Summer 2013

Hey, Church: Please Listen

Hey, Church: Please Listen

EFCA youth leaders speak out

EFCA ReachStudents asked its youth leaders via Facebook to respond to the question, “If churches could do one thing to help parents disciple their children, what would it be?”

There were a number of different suggestions, including:

  • Pray with and for parents.
  • Teach parents how to do family worship.
  • Create opportunities for parents and students to serve together.
  • Provide parent training/mentoring opportunities so they can connect with each other.
  • Build discipleship opportunities between upperclassmen and underclassmen, as well as between youth and adults who aren’t their parents.
  • Develop a spiritual-assessment tool, for students to indicate where they’re at on their spiritual journey. Then sit down with the parents/students to review the results and develop a plan for encouraging discipleship and growth.

But the most common answer came through loud and clear:

  • Disciple the parents—not through programs, but through real life. If we model disciplemaking with them, they’ll learn how to do it with their kids . . . and be discipled in the process. And it removes the intimidation that creeps in when parents aren’t sure what we mean by “discipleship.” They’ll see firsthand what it means.

Hey, Church Please Listen

EFCA REACHSTUDENTS ASKED ITS YOUTH LEADERS via Facebook to respond to the question, “If churches could do one thing to help parents disciple their children, what would it be?”

There Were A Number Of Different Suggestions, Including:

  • Pray with and for parents.
  • Teach parents how to do family worship.
  • Create opportunities for parents and students to serve together.
  • Provide parent training/mentoring opportunities so they can connect with each other.
  • Build discipleship opportunities between upperclassmen and underclassmen, as well as between youth and adults who aren’t their parents.
  • Develop a spiritual-assessment tool, for students to indicate where they’re at on their spiritual journey. Then sit down with the parents/students to review the results and develop a plan for encouraging discipleship and growth.

But The Most Common Answer Came Through Loud And Clear:

Disciple the parents—not through programs, but through real life. If we model disciplemaking with them, they’ll learn how to do it with their kids … and be discipled in the process. And it removes the intimidation that creeps in when parents aren’t sure what we mean by “discipleship.” They’ll see firsthand what it means.