Melanie Cave and Anna Hawken discuss the importance of equipping parents to be the primary place of discipleship for their children through the Parenting for Faith initiative. They explore how churches can support families, build parents' confidence, and create an environment that encourages open conversations about faith, particularly exploring how these tools and values can be modelled in gathered worship or in personal anecdotes in teaching. The discussion emphasises the need for encouragement, practical tools, vulnerability, and the significance of everyday moments in nurturing faith within families.
Takeaways
- Parents are the primary place of discipleship for their children.
- Churches should support and equip families rather than overload them.
- Small changes in language and approach can lead to significant impact.
- Building confidence in parents is crucial for effective discipleship.
- Creative and interactive resources are preferred by parents over traditional devotionals, because these lead to open-ended and ongoing conversations.
- Modelling vulnerability can foster deeper faith conversations.
- Everyday moments are opportunities for spiritual growth.
- Church leaders can frame what is happening in church services, offering a model for parents to emulate in conversations at home.
- It's okay to not have all the answers when discussing faith with children.
- Encouraging open dialogue about faith helps families grow together.
Soundbites
'Tiny changes can make a big difference.'
'Faith is grown in everyday moments.'
'It's okay to not have all the answers.'
Chapters
00:00 Introduction to Parenting for Faith
04:13 The role of parents in discipleship
06:50 Empowering parents: The church's responsibility
09:31 Creating an inclusive church environment
11:29 Framing and understanding church practices
14:23 Key tools for Parenting for Faith
17:13 Navigating challenges in family faith engagement
18:27 Embracing small changes for big impact
20:19 Understanding parental needs in faith
22:35 Empowering children's workers
25:27 Utilising resources for family engagement
28:38 The role of grandparents in faith development
29:24 Creating windows for vulnerability
35:02 Modelling imperfection in faith
41:29 The journey of learning together
46:07 Introduction to Parenting for Faith resources
47:37 Exploring Roots
Links
