Half of student ministry leaders (52%) say they would want to train Bible study leaders of students next year. Fewer point to a priority of offering big events to attract more students (33%). Another 23% would want to offer girls’ ministry activities.
As leaders see a need to do more training and equipping of parents, they also see parents who want to be engaged in the spiritual development of their student. Three in 4 (76%) say parents in their church are concerned about their student’s spiritual development. Additionally, 7 in 10 student ministry leaders (71%) say parents in their church are proactive in encouraging their student to engage in the Christian faith.
Despite all the desire to partner with parents and do more training, most student ministry leaders (57%) say they don’t have a clearly defined strategy for ministering to parents.
“Student ministers should recognize it’s tough for parents to replicate something they’ve never experienced,” said Higgins. “If parents grew up without a model of discipleship in the home, they’re learning from scratch. Understanding this can help ministers approach parents with empathy and support as they navigate their role.”
Student ministry leaders aren’t only concerned about what happens at church. Around 3 in 4 (73%) say they have sought to partner with parents to encourage spiritual activities at home, but some have been disappointed with the results.
More than 2 in 5 leaders who have tried to partner (43%) say parents don’t even try to engage at home in the spiritual activities they suggest, while 40% of leaders say the parents at least try it. Three in 10 (30%) say the parents like it, but half as many (15%) say the students enjoy it. A quarter believe the activities have worked for many families for a short time (25%), 7% say these activities worked for many families for a long time and 15% don’t think they’ve worked for most families. Around 1 in 6 (17%) say the results have been very encouraging.
Ministry leaders point to several challenges that have limited the success of these efforts. Around 2 in 5 (42%) say parents don’t have time to prepare. Three in 10 (31%) believe the activities have been things parents did not want to do, while 27% say the students haven’t wanted to participate.
A quarter (24%) say church leaders don’t have time to plan and communicate the connection between the church’s efforts and parents’ efforts in students’ spiritual development.
One in 10 student ministry leaders say the parent-student activities expected too much time together (11%) or the format of the activities has not been enjoyable (11%). One in 20 (5%) say the topics haven’t been relevant.
Some leaders blame busyness (7%), while others say it’s apathy and the activities not being a priority (4%). A few say the parents’ efforts are not tied to the church’s efforts because the parents are non-Christian or unchurched (3%).
After examining this study, Higgins said he and co-author Zac Workun wrote “Define the Relationship” to equip church leaders to lead relationally in parent discipleship. “Holding two informational meetings a year won’t shift the tide of discipleship in the home, if that’s our goal,” he said. “We want to see leaders build ongoing, meaningful connections that empower families to grow together in faith.”
For more information, view the complete report for parents and the complete report for student leaders. This article originally appeared here.
