Children & Youth Ministry

We welcome children who want to experience a fun,
safe, environment to enjoy learning about Jesus.

THE BIG HOUSE

WELCOME to Hockessin Church’s Big House!

BUT … WHY is it called “the Big House?” Although the formal name of the building is “Founders Hall,” the term “Big House” came from constantly explaining the building as the Big White House on the church property. The Big House kind of just stuck (and is a more kid-friendly name).

The Big House is “home” to the Big House Kids and Big House Youth, a/k/a the DiTs (Disciples in Training). The children range in age from 0-18 years old.

Meet Ms. Dawn – Passionate Leader of Children and Family Ministries at Hockessin UMC

At the heart of our Children and Family Ministries is the inspiring leadership of Ms. Dawn Deckman, a devoted Christian educator with over 25 years of experience nurturing faith in young hearts and minds. With a deep love for God and a gift for connecting with families, Dawn brings both wisdom and joy to every ministry she leads.

Born in Wilmington, Delaware, Dawn spent much of her childhood moving across the country, an experience that shaped her resilience and broadened her perspective. She and her husband, Mark, chose to raise their family in the welcoming town of Rising Sun, Maryland—a place where faith and community took root. In 1997, they began attending Janes United Methodist Church, where Dawn soon felt a powerful calling to youth ministry. By 2001, she was actively working with the church’s youth, beginning what would become a lifelong mission to guide and empower young people in their faith journeys.

Dawn’s passion for ministry expanded through her work with the Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA) in Northern Maryland and Cecil County. As a staff member and board member, she served at middle and high school campus huddles, helped lead Power Camp, a dynamic multi-sport summer camp, and worked as a Character Coach for high school girls’ field hockey and lacrosse teams—mentoring student-athletes with grace, encouragement, and a Christ-centered focus.

Dawn Deckman

Dawn’s ministry extends far beyond the walls of the church. Over the years, she has planned and led local, national, and international mission trips that have made a lasting impact on communities and hearts alike. From Mississippi to the Bahamas, Oklahoma to Guatemala, Dawn has led teams with a strong focus on evangelism, disaster relief, community service, social justice, and equipping youth to lead children’s ministries. Her leadership is rooted in compassion, and her mission work continues to inspire transformation—both in those served and those serving.

Dedicated to building strong networks of ministry leaders, Dawn co-founded and facilitated the Cecil County Youth Leader Alliance (CCYLA) in Maryland, bringing together youth ministers to share resources, vision, and encouragement. She is also an active member of the Coalition Network in Delaware, where she continues to collaborate on impactful initiatives across church communities.

Dawn is a graduate of The Youth Worker Academy, a program through the Peninsula-Delaware and Eastern Pennsylvania United Methodist Conferences and is currently completing her degree in Religious Studies at Liberty University. She is also certified in Mental Health First Aid and a Certified Life Skills Instructor, equipping her with the tools to support emotional, spiritual, and practical needs in the lives of those she serves.

Through what she calls her “relational ministry,” Dawn has touched countless lives—especially those of youth—by making sure they know they are seen, heard, and deeply valued. Her approach is simple, yet powerful: love like Jesus. She lives by the truth that faith is not just taught, but shown, leading by example as she encourages others to “Love God and Love People.”

Her favorite verse, Jeremiah 29:11, is a cornerstone of her ministry:

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”

Dawn shares, “I love the encouragement for each of us that comes from this verse.”

With her boundless energy, deep-rooted faith, and heart for service, Ms. Dawn is a true blessing to the Hockessin UMC family. She’s committed to helping children and families grow in love, faith, and community—one meaningful connection at a time.

Our Wonderful Volunteers

Volunteers at the Big House play an invaluable role! As members of Hockessin UMC, we share a common focus in our beliefs and teachings – Jesus! Typically, we have 4-5 adult volunteers and 3-4 youth volunteers for Sunday School at Big House Kids.

For special events such as VBS, Pumpkin Patch, or movie nights, we enlist additional volunteers to accommodate larger crowds.

Meaningful Outreach

At Hockessin UMC, we strive to create opportunities for families to come together through enjoyable events that foster meaningful relationships within our community. Events such as the Pumpkin Patch, Caroling on the Square, our annual Easter Egg Hunt/SpringFest, and Family Movie Nights are examples of how we connect with families. Through these community gatherings, both our church families and members of the community witness the positive impact we have on youth and our broader community.

The Curriculum

Jesus remains constant—yesterday, today, and tomorrow—His message unwavering. Yet, ministry to children and youth must evolve with changing times, cultures, and technologies. Therefore, our teaching approach must be relevant and engaging, meeting kids where they are today. Ensuring programs foster retention and growth is a continual priority, constantly evaluated.

Curriculum for both kids and youth ministries is selected based on effective practices observed in other youth ministries. Key resources like Right Now Media and Download Youth Ministry are frequently utilized.

In her teachings, Dawn emphasizes the clarity of God’s message and the need to actively seek Him, as Jeremiah 29:13 instructs: “to seek him with all of your heart.” Amen!

When asked about her mentoring style and guiding children to live for Jesus, Dawn explains, “I strive to lead by example, teaching how Jesus modeled ‘Love God and Love People.’”

For Ms. Dawn, the most fulfilling aspect of being a Christian educator is using her life and experiences to share Jesus’ love with young people.

The Big House Kids

Whether learning the Books of the B-I-B-L-E or doing fun science experiments at VBS, these kids never get bored!

The Big House Youth

Our Big House Youth enjoy strengthening their relationship with Christ, and also a little fun and friendly competition.

APPALACHIA SERVICE PROJECT (ASP)

Repairing Homes, Transforming Lives

The Appalachia Service Project theme for 2024 is Building Kindness and is based on Ephesians 4:32, “Be kind and compassionate to one another.”

This year, Hockessin UMC sent a team of 21 –  youth, young adults, and adults – to Clintwood, VA (in Dickinson County) to provide home repairs for families in need. Our team was assigned to assist families residing in impoverished areas of the Appalachian region. Alongside participants from other churches, totaling 127 people, the Hockessin Church ASP team operated from the Clintwood, VA Center in Clintwood, Virginia. Throughout the week, all teams stayed in an elementary school, sleeping on air mattresses without air conditioning or WiFi. Despite the challenging conditions, our team dedicated a hard-working 40-hour week outdoors in the summer heat to improve living conditions for local families, ensuring warmer, safer, and drier homes.

Part of our time together includes reflection and group activities during free time, fostering team bonding before the demanding workweek ahead. We typically choose activities that reflect the local culture of the area we are serving, enriching our experience and connection with the community.

ASP provides one of the most rewarding structured service opportunities in the nation — bringing thousands of volunteers from around the country to rural Central Appalachia to repair homes for low-income families. The Hockessin UMC youth ministry considers it a blessing to be part of such an amazing outreach program, and is thankful for the many supportive church members who make it possible for our youth to have these experiences each year.