Key Time #6 – Graduation Celebration
One of the key times when you can impact parents, is when their child is transitioning from elementary to middle school ministry. This can be a nervous and challenging time for parents.
You can host a powerful, life-changing, shared experience for parents and their children during this time. Guaranteed to impact them. Be prepared to see lots of tears as you guide parents through a time of blessing and praying over their children. Parents will be equipped for the middle school years. You can get the class and celebration times at this link.
Key Time #7 – Parenting Classes
For too long we have pushed parenting classes over to adult ministries. I believe that children’s ministry should lead the way in providing parenting classes.
Key Time #8 – Follow Up Discussions
Create “take home papers” that parents can use to disciple their children at home. Instead of giving it to the child during dismissal, hand it to the parents and say, “Here is what we learned about today. Here’s a great tool you can use at home to talk about it with (your child).” If you want to use technology to do this, you can send a text message to parents with the discussion questions listed.
Key #9 – Social Media
Approximately 95% of young mothers are on social media. They go there for parenting advice, connections and posting pictures for grandparents and friends to see. Get connected online with parents. Create a Facebook page for your ministry and invite parents to join you. Post updates about the ministry on Instagram, Twitter, TikTok, etc.
Key #10 – Times of Crisis
Tragedies happen. Death happens. Crisis happens. Simply be there for parents when they are going through the storms of life. They won’t remember everything you said to them. They won’t remember all of the prayers you prayed for them. And it’s understandable. Often when you go through a storm, everything is blurry as you try to just survive. But one thing they will remember is this—you were there. You showed up and supported them, you prayed for them and you helped hold them up when they felt like they would never smile again.
Remember this…
When you impact a child, you impact a person for Christ. But when you impact parents, you will impact the entire family. for Christ.
Stay focused on parents and watch what God does.
This article originally appeared here and is used by permission.
