Tina has been serving with our HisKids ministry for a little over a year. She has also served with Middle School Ministry for almost nine years.

She enjoys serving because it not only gives the team the opportunity to hang out with and love on some extremely awesome kids, but it’s also been a blessing for her to get to know their families and to hear how much they appreciate the ministry. For some parents, the hour and a half they spend in service is the only break they get in their week. Knowing this makes volunteering with HisKids double rewarding for her, and the reason she continues to serve month after month.

She values Sunday volunteering because she leaves filled with more joy than when she came in, and she thrives off of the kids’ participation in worship and small groups.

What Tina has learned is that she cannot reflect His love without Him. This kind of reliance on the Lord has deepened her trust in Him and strengthened her overall spiritual life.

Aside from our message of Jesus unconditionally loving us, Tina also wants the kids to know how much fun they are to be around and the smiles they bring on her and the other volunteers’ faces.

Thank you for your years of service within Family Ministry! 💜

Sydney Hewitt is a junior in high school and has been serving in Kids Ministry for over three years. She’s amazing at leading small groups and kids love when she’s up front, welcoming them or helping with games. Sydney connects naturally with children, encouraging them to grow into who God made them to be. She’s fun, responsible, and recently her whole family joined Kids Ministry too, so now we have five Hewitts serving together!

Liv Nurmivaara is a sophomore and one of our newest volunteers, joining just about a month ago. She brings so much energy and passion, and she loves music, piano, and dance. Liv has a heart for worship and for helping kids know how deeply Jesus loves them. We’re excited to see how God uses her gifts for His glory!

Hewan is a ray of sunshine!  ALWAYS smiling and joy-filled.

She has been serving with the Preschool ministry for six years and most recently as the adult in the Twos classroom.  

Hewan is extremely patient and inclusive, always making sure each child is well-cared for and known.  She is fun, creative, and upbeat, making kids feel welcomed and church a fun place to learn about Jesus.  

As she heads off to college now, she will leave big shoes to fill!  Our prayer is that she finds community at/near school to continue pouring out her gifts to others.  We can't wait until she's back serving during school breaks! 

Kevin serves in two ministries at Venture -- Middle school on Tuesday nights and HisKids (special needs ministry) on Sundays.  He has been serving  5+ years and is an amazing leader.

In HisKids, Kevin's strong gift is patience.  He connects well with kids of all abilities and especially the boys.  They feel seen and at ease, allowing them to experience the love of God authentically.  

We are extremely grateful for his love of ministry and the Lord and know he's a keeper!  

We would bet he gets the most steps of all our leaders during the week, as he's a mail carrier by trade! 

Say hello to Curtis — he may be new to serving (just under 4 months in), but he’s already a favorite in our Fours & Fives room at 8:30am! Whether he’s building towers, chatting with kids, or leading with joy, Curtis sets the stage for hearts ready to learn about Jesus.

He’s here every Sunday, building authentic relationships and making a big impact, one little life at a time.

Outside of church, Curtis is a businessman who loves the outdoors, especially skiing the snowy slopes near Lake Tahoe.

We’re so grateful for Curtis and the energy, care, and faith he brings each week!

Patty and Nicole are another mother-daughter duo!  A blessing for Venture Kids ministry is that they are bilingual (Spanish and English) to help kids feel comfortable and seen.  Here are some fun facts:

Patty - If you could choose to go to a restaurant for lunch, what restaurant would you choose?  Mexican!!

How would you describe who God is to a preschooler?  God is who created everything, including you.  God loves you and will always be with you. He is more powerful than any superhero that ever existed.

Would you rather drive or be a passenger on a road trip? Be a passenger and enjoy the view.

What do you look forward to the most on Sundays when you're serving? Sowing seeds of faith in little hearts.  And seeing a big smile on them.

Nicole - If you could have any animal as a pet, what would you choose and why?  Chickens.  I like eggs and I think it would be neat to have a flock of them on a farm. 

You serve on Sundays, mid-week, and for special events at Venture. With so many opportunities to influence kids for Jesus, can you share an example of how you demonstrate God's love for them? I try to model kindness and compassion for them.

How long have you served in kids' ministry?  3 years

If you could get rid of a chore at home, what would it be?  Dishes

Lisa not only has served in Fours & Fives but was a high school small group leader and led a college Bible study.  She is also currently involved with missions, the encouragement ministry and Meal Train ministry.

A new volunteer is serving in your classroom - what two things would you share with them that would set them up for success?  Enjoy the kids and love them.  Each kid is different, so try to figure out what will make each of them feel welcome.  Also, a practical tip: inviting the kids to put their own name stickers on the sign-in sheet is a great way of easing kids who cling to mom and dad into the classroom. 

Describe the best toppings on pizza.   Sundried tomatoes and artichoke hearts.

What is special about serving with 4-5 years olds?   Four and five-year-olds have hilarious and sometimes profound spiritual answers.  I'm continually amazed at their ability to learn and absorb information.  Hearing their sweet sincerity when they pray sometimes brings tears to my eyes.  They're so cute!  

If you were to take a day all to yourself, what would you do?  Go to the beach!  Depending on the weather,  I would swim, hike, or bike, then relax on the sand with an ice cream cone in one hand and a book in the other.

