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Praying for Keeps!


Deuteronomy 6 is the go to scripture when it comes to understanding God's plan for spiritual formation and growth in children. This passage of scripture clearly delegates the primary task to parents. After all, children spend more time with their family on a daily basis than they do with us on Sunday mornings,Wednesday nights or other designated times. Home is where life really happens.

According to Barna Research Group (Ventura California) nine out of ten parents accept this responsibility for their child's spiritual growth but struggle with effectiveness. They went on to report that few parents admitted they don't spend any time during the typical week interacting with their child on spiritual matters. Research suggests that it's not so much that parents are unwilling to provide more substantive training to their children as they are ill-equipped to do the work and have no accountability standards.

What a window of opportunity!  Consider the many creative ways to help parents get engaged with their child discussing spiritual matters, and to help them be successful at it. We need not overwhelm parents with fifty things they need to do, books to read, or dvd's to watch. Such a long list would communicate the wrong message.

Instead why not do something as simple as nudging a father to pray with his child about...or provide mom with some questions and answers about what they studied in group. Personally, I operate from the perspective that they are 'already practicing the discipline'. Set up the expectation that conversation will take place in the car or prayer will take place at bedtime. You can also challenge the child by encouraging them to say the memory verse at dinner time or while they're out to eat.

Kids love to show off their work, point out activities on the take home page they can share, or provide a craft to be made especially to give to the parent. You are sure to see parents and caregivers beam with pride and walk a bit taller because they have a sense of direction and know what to do. Additionally, you are building a relationship with the parent, but most of all between the child and the parent.

This is my challenge to you this week: Don't take over the parent's role, be the prayer partner, and coach.  Let the Holy Spirit do the rest!


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  1. Henry Jackson IIIMarch 5, 2018 at 4:08 AM

    Joy,

    This is well written, engaging, and I can tell it comes from your heart and wealth of experience. This book is going to bless many children's ministry leaders.

    Keep up this labor of love, for it is bound to bear much fruit!

    Henry

    ReplyDelete

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