Are You Giving Parents What They Need To Succeed?

When I was starting out in ministry I didn’t know how to handle parents.  I felt judged.  I didn’t know if they were for me so I decided to avoid them as much as possible.  Needless to say that was a mistake.

After years of maturing, humility and becoming a parent I’ve come to realize that you can’t have a healthy ministry if you don’t invest in parents.  When you invest in parents they’ll return that investment, but that will only happen if you give them:

AN AUTHENTIC AND CLEAR LOOK AT YOUR MINISTRY

Parents want to know what’s happening in the lives of their teenagers.  If they aren’t clear with what you are doing with their teens then they won’t be entirely supportive.

Build that support by inviting them to check out your programs.  Be proactive and communicate with them through a newsletter, website or Facebook page.  Transparency is key to building their support.

OPPORTUNITIES TO GROW WITH THEIR TEENS

Sometimes our expectations of parents in their faith journey is too high.  Parents need discipleship just as much as their teenagers.  As a ministry you need to provide opportunities for parents to grow with their teens.

If your parish provides adult discipleship promote it to your parents.  If not work with your pastor to form small groups, and identify opportunities for them to serve.  Parents who are growing in their faith will grow more confident in sharing it with their teenagers.

RELATIONSHIPS THAT WILL BENEFIT THEM

One of the reasons you need to build a team of volunteers is because it gives you the capability to come alongside more parents.  Parents need a partner who can speak to their teens when they can’t.

Anytime a parent has someone to reach out to from your ministry it’s a win.  It’s a sign that they see the church as a resource to parenting.  It gives them the spiritual support they need to raise their kids.

RESOURCES THAT WILL EMPOWER THEM

While there are a lot of parenting resources out there you can offer it with a spiritual perspective.  To help parents see you as a resource provide them with opportunities where their confidence can be built.

Those opportunities can be events where you:

• Offer a professional speaker to address a certain subject.
• Connect parents to one another to form community.
• Communicate resources, books, videos that will help them parent.

Provide resources and opportunities that are going to ensure them that they are not alone.

If you want to help the next generation that meets helping their parents.  You can’t isolate the groups you need to work with  both.  The more you invest in parents the more they will invest in you.  Not only will they trust you with their teenagers but they’ll begin to advocate on your behalf.  And when you have parents on your side you’ll only see your support grow.