Turning Parents into Partners: Family Ministry Workshop

KIDMIN 2012 (#kidmin12)Anthony Prince

A New Generation of Families• The definition of family is changing

• When your church talks about families, it needs to move away from this…

A New Generation of Families• We define “Family” for our

congregations with the…• Stories we tell• Stories we write• Stories we show

Be Like-able• People help who they like

• Leverage social media: be a person

• Return phone calls and emails

• Smile. Often.

Casting a Vision for Partnership• Choose your language well• You cast vision with what you:• Say• Print• Show• Celebrate

• Help parents imagine what end they’re aiming for

Resources for Vision Casting

Resources for Vision Casting (cont.)

The Parent is the Expert not the Enemy• You are not the greatest influencer in a

child’s life• Talk as though you’re on the same team• Remind your team: you don’t serve

children, you serve families • Speak partnership into reality

Families are Busy

• Families are being pulled in more directions than a decade ago

• Parents are already overwhelmed. Adding to that doesn’t help.

• Do what matters before it matters so that, when it matters, you’re already doing it.

The Family & Technology Report

• How can churches help families in the digital age?

• Has technology had a positive or negative influence on families?

• How is technology shaping family time?

• How many parents are “tech addicts”?

• What conflicts are families having about technology?

• Do families take “sabbaths” from technology?

• Do parents place limits on the family’s use of technology?

How Families Spend TimeTime in Minutes Parents Teens/Tweens

Television 71 65

Using the internet 63 67

Talking with kids/parents 43 29

Watching movies 42 48

Listening to music 36 53

Driving somewhere together 33 35

Talking on the phone 26 20

Emailing 18 10

Playing video games 15 39

Texting 12 32

Playing board games as a family 12 12

Praying or reading scripture together 9 8

Not Everyone Cares

• The 20/80 Rule

• There should always be new families that need to catch up. Act like they’re there.

• The “Take Home Page Challenge”

Determining Levels of Engagement

• Not showing up• Showing up• Showing up regularly• Asking you what their child learned• Asking their child what they learned• Talking about Jesus/The Bible/Faith at home• Telling others about Jesus

Baby Steps into PartnershipConsider…

•Calendar Alignment

•Table Talks

•Identifying your “A” Team