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Subject Line: It’s About the Relationships

Dear Parents,

As we all think about our lives, there is no doubt that one thing sits at the center of all we do. It’s not always about what we do, but it always revolves around the people we do it with and the relationships we have. How we interact with the people around us at work, school, church, and certainly at home often dictates how things go.

But if we’re honest, relationships can be hard. There can be tension, conflict, and struggle. All of us hope and pray for healthy relationships, especially with the people we love the most. Building and sustaining healthy relationships takes effort and energy. This month, we hope to give you the encouragement and tools you need to make the key relationships in your life as strong as they can be. Our Parenting Class has some great thoughts about this topic, so check it out.

We’ve also provided you with an exercise you can do with your family called Real Talk: Building Stronger Relationships at Home. Check it out and set aside some time to go through it with your kids.

To watch this month’s video or download the Toolbox Resource, click on the links below.

[ INSERT LINK TO ONLINE PARENTING CLASS VIDEO ]

[ INSERT LINK TO TOOLBOX RESOURCE ]

Cheering you on!

[INSERT LEADER’S SIGNATURE HERE]

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Subject Line: Building Relational Connections

Dear Parents,

Let’s face it: relationships are at the heart of all our lives. Whether it’s the bonds we share at home, at work, or within our communities, our connections shape and influence so much of what we do. They give us joy, comfort, and purpose, but they can also challenge us in unexpected ways.

Relationships aren’t always easy. They require patience, understanding, and intentional effort. As parents, one of the greatest gifts we can give to our children is the ability to build and sustain meaningful relationships, especially within our own families.

This month, we’re diving into the topic of building stronger, healthier connections. Through our Parenting Class, we’ll explore practical tools and encouragement to help you deepen the relationships that matter most and help your kids do the same. We also have an article for you to check out entitled Helping Your Kids Build Healthy Friendships. It gives a different perspective on this important conversation.

Whether you’re navigating a tough season or simply looking to strengthen your family’s bond, we’re here to support you every step of the way. Click the links below to get the resources.

[ INSERT LINK TO M2P PARENTING ARTICLE ]

[ INSERT LINK TO M2P ONLINE PARENTING CLASS VIDEO ]

[ INSERT LINK TO TOOLBOX RESOURCE ]

Thanks for all you do!

[INSERT LEADER’S SIGNATURE HERE]

M2P KIDS February Parent Video Script

I recently heard a story of a family dinner. It was around New Years, and the parents were facilitating a conversation about looking back at the last year and ahead to the new one. In the conversation, the dad asked kids what they wanted to be different for 2025, and one teenage son said something like this: “I’m hoping that this year I’ll be able to find my people.”

When I first heard that story, my heart sank a little; My guess is that this teenage boy had probably been struggling with his friendships for a while, maybe years. He expressed one of the most basic needs that we all have as humans, and that’s the need for connection and community.

Over the past number of years, the team at the Fuller Youth Institute have been doing research on the next generation, hoping to produce resources for parents and leaders to better understand and lead kids and teenagers into an authentic faith. Part of what Fuller has been saying is that adolescents are thinking about a lot of things, but much of it revolves around identity, belonging, and purpose. Now, we could talk about all three of these for a long time, but for the purpose of this conversation, we’re going to focus on belonging. You see, that’s what the teenage son I was talking about a few moments ago was expressing … his need for belonging. He wants to find what some people call his “tribe” … his people.

As parents, we want for our kids to find their people. Now, we hope that WE … their family … are their first people, but we all need to recognize that they need their peers. They need good friends and healthy relationships in order to have the fulfilling life that God wants them to have. My wife and I have watched our two kids, who are now young adults, go through seasons where they’ve had really good people and seasons when the people they had maybe weren’t the best for them. I believe that in order to learn how to belong, our kids need to learn how to build healthy relationships … how to find the right people.

When kids are younger, friendships form the building blocks for developing so many things that they will need: friendships help with social skills, emotional intelligence, and confidence. As parents, you play a key role in helping your children learn how to navigate early relationships, laying the groundwork for healthy connections in the years to come.

Here are a few practical ways you can help your young children build and nurture healthy relationships:

First, teach kindness and empathy. Children often model the behaviors they see at home, so encourage kindness by highlighting moments when your child shows empathy, such as sharing a toy or comforting a friend. You can also find and read stories that emphasize friendship and talk about how characters care for one another. Teach them stories from the Bible where people love and care for one another because of their faith in God. Proverbs 17:17 reminds us that “A friend loves at all times,” so remind your kids that part of building healthy relationships is truly caring for others.

