Check out these 7 practical ways to help parents care about their children’s spiritual growth so they cultivate faith in their families.

The church, more than ever, is called to equip families to become havens where Christ’s love shines.

Many age-specific ministers are transforming their jobs into some form of family ministry. Weary and frustrated by their short-term impact on kids, they’re realizing it’s time to partner with parents in the learning process. Cutting-edge family ministers are passionate about redirecting the church’s energies to families.

These ideas help parents make their homes fertile soil for God’s Word to grow:

#1. Help families reclaim mealtime.

Maybe that means providing a time for families to eat together at church. Or maybe that means encouraging families to set aside certain meals that are off-limits for any scheduling conflicts.

Jacquelyn Strickland, a licensed professional counselor, developed a program for parents and adolescents called “Building Family Bridges.” All families meet and share a meal at the beginning of each of the nine weekly sessions. During this mealtime together, participants are given a mealtime discussion starter. This activity models how healthy families make time to eat together and demonstrates that this can be an excellent time for meaningful discussion. Jacquelyn also structures this activity into her own family to find out what is going on with her sons, ages 15 and 18.

Discussion starters may range from “Share what you’re most grateful for this week” to “One difficulty I’m having that I need some help with is…” It’s also a good idea to let family members take turns creating discussion starters.

And do you know what’s amazing? Chatting and chewing becomes some of the most important time spent together during the session! Jacquelyn reports that before this, many families never ate together, much less had conversations of any significance during those times.

Your church could provide opportunities like that, too!

#2. Make interactions with parents and kids non-threatening.

Dave McClellan, pastor and instructor, maps out an easy process for kids and parents to build relationships:

• Get families in the same room.
• Have parents interact with kids other than their own.
• Have parents interact with their own kids.

#3. Provide training and resources.

More and more companies are publishing resources for families. The editors provide practical ideas for parents and news on the latest media with what parents need to know. You can send it to parents as is or customize it.

For example, Group Publishing has a resource called Team Family, which ministers to families at church and at home. For each season of the year, families participate in at-church events centered around a faith-based theme families will naturally be talking about. Then, families take home seasonal PowerPaks that help them apply their faith learning from church in a practical, easy at-home setting.

#4. Help parents be alert to teachable moments.

When families put up their “God antennae,” it’s amazing what they can teach! For example, empower parents to use the media as a teaching tool. If someone on television uses foul language, engages in violence to solve a problem, or gets involved inappropriately with someone other than his or her spouse—use these examples to teach Christian values. Say, “That’s not the kind of language we use in our family.” Or “Our family doesn’t resort to violence to solve problems—we talk it out.” Or “We believe God made marriage a special relationship.” Instead of letting the media run rampant without discussion, turn it around to open up topic discussions.

#5. Help parents just “be” with their kids.

Royce Frazier, a marriage and family therapist, says he helps parents “let go” and simply be present with their children without an agenda. Now doesn’t that sound freeing? He’s found that when parents stop trying so hard, they actually are more successful in relating to each other and to their children!

#6. Help parents realize their families don’t have to be perfect.

Often there’s a false perception that “Christian” families don’t have problems—they’re perfect. Not true. Just page through Scripture and see for yourself. We can help families see that God’s grace is sufficient for families today as it was in the Bible.

Tim Smith, global missions coordinator at Calvary Community Church in Westlake Village, California, taught a 10-week series called, “So You Thought Your Family Was Messed Up!” Every week the group explored Bible families who dealt with 10 timeless issues. For instance, “Abraham’s Move to the West Coast” dealt with a mobile society; “Lot’s Last Night in Sodom” covered sexual identity; “Ishmael’s Single Mom” talked about single parenting; “Joseph’s Wild Dreams” explored rivalries and jealousies; and “Joseph’s Family Recovery” dealt with family healing. You get the idea. Making the Bible relevant for families makes roots go deep.

#7. Help families see the sacred in the ordinary.

David Thomas points out that families are living “holy moments” all the time—they just don’t recognize it. Imagine what would happen if families would attach “God thoughts” to their day-to-day activities. What if bathing a child reminded the family of his or her baptism? What if eating a meal together could connect with the Lord’s Supper? Or what if communicating with each other were a reminder of the gift of prayer?

Royce Frazier tells about a favorite tradition his family celebrates near Easter. They share a Passover meal. As they remember the Israelites’ deliverance from Egypt, they, too, recall “near death” experiences that happened in the past. They celebrate the times the Angel of Death passed over their family. Miraculously, each child in the family has lived through a dangerous event that they retell each Passover. It’s an incredible way for the Frazier family to give thanks for God’s abundant grace and goodness.

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Looking for more great ways to help your team learn how to cultivate faith in families? Check out Group’s Group U Course on Partnering With Parents to Build Faith in Families. You can also check out Group’s Notes From Jesus for Families: What Jesus Wants Your Family to Know. In this book, you’ll find messages from Jesus geared toward kids and their grown-ups.

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