Parents often know that they’re the primary spiritual trainers of their children but don’t practice it at home. Teach parents what that looks like. Many parents didn’t have good models of spiritual leadership in the home.
Parents pass the faith on to their children through regular Bible teaching and spontaneous interaction about spiritual issues. They’re looking to serve Jesus and use the family and their home to reach out to others.
The best way for children to learn is to see faith lived out at home.
A family has the strongest influence on children and has the potential to maximize passing on of faith. Churches who encourage parents to train their children at home and provide resources and tools to do so, increase the passing of the faith most effectively.
Every family is different. For those who are often on the go, maybe encourage them to turn off the cell phones in the van and listen to audio books like the Chronicles of Narnia or the audio Adventures in Odyssey.
For families that have only one strong Christian parent in the home you might provide prayer and care support. Blended families and parents of children with special needs require resources tailored to them. You as a church are the hub where parents are sharing solutions with each other and practicing godliness at home.
Review your church culture. Has it thoroughly integrated the family? If not, work as a church to creatively consider current and new events with families in mind. Share your experiences with other churches so that they too can learn from your successes.
If you’ve come this far and would like some more practical ideas for family ministry, it’s time to consider your church a Parent Training Center.