About

The Early Childhood Christian Network (ECCN) is a national professional community of faith-based early childhood educators. ECCN is committed to providing affordable, relevant, and research-based training and resources that support educators in teaching young children age-appropriate physical, cognitive, social, emotional, and spiritual concepts with a Biblical focus.

Our Philosophy

Based on Psalm 127:3, ECCN believes that all children are gifts from God and that He has a plan and purpose for each one (Jeremiah 29:11). We hold that young children grow, learn, and thrive best through loving, nurturing relationships in an active, engaging, play-based educational environment. Additionally, we believe that young children deserve the opportunity to experience God and His world by spending time outdoors.

Our Mission

The mission of ECCN is to equip, encourage, and empower those on the front lines of childcare and early education ministries to be effective each day, recognizing the significant impact they have on the emotional, spiritual, and educational growth of the children in their care, as well as ministering to their entire families. We seek to prepare leaders who will faithfully teach God’s truth, point children to Jesus, and create environments where every child can grow in faith and flourish according to God’s design.

What do we believe?

At ECCN, we are united by our shared commitment to Christ and to the ministry of nurturing young children in faith. While we serve churches and organizations representing diverse Christian traditions, we gladly partner together on the basis of the essential biblical doctrines outlined below.

We believe the Bible is God’s inspired and trustworthy Word and is the ultimate authority for faith and life.
We believe there is one God, eternally existing as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
We believe God created all people in His image, as male and female, with inherent dignity, value, and purpose.
We believe humanity has sinned and is separated from God, and that all people need God’s forgiveness and grace.
We believe Jesus Christ is God’s Son, fully God and fully man, who lived a sinless life, died for our sins, rose bodily from the dead, and is Lord of all.
We believe salvation is a gift of God’s grace, received through faith in Jesus Christ alone, not by human effort or good works.
We believe the Holy Spirit works in the lives of believers, bringing conviction, renewal, spiritual growth, and power for Christian living.
We believe Jesus Christ will return and that God’s purposes will ultimately be fulfilled in the new heaven and new earth.