Next, create opportunities for connection. Children often make friends and build relationships through shared activities. Look for opportunities for your child to be in environments where they can meet other kids and learn how to build relationships – places like church, sports teams, or playdates with other families. The more practice your kids can have at building relationships, the better they’ll get at building relationships. We already live in a world where we are more and more isolated, so help your kids learn how to connect.

Model healthy relationships. Children are always watching how you interact with others. Show them what a strong friendship looks like through your own relationships. Share with your child how you appreciate a friend’s support or how you’ve worked through disagreements. These examples demonstrate what it means to care for and respect others. And remember, the ability to form healthy friendships often starts with having a secure foundation at home. By showing love, affirming their worth, and creating a sense of safety, your child gains the confidence to step into the world and build meaningful connections.

Finally, pray for their relationships. Pray with and for your child as they grow in their ability to make friends. Ask God to bring people into their life who will uplift and encourage them. Pray for wisdom as a parent to guide them in navigating relationships and for discernment in choosing kind and thoughtful friends. Proverbs 13:20 reminds us: “He who walks with the wise grows wise, but a companion of fools suffers harm.” Even for younger children, this principle rings true. Help them understand that good friends should bring out the best in them and encourage them to make choices that honor God.

By nurturing these principles early on, you can help your child grow into someone who builds and maintains healthy, God-honoring relationships. Remember, it’s not just about finding friends but learning how to be a good friend. As your child grows, the seeds you plant now will blossom into a lifetime of meaningful, healthy connections that will hopefully fuel them along the way.

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Subject Line: Building Faith in The Chaos of Life

Dear Parents,

It’s a new season, and if you’re anything like most of us, life hasn’t slowed down; it’s picked right back up! After a brief pause in the usual busyness, the hustle of everyday routines can quickly take over. And in the midst of it all, it’s easy for our relationship with God to move down on the priority list.

We know He’s always there, but carving out the time to build and nurture that relationship often feels like a challenge. Yet, it’s this connection with God that sustains and guides us through every season of life. The good news? Prioritizing your faith doesn’t have to be overwhelming. With a little intention and focus, you can make your relationship with God—and your family’s faith journey—a central part of your life. In this month’s Online Parenting Class, we’re sharing practical, simple steps to help you keep faith front and center, no matter how busy life gets.

We also are providing you with a helpful resource called Focusing on Faith. This resource will guide you through a short devotional to help you evaluate where your faith development is on your priority list. You’ll be guided with Scripture readings and reflection questions.

To watch this month’s video or download the Toolbox Resource, click on the links below.

[ INSERT LINK TO ONLINE PARENTING CLASS VIDEO ]

[ INSERT LINK TO TOOLBOX RESOURCE ]

We are praying for you!

[INSERT LEADER’S SIGNATURE HERE]

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Subject Line: Putting Faith First

Dear Parents,

When you think about what matters most in your life, what comes to mind first? Family, friends, work, and your kids’ activities like school, sports, or hobbies likely top the list. Add in your own responsibilities and interests, and it’s easy to feel stretched thin. But what about your relationship with God? Where does it fit in? Oftentimes, we end up trying to squeeze our faith into the little margin we have. We may offer a quick prayer every now and then or attend an occasional church service there, but true spiritual growth often takes a backseat. What if we chose to make faith the cornerstone of our priorities?

When we intentionally focus on deepening our faith, it can transform not just our lives but also the lives of our children. This month’s Online Parenting Class shares practical ways to make faith a top priority for you and your family, helping you take steps toward true and lasting spiritual growth.

I hope you’ll take some time to look over our resources this month. We’ve provided you with a helpful and practical devotional called Focusing on Faith, which will guide you in evaluating where your faith is on the priority list. We’ve also got a helpful parenting article for you titled “Putting Our Faith First.” I hope these resources will be encouraging for you as we all take steps to grow in our faith in this new season.

Be sure to check out all the resources below:

[ INSERT LINK TO M2P PARENTING ARTICLE ]

[ INSERT LINK TO M2P ONLINE PARENTING CLASS VIDEO ]

[ INSERT LINK TO TOOLBOX RESOURCE ]

Don’t ever hesitate to reach out if we can do anything for you!

