By Garry Sanossian
A family might first enter Connect Preschool looking for somewhere their child can learn and grow. What they discover is a preschool shaped by the conviction that every child and family is seen, known, valued and loved by God.
“Connect Church has several core values, one of which is ‘Family’, and our preschool is an important part of that,” said Senior Pastor Mike McGarrity.
“We aim to help people to belong to community, even if they don’t yet believe in Jesus as Lord.”
Mike describes the preschool as “a mission field that comes to us (the church) first”, providing opportunities to build relationships with families and connect them with God.
That foundation is expressed through Bible stories, prayer and everyday relationships, walking alongside families through joyful and difficult seasons.
Connect Preschool provides a welcoming learning environment where children and families are encouraged to feel seen, known and valued.
“They trust us because we are here day in, day out,” said Director Diane Falkenmire. “Then we have an opportunity to speak into their lives and support them when they need it.”
When Di became Director, few families from Connect Church’s weekly playtime group continued into preschool. She began joining playtime each Monday. Today, around two-thirds also enrol their children at the preschool.
“Over time, we’ve been able to bring those connections back together,” Di said. “We’ve come a long way.”
Relationships also deepen through the Fathering Project, Biggest Morning Tea, Easter and Christmas celebrations.
“One of the keys for Connect is having a missional mindset, each of us seeing ourselves as missionaries in the marketplace,” Mike said. “The preschool is a present reminder of that.”
During Di’s early years as Director, one mother confided that her husband was seriously ill and the family was struggling. For more than a year, the preschool prayed for them and offered practical help.
“We kept asking, ‘What can we do for you? Do you need the children to have an extra day?’” Di said. “They knew we were praying for them.”
About a year later, the family walked into church.
“The husband came up to me, gave me a big hug and said, ‘Thank you so much for your prayers, I am so much better.’”
Hands-on experiences encourage children to learn through exploration and participation.
Their arrival at church was meaningful, but never a condition of the care they received. The preschool and church supported them because following Jesus means loving people faithfully and practically.
“Families will remember that and children will remember,” Di said. “Somebody loved them, God loved them and they matter.”
Faith is also woven naturally into the children’s learning. Di remembers a child from a non-Christian family who repeatedly chose a children’s Bible and asked her to read the crucifixion story.
“I was blown away,” she said. “He had no Christian background whatsoever, but he knew the crucifixion was the pivotal point without even knowing it.”
Connect Preschool welcomes 27 children each day and has a waiting list, but its impact extends beyond enrolments.
“Children in their formative years will know that God loves them and that will carry them right through into adulthood,” she said.
“We might not see the harvest, but there will be a harvest.”
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