SMWR 2023

How do we draw the gap between “Big Church” and youth group?

The gap is college aged kids that are too old for youth, but feel too young for big church. We need some form of college program.

We need to involve the youth with the people of “Big Church” so that everyone realizes that we are a family and that it is not a segregated establishment.

*( Some people do not have grandparents to pour into them and they could find that within the church. Some kids do not have church minded parents and a bond with church goers could fill that gap. Some kids lack brothers and sisters that they could pick up within the church to pour into them through the years. Church is a family. It should act as one.)*

Family Equipping Church model: Equip parents to teach at homes.

Ways for involvement: Ask parents to take a minute and ask their students what they learned in class. Ask parents to jot down what students learned and meet with me to discuss the level of learning that the child is experiencing (Did the child get the thrust of the lesson/ did they pay attention/ was it over their head/ was the delivery adequate)

Help the parents help the kids. Put resources in parents hands to help facilitate a form of learning within the home.

Books include: Family Ministry Field Guide — Timothy Paul Jones

Family Ministry and the Church — Shirley

Write it on Their Hearts — Chris Swaim

Family Worship — Donald Whitney