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Last week, we focused on modeling faith at home for your children. This week, let’s take that one step further: what does it look like to invite your students into that faith journey with you? How can we, as Christian parents and mentors, not only demonstrate faith but also actively engage our kids in it?

In their book, Growing With: Every Parent’s Guide to Helping Teenagers and Young Adults Thrive in Their Faith, Family, and Future, Kara Powell and Steven Argue introduce the concept of parents evolving as teachers, guides, and resourcers at each stage of a child’s spiritual growth. Just as your student changes and matures, so must your approach to parenting. What worked last week might not be effective this week—faith, like life, is dynamic.

Think of faith development like a camping trip. The first time you take your kids camping, you probably do most of the work: gathering firewood, setting up the tent, and cooking dinner. The next time, you might split the responsibilities, guiding them through each task. Eventually, they’ll want to go camping on their own, and while you can provide all the resources they need—like a tent, sleeping bags, and advice on weather conditions—they have to choose whether or not to use those tools. If it rains and they didn’t put the rainfly on, they’ll learn the hard way.

Faith works in much the same way. First, you teach your child by showing them how to live a life of faith. Then, you guide them, helping them apply what they've learned. Eventually, as they mature, they’ll need to take responsibility for their own spiritual growth. As parents, we can resource them with prayer, Scripture, and community, but the choice to follow Christ is ultimately theirs.

Prayer is essential at every stage of this journey. It’s our direct line of communication with God, where we can be real, honest, and vulnerable—sharing our needs, our hurts, and our hopes. And it's where we discover the will of God, finding joy and comfort in His presence.

That’s why we’re proposing the idea of family prayer time—a dedicated time outside of the usual meal blessings where you can teach, guide, or resource your student to develop their own relationship with God. This time of prayer can be transformative for your family, creating space for authentic conversations with God and each other. It models vulnerability and helps your student see that faith isn’t just something you "do"; it’s a way of life that requires real engagement and honesty.

If you’re considering starting a family prayer time, here are a few questions to help you get started:

  1. When is the best time of day for this prayer time? Find a time where everyone can be present and undistracted each day. Whether it’s in the morning, before bed, or another time that works for your family’s rhythm, consistency is key.
  2. Am I ready to be vulnerable, real, and authentic in front of my student? Your willingness to be open about your faith will create a safe space for your child to be honest about theirs.
  3. As our student grows, how can we resource them to carry this prayer time into their own lives? As they mature, equip them to develop their own prayer habits and spiritual disciplines, so they can thrive in their faith even when they’re on their own.

Inviting your students into a life of faith isn’t about getting it all right, but about walking alongside them, trusting that God will use your teaching, guidance, and resources to draw them closer to Him.