Barna's previous book, "Transforming Children into Spiritual Champions" really puffed me up as a kids ministry person. He made a strong case for the importance of reaching children for Christ before they reach the age of 13. He said that children's ministry was the most important ministry in the church. Wow, did that make me feel validated in my work!
I've just finished his new book "Revolutionary Parenting." This new book deflated me pretty quickly! He maintains the importance of reaching kids before age 13, but he says that it is parents that will do it - not the church. He says that parents need to stop relying on the church to do all the spiritual training of kids. He says that the church needs to focus on adults - nurturing and equipping them so that they can build into their kids spiritually.
What's a kids ministry person to do with this? I read on, looking for the answer.
1. Barna says that parents who raise spiritual champions view the church as an invaluable partner, but not the end-all-and-be-all, in nurturing the faith of their children.
2. Families who raise spiritual champions look to the church for emotional support in difficult times, relationships with others who share their values, and spiritual nurture and challenge.
3. These parents expect the church to reinforce what they are teaching and modeling at home. "Amplification of biblical principles and lifestyle choices - coming from both home and church - becomes a powerful one-two punch in the parents' assault on the world's alternatives."
4. Churches are valued because of their ability to to connect kids with friends who are more likely to have biblical values and parents who are committed to their faith.
5. Churches are valued for the worship and service opportunities they provide.
What a great book! It challenged me to think more about defining and communicating the roles of kids ministry programs and of parents. It is encouraging me to find effective ways to inform families of the learning experiences that are happening at church. It has helped me to see the vital connection between the church's adult ministries and kids ministries. And it has sharpened my focus on the priority of relationships, community, fellowship experiences and worship experiences.
Sunday, April 22, 2007
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2 comments:
Wow...great summary!!!!
Sounds like a great read. His first book on kids was a huge shot in the arm for children's ministry. I really liked the attention it put on this ministry I pour my life into, but it's pretty obvious from the start that the children's ministry (while sometimes has the opportunity to be huge) is a rather small influence on a child's life when compared to TV, school and/or friends.
For several years I've often closed out trainings sharing this daunting yet personal message with my volunteers (I don't know, maybe it's a little negative but certainly not meant to, only to point to what God's grace can do through our hands). I say to my volunteers: "It's important to know that as a minister to children, volunteer or staff, that your goal is to pour into the lives of the kids and do everything you can to offer spiritual training. However, in this task, success you would like is unlikely. It is the parents who were made to spiritually train kids, not the church. You have to understand this fact. Unfortunately, most parents are doing nothing to spiritually train their kids, so you are the last line of defence. You may be the only Jesus they ever get. And even though it isn't your job to do, God tends to take the most unlikely people and the most unlikely situations and do something amazing. Maybe that's why I'm a children's pastor today. It was my children's pastor who was my hero and even today I look at his life as an example to live by. So be a hero to your kids and watch God do something unlikely!"
Ultimately what I've learned from experience and reminded by your post, we as a church have to do better to equip parents. It's the differnce between little successes and major victories!
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