Across the West Coast, congregations are reshaping children’s ministry with creativity, empathy, and collaboration. From Chandler, Arizona, to Palmer Alaska, the Nurturing Care initiative continues to grow—fostering inclusive, compassionate spaces for children through worship, art, and play. The October West Coast Meeting, facilitated by national coordinator Dr. Dana Preusch, revealed a movement not just of ministry, but of mutual care and transformation. The gathering prepares the way for PLNU Dr. Ross Oakes-Mueller January 6 Day of Learning with special webinar sessions on the Virtue of Compassion, January 6, from 10:30 to 1:30 Pacific Time.

Building Community, One Prototype at a Time

In Sonoma Valley, California, Pastor Elaine Briefman shared a story that encapsulates the heart of the movement. A woman who had recently joined the church through its recovery programs took a spiritual gifts test and discovered her passion for working with children. When she saw the church’s unused preschool room—filled with forgotten toys and supplies—her eyes lit up. Within days, plans were underway to launch a Friday-night prototype program for the children of parents in recovery. “We want parents to feel secure leaving their kids in a space where gratitude and worship can grow together,” Briefman said .

Down south in Chandler, Arizona, Vanessa Hernandez and her team at SWLA Church of the Nazarene hosted an ice cream social to introduce their children’s band project. Ten children eagerly joined the initiative—one with a grin asked if ice cream would be served at every meeting. “Maybe,” Hernandez replied with a laugh. The moment captured the joyful, relational energy driving these congregations’ work .

Collaboration, Compassion, and Courage

At the October West Coast Nurturing Care Meeting, participants reflected on how their ministries are shifting in both spirit and structure. Others, like Monica Gaige, shared challenges and breakthroughs in balancing grief, volunteer coordination, and program sustainability. Fellow leaders like Christy and Dana encouraged a pastoral response rooted in empathy and patience, reminding everyone that “not everything has to happen immediately.”

Lucia Babb, working on a youth supported outreach project, voiced challenges over waning enthusiasm among participants and inconsistent adult support though youth appreciated the engagement. Dean Blevins advised focusing on meaningful stories rather than attendance expectation: “The prototype phase is about learning, not proving.” The conversation reinforced a shared truth: transformation takes time, but faithfulness multiplies.

Training, Trust, and Trauma-Informed Leadership

Much of the meeting centered on leadership development and trauma-informed ministry. Patti Rivas, Marilyn, and Pastor KayGene have been leading training sessions across the Southwest Native District, teaching virtues such as compassion, trust, forgiveness, and gratitude. Their sessions emphasize that leaders must embody these virtues before teaching them to children. Plans are underway to launch the “Crafted for Care” program in three to four churches—blending art and spiritual formation as tools for healing and growth.

Worship, Media, and the Language of Inclusion

Technology and media are playing an expanding role in West Coast congregations’ efforts to reach children. Jason reported progress on a Spanish and bilingual kids’ worship video project, an initiative to reflect the linguistic diversity of their communities. The first audio recordings are complete, and plans to film choreography are in motion once parental consent forms are secured.

Resilient Faith in Motion

While each congregation faces unique challenges—from scheduling conflicts to grief, from volunteer shortages to prototype growing pains—the unifying theme is resilience through compassion. These ministries are not defined by perfection but by presence: being with children, families, and volunteers in ways that honor their stories and neurodiverse experiences.

As the meeting closed, Nurturing Care Director Dean Blevins offered a reflection that summed up the spirit of the network:

“Every act of care, no matter how small, is a rehearsal for the Kingdom. What we are building together is not a program—it’s a culture of belonging.”

With the new year’s Day of Learning approaching, West Coast leaders are poised to continue transforming worship and children’s ministry—one compassionate experiment at a time.