MOPS Church Leader Series

PA R T 3
 Taking Your Kids’ Ministry to
Family Ministry:
9 S T E P S Y O U C A N TA K E TO DAY TO R A P I D LY G R OW Y O U R
I N T E R G E N E R AT I O N A L M I N I S T R Y

My husband and I were searching our city for a new church home. We were looking for a church community
that would support us as parents and equip us as we disciple our children. What we discovered was there was
a need and desire to encourage, equip and support families, but the church, as a whole, was having difficulty
finding the best strategy to achieve family ministry. The church is providing many good programs and
quality formative education on Sunday mornings, but that is a limited time and engagement with children.
What if we focused some of our efforts not just on Sunday morning, but equipping the intergenerational
families of parents, grandparents and mentors, who God has called to disciple their children throughout the
week?

“Parents are not so much unwilling to provide more substantive discipleship

training to their children as they are ill-equipped to do such work.”

(Barna.com study, “Parents Accept Responsibility for Their Child’s Spiritual Development
But Struggle With Effectiveness.”)

This Barna study discovered that “parents generally rely upon their church to do all of the religious training
their children will receive, parents typically have no plan for the spiritual development of their children; do
not consider it a priority, have little or no training in how to nurture a child’s faith, have no related standards
or goals that they are seeking to satisfy, and experience no accountability for their efforts.” Children’s
ministers and families both want the same things for our children. We are familiar with God’s directions
to parents in Deuteronomy 6, Psalm 78:1-8 and Proverbs 22:6. So, how do we accomplish them together?

God gave the church and parents each a part to play in discipleship: Now you are the body of Christ, and
each one of you is a part of it. (1 Corinthians 12:27) As children’s ministers, we need to share our God-given
skills and gifts with parents, grandparents and mentors to allow and teach them how to take on the Lord’s
full yoke of discipleship.

Here are 9 steps you can take today to equip, support and encourage all generations in your ministry:

P R OV I D E T O O L S :

1. Parent library: Make the books you are reading available for parents to check out. Here’s some
recommendations: Spiritual Parenting by Michelle Anthony, Bible Praying for Parents by Keith Ferrin,
Are My Kids on Track? by Sissy Goff and Dave Thomas.

2. Blog/Facebook for your ministry: Share your insight and what you’re reading related to spiritual
development, parenting and the church. Post encouragements and resources from organizations like
MOPS, D6, and Orange.

3. Lesson Plans: Give your parents the teacher Sunday school prep lesson, the week before, to give them
context for the Bible story and explanation of the main point of their child’s lesson. This will give the
parents a heads-up on what their child will be learning and creates space for teachable moments
surrounding the lesson.
FOSTER DISCUSSION AND LEARNING:

4. MOPS: MOPS groups mentor and equip moms as they lean into their role as spiritual leaders of their
household, giving them tools for themselves and their children’s discipleship journey. MOPS invites
moms into a safe and welcoming space to enjoy a meal, hear from a thought-provoking speaker,
discuss real life, and experience Jesus through relational evangelism. This cross generational ministry
supports moms in their stuggles and celebrations and provides sound Biblical teaching and tools for
their kids through Awana’s MOPS Kids program.

5. Spiritual Parenting Classes: Focus on creating environments in your home where God can show up
by teaching parents and grandparents to look for teachable moments. Spiritual Parenting sets the
foundation that intergenerational families are the primary spiritual leaders, and that parenting is an
act of service and worship.

C R E AT E S PA C E S F O R S P I R I T U A L C O N V E R S AT I O N S :

6. Learn something new: Invite families to do a Bible study or learn a spiritual discipline together. They
will both learn something new together and it creates space for conversations that allow parents and
children to share their faith experience side by side.

7. Serve together: Serve as a family. It is an amazing phenomenon when preteens’ hands are busy,
children start to get more talkative! Youth ministers, mentors and families serving together is a great
way to build “spiritual muscles,” as well as another great way to share formative faith experiences
with one another.

8. Baptism/Dedication: Invite parents and grandparents to write a blessing for their children at their
baptism or dedication (truministry.com/how-to-speak-a-blessing). Print out the blessing with their
child’s picture on an 8 x10 paper. This is a great keepsake for families and a daily prayer that can be
spoken over their child.

9. Bible Presentation: Present children with Bibles throughout the year. Ask parents and mentors to
write a note to their child in it about what the Bible means to them and what they hope it will mean
to their child; write a prayer or share a little about their faith story. Have the parent present the Bible
to their child during a service.

Before you take your next steps in ministry pray. Ask God where He is calling you and your ministry.
According to the Barna study, most families don’t have training or a plan for discipling their children, but you
do! As you minister to multiple generations model for parents, grandparents and mentors how to use these
discipleship tools. Come alongside families and let them know why you do the things you do in ministry, why
you are partnering with them, what you are going to provide for them and how they can use those tools in
their life. We are all called to make disciples (Matthew 28:18), let’s work together to impact all generations.
May God bless your ministry!

L E A R N M O R E AT M O P S. O R G / C H U R C H