Your November Resources Are Here!
As children and teenagers progress throughout their lives, they encounter significant milestones. They will celebrate losing their first tooth, going to school, turning double digits, becoming a teenager, going on their first date, getting a driver’s license, and graduating, just to name a few. Of greater importance, children and teenagers will encounter significant spiritual milestones that serve as powerful, tangible reminders of how God is working in their lives. These spiritual milestones are essential for their faith development and can become foundational building blocks that shape their faith for a lifetime. As church leaders, we have the privilege and responsibility to not only witness many of these milestones but also to help facilitate these milestones and guide parents in recognizing and embracing them. Whether these moments arise naturally or happen unexpectedly in God’s perfect timing, they are all vital opportunities to witness God’s presence and work. By intentionally marking and celebrating these moments, we invite families to be part of God’s story and help them deepen their spiritual connection. Together, we can foster a faith that lasts and encourage parents to lead their children with confidence and faithfulness.
This month’s resources are all designed to help you and the parents in your church step into seeing and celebrating these milestones in your children and teenagers. The Online Parenting Classes will help parents think deeper about the spiritual milestones their kids and teens are moving through and how to celebrate them. The Coaching Videos give you, as a ministry leader, ideas and encouragement on how you can both create milestone events and invite parents into these pivotal moments in their child’s life. The latest M2P Podcast features Lydia Randall talking about ministry and milestones and the importance of paying attention. Our Blog Articles for both leaders and parents will approach the topic from a few different angles for you to consider and reflect on. As always, we have Social Media Posts for you to engage and encourage online!
We’re thankful for you! Let us know how we can help!
The M2P Team
WHAT IS IT?
This month, we have a great resource for parents from My Faith Box. This resource helps parents think through the idea of spiritual milestones, why they matter, and ways to create and celebrate these milestones in the family. My Faith Box gives parents practical things to do and poses some questions that can help parents identify ways to implement regular spiritual disciplines into family life.
HOW TO USE IT
- Creating and Celebrating Spiritual Milestones and post it on your website.
- Email parents a copy of the resource and encourage parents to set aside some time to read it and pray through how they can use some of the principles in their home.
- Print copies of the resource for parents to grab at church.
- Share a copy of the resource with your ministry team and discuss it together.
In our Coaching Videos this month, we encourage you, as a ministry leader, to be intentional about creating milestone moments in your church and involving parents whenever possible. You have a unique opportunity to guide children and teenagers in experiencing spiritually significant moments that help shape their lives and faith journeys. While moments events like salvation, baptism, and graduation provide perfect opportunities for celebration, we must also pay attention to the “unscheduled” times that God moves in the hearts of young people. These moments of growth, transformation, or personal breakthroughs are just as important to acknowledge. It’s important to help parents be fully involved in these key milestones, empowering them to lead their families spiritually and providing them with the confidence and tools they need to nurture faith at home.
This month’s Online Parenting Classes focus on helping parents see the value of recognizing and celebrating the spiritual milestones their children and teens encounter on their faith journey. These milestones—such as a child’s first communion, baptism, or a personal commitment to follow Christ—can create lasting and meaningful memories that can remind them of God’s work in their lives. When parents are actively involved in these monumental moments, they become opportunities to deepen family bonds and create a shared legacy of faith that goes far beyond the immediate experience. By marking and celebrating these moments together, parents not only strengthen their child’s spiritual foundation but also foster a sense of gratitude and spiritual growth within the entire family.
New blog posts coming this month:
- For Kids’ Ministry Leaders: “My First Big Kid Bible” by Amy Diller
- For Kids’ Ministry Parents: “Faith Milestones Matter” by Amy Diller
- For Youth Ministry Leaders: “Stepping Into Milestone Moments by Chris Sasser
- For Youth Ministry Parents: “Paying Attention to Spiritual Growth” by Chris Sasser
To view, click HERE