For decades the church has communicated to parents that the ‘spiritual center of learning’ for their children is the church.  The church has taken responsibility for the spiritual development of children through our drop off Sunday Schools, Children’s Churches, mid-week programs, and our summer programs such as VBS.  In the majority of families the lessons taught are not being applied to the child’s life during the week because the parent is unaware of what is being taught.  It is not surprising that  research has shown us that this unbiblical model is not producing the results that we had hoped.  We must go back to the way God designed the Faith to pass on from generation to generation—through the parents teaching their children.  The church’s role is to train, equip, and give parents resources so that they can pass and fulfill their Biblical mandate to "How do we get this ’ship turned around?” 

The most helpful book I have read is Mark Holmen’s Building Faith At Home and Take It Home (complete with a cd rom ) which was written for pastors.  I also had the opportunity to hear Mark speak at the NAFM Summit.  Mark Holmen has developed a plan for equipping and training parents to pass their faith to their children at home.  He has one parenting training  - a ‘Take It Home Event’ for each year of a child’s life in which the parents are taught and equipped to influence their child.  The events include Dedication, Family Blessings, Family Devotions, My Church, Prayer, Family Serve, My Bible, etc. I encourage pastors to read this book and develop a team to help carry out these events that will equip and train our parents to pass their faith on to their children.

RMD Contacts for Family-Integrated Church:

Jeff Daley, Todd Shulda, Grace EFC, Pagosa Springs, CO      Rob Chadwick, Table Mountain, Colorado City, CO

Ron McLaughlin, Hills View EFC, Piedmont, SD   Art Smith, Living Hope EFC, Ft. Collins, CO

Lauralee Holsing, 1st EFC, Rapid City, SD

Julie Kurz, Consultant for Family/Children’s Ministries     303.989.7026     (970) 454-3761  (970) 886-2416

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