Imagine The End:
Embrace Your Influence!
Yesterday at Greenbrier, we kicked off our new series; “Dirty Laundry”. The huge reality we began with is that you and i have more influence in our kids lives than we want to believe! It is scary to think that my three daughters model elements of their lives after me (they whoop me in the burping contests). The average parent has approximately 3000 hours per year with their child. For those families who are a part of a church, they will attend approximately 40 hours per year. For many parents, “Church” tends to be a like a spiritual car wash during those 40 hours: “Clean up my kids, then i’ll let them go back into the real world. After they get dirty…I’ll bring them back…next Sunday…and we’ll start all over again.”
Studies show no matter how much we pour in our kids at church…by ourselves, 85% of kids drop out of church by the age of 25 in North America. With this “Reality” – the church having only 40 hours to invest in your child’s life each year, and the average parent having 3000 hours to influence your child each year….
We have to make serious changes in church/parenting strategy to kick the stats out of this 85% drop out rate…of your kids and mine!!!
What if we combine the influence of parents and church?! What if we UNITE the two institutions that God created (Church & Home) and help parents WIN AT HOME?! Since we launched, that has been (and will be) our goal!
Moses addressed this ministry approach a LONG time ago as he challenged Israel to pass on their spiritual heritage to their kids before entering the promised land:
Deuteronomy 6:1-5
1 These are the commands, decrees and laws the LORD your God directed me to teach you to observe in the land that you are crossing the Jordan to possess, 2 so that you, your children and their children after them may fear the LORD your God as long as you live by keeping all his decrees and commands that I give you, and so that you may enjoy long life. 3 Hear, O Israel, and be careful to obey so that it may go well with you and that you may increase greatly in a land flowing with milk and honey, just as the LORD, the God of your fathers, promised you. 4 Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one. 5 Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.
Question:
How am i leveraging the influence God has given me as a parent?
I am pumped and praying for you as we take this journey of parenting together!
