Orange Week | Reactivate the Family | Part 1

Kenny is talking about Elevating Community today over at Children’s Ministry Online, but I’ve got all things about Reactivating the Family today.

Reactivate the Family: Enlist parents to act as partners in the spiritual formation of their own children

Let’s face it. If we don’t have the support of parents, there is a good chance that our ministry will only get so far in helping a child in developing their faith. Sure, it’s possible; the combination of great content and caring small group leaders is a powerful force in a child’s life. However, it’s not enough. The X-factor in the equation is missing. And that X-factor is a parent or guardian who is engaged in a child’s life on a regular basis.

The on-going question for a ministry must be “How do we partner with parents?”

The answer often feels daunting. If I look at my own situation, I believe in what I’m preaching and attempting to practice it. Yet, I find it difficult to put Orange into practice in my own home. If I struggle as much as I do, I can only imagine how difficult this is for the parents who aren’t on staff in family ministry.

I’m thankful for the Reggie’s thoughts on partnering with parents. Every parent is a partner with our ministry, but the level to which that parent aligns with our ministry is different. He describes four levels of partnership in Think Orange.

Aware: Parents, most of whom are outside the church, who understand they have a responsibility for their children’s spiritual health.

Involved: Parents who have a basic relationship with the church. Even if that means they are simply bringing their kids to church; they are taking steps to work on their children’s spirituality.

Engaged: Parents who are committed to partnering with the church. They are personally growing in their relationship with God and assume some responsibility for spiritual leadership in the home.

Invested: Parents who are proactively devoting time and energy to partnering with the church. They understand the strategy of your ministry and in community with other Christian parents.

Every parent you can name or can’t name within the radius of your church belongs in one of these categories. When we see them as partners in our ministry, when we act like every parent will do something, it’s a game-changer for how we do ministry.

How we begin doing this is another story, one I’ll touch on in part two.