My intention with this blog post is to reveal the most valuable asset that we have in dealing with kids in youth ministry. I really believe that we are missing out on a very valuable relationship that could help us really reach the heart of our kids. Are you ready for it? Can you handle it? Hope that you don't get mad or take this the wrong way, but the least utilized most valuable tool that you may not be using is the parents of your teens! I know that you have to preach the Bible. I know that we have to build relationships. I know that we need to train our kids to serve God in even greater ways than we have. But, if we fail to teach them to respect and love their parents, have we really accomplished anything? Have we really developed the full Christian young person if we have not fostered in them a sense of their role in their family? I fear that too many times, we as youth ministers are too busy thinking of parents as obstacles instead of seeing that these young people actual belong to those parents. We can do no work without them bringing these kids to church, even more, if we come along side those parents, we may find that they actually know more about the teens than we do! No one really wants to see these teens succeed in life more than their parents do anyway! (I know that there are exceptions, but honestly, they are few.) Sometimes we need to put our pride aside and realize that we need their support to really have a successful work with youth. It may be that we are not seeing opportunities to minister to the whole family. Youth ministry should seek the good of the family unit as a whole more than just high attendance at a given activity or program. Realize youth minister that God has given these children to their parents and they answer to God for them, we do not!
Have any ideas on how to minister with parents or to the family as a whole? I would love to hear them!
Also feel free to share this post with your friends!
Have any ideas on how to minister with parents or to the family as a whole? I would love to hear them!
Also feel free to share this post with your friends!