Parents Matter

the most

Whether you feel like it or not, you, as a parent, have the most influence on your student. I know it's hard to believe at times, but they are shaped by how we lead in and out of the home. Yes, they throw shade (give grief) about the clothes we wear, the music we listen to, and all the other mom/dad things we do to embarrass them, but they are quietly watching and craving the love we give them. Sunday School teachers, pastors, teachers, and coaches are great supporters in leading students in their faith; however, parents are foundational. It doesn't matter what stage you are at in the parenting game: pre-k, elementary, middle school, junior high, high school, or even college; it is never too early or late to start being the primary source of discipleship for your family. We know it's challenging and sometimes scary (especially in those awkward tweenage years), but know that we are here for your family and praying the Lord is honored in and through your family. Checkout the information below and see how you can apply these Biblical principles to your family.


Click Here to see our weekly Parent Follow-Up Letter. This letter is a direct follow-up for each Sunday's Youth Bible Study. It is designed to provide parents tools to help further disciple their student(s).


Helping Your Teens Navigate Life, Sports, And Spiritual Growth

(September)

Dear Parents,

As your kid(s) have moved into their teenage years, many of them have gotten more and more involved in sports. For you, that means your life and family calendar are probably filled with carting your teenager(s) around to practices, games, tournaments, and matches (or washing their stinky uniforms). Dirty laundry part aside, sports can be a lot of fun, but, if we’re honest, it can be exhausting and a bit dangerous as well. This is because, if you’re not careful, you can quickly cross a very dangerous and blurry line where sports become a place of unrealistic expectations, unnecessary pressures, misplaced identity, and living out your own dreams/perceived shortcomings through your teenager(s). Your teen’s sports and sports schedules can also quickly begin to dominate the family calendar. Your job as a parent is NOT to push your teenager(s) to be the best they can be in sports but to use sports as a vehicle to help them become the men or women God has created them to be. It can be a heck of a journey, but if you are able to keep it all in perspective, sports can be a place where your teen(s) grow in their faith and live that faith out in incredible ways.


As your Youth Ministry leaders, we want to come alongside you, equip you, and minister to you and your family as your teenager(s) engage in sports. So, make sure that you check out this resource we have for you that is entitled Huddle Up. These resources will give you an opportunity to have a little fun with your teen(s) as you talk together about the role sports play in your family’s life, how faith can integrate with sports, and encourage your teenager(s) to grow in their faith through sports while also living out that faith on the field of competition.


Here is a wonderful blog/article that helps to shed light on the opportunities that we have when involved in sport as believers.


In addition, I stumbled across this article called Sports and Christian Discipleship, while working on my graduate degree, several years ago. I have shared this article with many of kids coaches and player parents over the years. I have even had my own kids read it to better understand my approach to sports as a parent. I highly recommend spending time reading this article. 


To watch this month’s Online Parenting Class video, click the link below.