Resources — parents

Teams are most successful when working together, and the faith-forming team of church and home is no exception! The church, or faith family, plays an active role in forming children. Teaching classes, providing snacks, and holding babies in the nursery are common ways we serve. These opportunities, along with following a curriculum and providing safe environments, are all pieces in the larger faith formation puzzle. Spiritual benchmarking provides another critical piece to that puzzle. These markers help parents and faith families walk alongside children as they grow in Christ. We call them GrowthRings®. We’ve taken twenty years of GrowthRings®and grouped...

Children are naturally curious about others who are different. Although their initial reactions can seem rude or embarrassing to parents, children need to know it’s okay to ask questions. In the book God Made Me Unique, author Chonda Ralston shares how one Sunday School teacher helps students learn the value of every person regardless of their appearance or ability. Chonda and I served together as editors and contributors on numerous Joni and Friends resources over the past decade. This picture book is part of a series from Joni and Friends with New Growth Press. I wrote the adult study, The...

The hustle and bustle of everyday life challenges us to find quality, uninterrupted time to spend with our family. Even in many Christian homes, we let society dictate what is right and wrong instead of the standards established by God. It is imperative that we spend time together as a family and teach our children God’s way. I believe parents must ensure their ideas and influences are given more weight than those of their children’s peers or society. Even more important than our own opinions, is God’s message to us. Sharing His truth is essential in our time together as...