Donna has been a dedicated teacher at our Kids Ministry for a long time, sharing her unwavering love for children and the community.  Let’s take a moment to learn more about her inspiring journey.

Let’s start with the essentials—what’s your favorite food?   Chili and potato chips.  

How long have you been serving in our Kids Ministry?   Honestly, I’ve lost count! Let’s just say it’s been 20+ years. :)   

What’s your favorite part of serving in Kids Ministry?   I absolutely love seeing the faces of kindergarteners and first graders light up when they understand something. That moment of pure joy and excitement, when they want to talk about what they’ve learned, is priceless.   

Are there any kids that stand out in your memory?  I first met Ethan Price (our summer associate), when he was in kindergarten. Even at that young age, his ability to listen stood out to me. Another memorable student is Tripp, one of our current kids. One time, he took over a small group discussion by asking thoughtful questions to his peers.   

Do you have any advice for other leaders?  Just love on the kids. We don't know what they are going through, but they’ve chosen to spend their time here with you. Be a listener, and someone who’s genuinely there for them. They want to connect with you, so show them that you care.

This mom / daughter duo are powerhouses!  Theresa is extremely caring and welcoming and is on staff at Venture Christian Academy.  Lexi has the gift of connecting by making every child feel like they belong.  Let's get to know more about them!

Theresa  - Would you rather swim with a pod of dolphins or manta rays?  I would love to swim with a pod of dolphins.

Are you a morning or night person?  I am definitely a night person.  I enjoy sleeping in. :)

Do you prefer sweet or salty things?  I prefer salty food but on occasions I can enjoy something sweet.

What do you do for work?  I'm an Office Manager for Venture Christian Academy.

Why is serving in kids' ministry so important to you?  I love connecting with God's little angels and giving their parents peace knowing that their child is being loved and kept safe in my care.

Lexi  - Waffles or pancakes? My dad's pancakes! 

If you could get rid of one rule in school OR add a new rule, what would it be?  I would love to have a free-dress day once a month.  

What do you like about serving in Threes class?  I love how they love me and greet me with hugs.

What grade are you in? 6th grade at Venture Christian Academy

When you're serving, what makes a great Sunday?  A great Sunday is enjoying lunch with my mom after serving together with the kids.

Brooks is a freshman at De Anza College and has been serving with Venture Kids ministry since February 2023 and is a consistent role model for our preschoolers -- kids love him!  

Where do you serve on Sundays and why do you serve with kids? 

I serve in the Fours & Fives classroom.   I serve because I love helping kids and others, and I also want to use my platform to help spread the Word more and be closer to Him (strengthen my walk with Him).

What are you studying in college and do you have a job?  I'm studying business administration and currently work at the front desk at the YMCA.  I also train kids for basketball.

What do you like to do for fun? For fun, I like to hang out with my friends.

How has God used you to make a difference in the ministry?  God has used me to learn how to spread the Word and be able to communicate it more easily.  Working with kids and helping them has also taught me a lot of new skills.  But God uses me to help educate my peers and others about Him, whether it's in the ministry, school, or wherever else I am.

What do you like most about serving? I like serving and playing with the kids the most, helping out and having fun.

What is your favorite restaurant?  Chipotle

Melody is a champion in our Toddlers classroom, always ready with a warm smile and intentionally giving kids a place to belong by connecting with them through play and cuddles.   

What is your favorite snack? White Cheddar Popcorn 

How long have you been serving with Venture Kids? 3 amazing years

How have you seen God use you in kids' ministry?  I believe God is using me to help put the toddlers at ease when they come to the classroom and to create a fun atmosphere to share with them about His son, Jesus! I love being able to comfort those who are sad about leaving their parents and to have fun with those coming into the room with excitement. I love helping create that warm and loving atmosphere for the kiddos, and getting to share/reinforce with them that Jesus loves them.

What do you do for work?  I work at Stanford Children's Hospital as a Performance Improvement Specialist and help make processes smoother for the patients and staff.

How do you connect with parents at pick-up or drop-off?  I engage, smile, and listen at drop-off. And at pick-up I like to tell parents something about their child's experience that day, and what we were doing in class. 

When did you make Jesus your personal Lord and Savior?  Jesus has been in my heart for longer than I can remember. I was baptized at age 8, officially making the declaration that He is my Lord and Savior, and He has never left me or forsaken me. 

Brittany began serving with Venture Kids in August of this year and is there every Sunday in the Twos class at 9am.   Learn more about her!

What is your favorite cereal? Honey Nut Cheerios

In your mind, what makes a great Twos Sunday? My favorite Twos Sundays are when the volunteers have lots of energy and the kids are excited to play with each other. 

What do you do for work? I work as a patent legal assistant for a law firm in Sunnyvale!

How has serving with kids changed you? Serving with the Venture kids has brought me a lot of joy and encouraged me to be more creative. I love seeing how imaginative the twos can be! It’s a huge gift to be able to teach these kids about Jesus and get to know them each week. Volunteering here has really made me feel more connected to this community and shown me that I love to work with kids. 

Share your favorite sweet treat! My favorite sweet treat is chocolate chip cookies!

When did you first hear about Jesus? I grew up in a Christian household and have been following Jesus for as long as I can remember. I’m very grateful to have been raised by Christian parents and I know that attending church as a kid helped reinforce my faith.