Partnering with Parents in Our Youth Ministry

At BCC we firmly parents are the primary people God has placed in the life of kids raise them in the “discipline and instruction of the Lord” (Eph 6:4).  With that in mind, our goal as a Youth Ministry is to come alongside parents and help them in whatever way we can to accomplish that high calling God gives them.

One of the hardest parts of parenting is assessing where your child is at spiritually. Living with them day in and day out we often times have a general “feeling” of where they’re at, be even that can be skewed based on the day and thinking about how to help progress them in their Christian walk can seem very daunting.

This year I’m very excited as we introduce a new tool to hopefully help our parents in that process. Like all tools, it is not perfect, but I think if you give it a try you may find it to be useful in the shepherding of your kids. It is a Discipleship Assessment Chart. The chart consists of 4 columns the 3 in color (green, red, & blue) deal with the specific areas of Head (what we know about God), Heart (our affections toward God), & Hands (our actions of service toward God and others). These columns are then divided into 4 rows. Within each column’s row there is a label and description of the lifestyle of someone that would fit that box. To reasonable determine where you see yourself or your child at in each of the 3 categories simply start at the bottom and work your way up till you find that box that best defines your child currently. After you’ve done this for all 3 columns you can then get a feel for where your child might fit in the process of discipleship by seeing their equivalent level from the 3 colors column in the 4^th black and white column on the left.

The goal of this tool is not really to be a rating system for you or your child, but rather to put what you see about their spiritual life into tangible words. Second, the tool then helps to give a picture of what your child would look like to progress further up each column. This enables you to meet set goals that are both tangible and attainable as you seek to disciple your child in spiritual growth.

A few final notes with this tool… First, I would encourage you as a parent after you’ve looked this through yourself to consider sitting down with each of your children and asking where they see themselves on the chart and then having a discussion about it. Second, as I stated at the start, the goal of our ministry is to partner with our parents. Every one of our youth Small Group leaders has already gone through this chart over the course of last year and they would love to meet with you as a parent and process through how they can join you in encouraging your child’s spiritual growth. Consider taking them up on that offer! =)

Click here for a PDF of the full chart.

Phil Smith

Some Encouragement for You

Is there any heart discouraged as it journeys on its way?

Does there seem to be more darkness than there is of sunny day?

Oh, it’s hard to learn the lesson, as we pass beneath the rod,

That the sunshine and the shadow serve alike the will of God;

But there comes a word of promise like the promise in the bow —

That however deep the waters, they shall never overflow.

When the flesh is worn and weary, and the spirit is depressed,

And temptations sweep upon it, like a storm on ocean’s breast,

There’s a haven ever open for the tempest-driven bird;

There’s a shelter for the tempted in the promise of the Word;

For the standard of the Spirit shall be raised against the foe,

And however deep the waters, they shall never overflow.

When a sorrow comes upon you that no other soul can share,

And the burden seems too heavy for the human heart to bear,

There is One whose grace can comfort if you’ll give Him an abode;

There’s a Burden-Bearer ready if you’ll trust Him with your load;

For the precious promise reaches to the depth of human woe,

That however deep the waters, they shall never overflow.

When the sands of life are ebbing and I know that death is near;

When I’m passing through the valley, and the way seems dark and drear;

I will reach my hand to Jesus, in His bosom I shall hide,

And ’twill only be a moment till I reach the other side;

It is then the fullest meaning of the promise I shall know.

“When thou passest through the waters, they shall never overflow.”

Author unknown

Shared by Kent Kloter