The mission of First Steps Preschool is to glorify God through the training and nurturing of children in their spiritual, intellectual, social, emotional, and physical development by providing a child centered program that conveys salvation through Jesus Christ and fosters a love for God and His word, a love for each other, and a love for the world.  

Psalm 78:3-4 “We will not hide them from the children, telling the generation to come the praises of the Lord, and His strength, and His wonderful works that He has done.”

My daughter attends the First Steps Preschool 3 year old class and loves it! The teachers here have by far exceeded my expectations. My daughter has learned to write her name, and sounding out all the letters. I love that this is a Christian based preschool... she comes home telling me "mom do you know how much Jesus loves me!" I'm always impressed how clean and organized the staff are. Each day my daughter is excited to come to preschool because of the love and encouragement the teachers at First Steps gives her." -Amber Gonzales
Here at First Steps Preschool, we offer a quality Christian preschool education for members of our church family and the community of Lodi.  We believe the family is the most important provider of care AND the most important teacher of values.  First Steps Preschool’s role is to support and assist the family in this endeavor.

 Our top priority is the nurturing and educating of young children in a Christian environment using a variety of experiences and materials to help the child grow spiritually, intellectually, socially, emotionally, and physically in a secure atmosphere of warmth and love.

 Each child is a precious individual, created in the image of God who learns and develops uniquely.  First Steps Preschool provides a learning environment that strives to meet the individual needs of every child.  It is a place where children will develop a positive self image and feel loved and accepted.

 Children have freedom within limits to develop skills necessary to grow and practice foundational life skills.  Children interact with peers and experiment with many forms of language, art, science, music and math, opening their eyes to the world around them and maximizing the potential Christ sees in each one.

 Proverbs 22:6 “Train the child in the way he should go, and when he is old, he will not turn from it.”
 Ms. Bethany - Site Manager 

Ms. Bethany has worked with young children for over 16 years. She has enjoyed many years as a Children's Ministry Director at several churches, as a Preschool Teacher, and now as the new Site Supervisor here at First Steps Preschool! Bethany has 3 children of her own, and has been married to her husband for 15 years. Bethany grew up in the Santa Cruz area, but has lived locally the past several years. 
Ms. Annette -  Co-Teacher

​Ms. Annette joined our team as a Co-Teacher last year. Her personal experience with children, and her love for the Lord has made her a welcome addition to the team here at First Steps Preschool. She is married and has three children including a set of twins, so she has a good understanding of what "busy" looks like!  
Ms. Amy- Co-Teacher

 Ms. Amy  began working with children immediately after graduating from High School. Her desire to help young children grew as she studied early childhood education in college. Amy has worked with children of all age groups. but especially loves to see preschoolers develop socially and cognitively. not only is Amy a mother, wife and preschool teacher, she also homeschools her son. Amy especially enjoys going on day trips with her family. 
Ms. Kristen- Co-Teacher

Ms. Kristen is a loving mom of two energetic kids, and has been married to her husband for 10 years. As a child Kristen developed a Loe of working with children with special needs. During college, she went on to specialize in working with children with autism for over 8 years. Kristen earned her AA in Liberal Arts and is now using it as a preschool teacher here at First Steps.In her downtime, Kristen loves spending time with her family and friends. She has lived in and attended church here in Lodi since she was little and she loves the Lord
The Preschool Board members affirm the following Statement of Faith.

 We believe that the Bible is the divinely inspired and inerrant Word of God and that it is, therefore, the final authority in matters of faith and practice.  2 Timothy 3:16-17

We believe in one God who exits co-equally and co-eternally in three persons, God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit.  Deuteronomy 6:4; Matthew 28:19-20

 We believe the world was created by the will and word of God.  Genesis 1:27-31

 We believe that Jesus Christ was born of a virgin and that He is fully God and fully man.  Luke 1:26-35

We believe that man was created in the image of God: that he sinned and thereby incurred not only physical death but also spiritual death which is separation from God: and that all human beings are born with a sinful nature and become sinners in through, word and deed.  Romans 5:12

We believe in the deity and personhood of the Holy Spirit.  John 15:26

We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures as a representative and substitutionary sacrifice, and that all who believe in Him are justified on the basis of His shed blood.  John 3:14-16; 1 Peter 1:18-19

We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ, after being buried following his crucifixion on the cross at Calvary, rose bodily from the dead, and that He is the Savior, and the only Savior, through whom fallen man can find forgiveness and salvation.  John 1:29

We believe that Jesus Christ Himself will come again to this world to rule and reign in righteousness, and that His coming again will be literal, personal and visible.  John 14:1-6; Acts 1:11.

We believe in justification by faith alone, apart from human merit.  Ephesians 2:8-9

We believe in the personal existence of Satan and demonic beings.  Job1:6; Matthew 25:41

We believed that the first day of the week is to be observed as the Lord’s Day.  John 20:19; Acts 20:7

We believe in the resurrection of the dead, the righteous to ever lasting blessedness and the wicked to everlasting damnation.  Matthew 25: 31-46

We believe a Baptist church is composed of believers in the Lord Jesus Christ as Savior who have been baptized by immersion in water in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.
We believe that the responsibility of the saved is to live separate Christian, God honoring lives and faithfully witness to all men.  Ezekiel 33:7-9; 2 Corinthians 6:14-18
​
We believe in loyalty to and in full cooperation with, the North American Baptist Conference providing that such cooperation and loyalty will never require the surrender of any of these truths.