make disciples by guiding all people to follow Jesus moment by moment. Through our Family Milestones, we mark five treasured moments, between birth and high school graduation, where children transition into new life stages. We partner with families to provide unique shepherding opportunities for parents to guide and celebrate their child as they follow Jesus.


Milestones

Baby Blessing is the first Family Milestone, designed to equip, bless, and celebrate parents throughout the infancy and toddler phases of life, and encourage our church body to build relationship and build community.

The milestone includes a Parent Equipping Workshop, Baby Blessing Ceremony, and Celebration Reception for families with newborns through age 2 years.

The Parent Equipping Workshop provides tools that empower parents as the primary faith trainers of their children. Moms and dads are provided with practical resources in understanding the needs of children in this phase. Led by an OHC elder couple, parents receive wise counsel in the primacy of prayer, and in raising and spiritually training children.

The Baby Blessing Ceremony is presented in the worship service. During the ceremony, parents, and babies are invited onstage, parents respond with verbal affirmations to commitments spoken by an Oak Hills Church elder and participate in a time of prayer and blessing over their babies.

The Celebration Reception honoring parents and children occurs following the blessing ceremony. Family and friends are invited to attend.

Baby Blessings occurs twice a year, in the spring and fall. Attendance at the workshop is required to participate in the ceremony and reception. Email Amy Mora for more information!

Pathway to Kinder is the second Family Milestone, designed to equip, bless, and celebrate parents and their children in the kindergarten phase of life, and encourage our church body to affirm families beginning elementary school.

This milestone includes a Parent Equipping Workshop & Kinder Blessing, and Affirmation & Celebration Reception for families with a child entering kindergarten in the fall.

The Parent Equipping Workshop provides parents with practical resources in understanding the needs of children in this phase of life. Parents are also encouraged and inspired to pray with their children, value the Bible as their guide for living, and discover the significance of blessing their child. At the end of the workshop, parents share a personal moment of blessing and prayer with their preschooler.

The Kinder Affirmation is presented in the worship service. Parents are invited onstage with their preschooler during the Sunday worship service for a time of recognition and affirmation. An Oak Hills Church elder gives a charge to the parents and to the congregation.

The Celebration Reception honoring the parents and children occurs following the affirmation. Family and friends are invited to attend.

Pathway to Kinder occurs once a year, in the spring. Attendance at the workshop is required to participate in the ceremony and reception. Email Sarah Kennington for more information!

The Agape Trail milestone serves to create an environment where our 5th graders are seen, known, and experience God’s agape love. With a year-long focus on the theme of love, our students learn about the authentic love of Christ, and receive personal affirmations of love from their families, peers, and church community.

Agape Trail also supports our fifth graders and their families in the transition from Bibleland Kids to Student Ministry. It is our hope and prayer that through the transforming power of Christ, our students will remain steadfast in their faith in order to withstand the upcoming social pressures of middle school.

The milestone includes monthly Parent Equipping Workshops, monthly Student Classes, and a spring Student Retreat.

Contact Nancy Moran for more information. Agape Trail Retreat registration opens after the September class. All parents are encouraged to attend the launch to receive retreat information.

Challenge 8 is the fourth Family Milestone, designed to equip parents and their eighth grade student with communication skills and conversation topics that will cultivate and strengthen their relationship through their next life phase.

This milestone includes a one-day Parent and Student Retreat with a serve opportunity and an 8th Grade Family Blessing in the weekend service.

The Parent and Student Retreat is a one-day retreat that allows parents and students to spend the day laughing, learning, and serving together. It provides an opportunity to pause, share experiences, and strengthen relationships before student moves into their high school years. 

The 8th Grade Family Blessing is presented in the worship service. During the service, 8th graders and their families are invited onstage to receive a blessing and prayer from the church body as they launch into high school.

Our Challenge 8 milestone is currently being reimagined for 2024. Email Kristen Patterson for more information!

Senior Celebration is the fifth and final Family Milestone, designed to equip, bless, and celebrate parents and their children in the high school phase of life, and encourage our church body to affirm families with graduating seniors.

This milestone includes a Senior Summit, Senior Celebration Banquet, and Senior Blessing Service for families with a child graduating high school in the spring.

The Senior Summit is a surprise event for the seniors. The day is designed to kick-off their final year of high school with a fun, Texas adventure and blessing from the Student Ministry team. 

The Senior Celebration Banquet is the formal send-off dedicated to honoring our graduates and their families. A noted speaker offers a message with a final challenge to seniors and their parents. Parents, extended family members, and friends are given time to bless and pray with their graduates.

The Senior Blessing Service is presented in the worship service. During the service, seniors are invited onstage and receive a blessing and prayer from the church body as they launch into adulthood.

Senior Celebration events occur throughout the school year. Email Jennifer McKinney for more information!

Contact Form

Milestones Webpage Inquiry Entry

Please complete the form below and your request will be forwarded to a Children's or Students Ministry Staff Member. Please allow 2-3 office days for a response. If you would like to speak with someone, please call 210.698.4680.