[INSERT LEADER’S SIGNATURE HERE]

M2P KIDS January Parent Video Script

Happy New Year! We’re hoping that you are seeing this somewhere early in the new year and you are in the early stages of getting back into a familiar routine or maybe you’re starting some new things and new routines. Either way, you’re jumping back into a more normal rhythm of life that most of us live in most of the time. Well, as you step into this new season where you have the chance to reprioritize some things, we have something we want to encourage you to do.

So here it is. When it comes to deciding what you want to focus on in life and how you want to lead your family, we want to encourage you to make faith matter. Our hope is that you would prioritize your faith in God above anything else. We know there are a lot of things that are important to you as you move through life, but we would submit to you that there is nothing more important than your relationship with God and how that impacts your everyday life as well as the life of your kids.

Some of you are already putting your relationship with God at the top of your priority list. If that’s you, keep it up, and hopefully, the rest of what we’re going to share will simply serve as reminders for you. If you’re someone who maybe hasn’t prioritized your faith in the way that you think you should, we hope to give you a few ideas about things you can do to make faith matter in your life.

Here’s the thing … I’m guessing you are hoping that living a life of faith will be a priority for your children. You probably wouldn’t be watching this video if you didn’t. You want for your kids to have a real relationship with God that will guide them along the way. If you’re anything like me, you want your kids to learn and grow in healthy ways and for them to be healthy mentally, emotionally, relationally, and spiritually. If this is true for you, there are a few things that you can do to help make that happen.

First, you have to make faith a priority for YOU. You have to make sure that you have your eyes “fixed on Jesus,” as Scripture says. Sure, you have to look at and think about a lot of things as you move through life, but Matthew 6:33 tells us to “seek first the kingdom of God.”  How can you do that? You have to regularly carve out time to spend with God. This is not time doing things for God, but time in fellowship with God, getting to know Him better, and being molded and shaped by Him. We spend lots of time on lots of different things in life and those things are molding and shaping us. We need to take the time to be with God, allowing His Spirit to speak to us. Have a daily “quiet time,” or prayer time or devotion. Practice what Psalm 46:10 says and, “Be still and know that He is God.” You would be surprised the impact this can have on your child’s faith. Our kids are always watching us, and so much of what they learn from us is from our example. During the younger years when our kids are really watching what we say and do, it is incredibly important that we model what we want them to learn from us.

Next, be in community. Surround yourself with people who know you for who you are and can encourage you in your relationship with God. Community can be found in a small group, Sunday school class, or even through close friendships with people who share the same beliefs and values that you do. It is so important to have someone to talk to about faith and with whom you can process your questions and struggles. [God created us to be in community, so don’t isolate yourself or your family as you seek to make faith a top priority in your life.]

Make faith a priority for your family together. Yes, faith needs to matter to you, and there are things you need to do personally to grow, but you need to lead your family, and specifically, your kids, to prioritize faith in practical ways. Sometimes, it’s hard to talk about faith at home. We can talk about church, events, and programs, but what about Jesus? We would encourage you to make having conversations about faith a normal and natural part of life at home. Don’t make it weird. Don’t talk about God as “the big guy upstairs” or some distant being. Just have conversations about what God is doing in your life and help your kids be comfortable talking about how God is working in their life.

Another way to prioritize faith for your family is to attend church together. This may seem obvious, but studies have shown that children that attend church with their families regularly are more likely to stick with faith once they graduate from high school and beyond. So don’t look at church as the place where you can take your kids to “fix” them or keep them on the right path, but look at it as a community of people that your family is a part of, a group of people who are trying to grow closer to God together. The best way for your family to really become a part of a church community is to show up consistently.

Finally, as you start a new season hoping to prioritize faith in a different way, help your kids learn how to prioritize faith in their life. You can’t make them do this, but you can put them in situations where faith matters and surround them with people who will point them to a relationship with God. Encourage them to go to Sunday school or attend church events. Help them build relationships with other kids who are trying to grow in their faith. Help them build relationships with church leaders and other significant adults who will point them to Jesus and help them develop a faith that matters to their everyday life. As you focus on making your faith a priority and you model what that looks like, help your kids do the same.

A new season brings the opportunity for a new focus, and our hope and prayer for you and your family is that you would maybe move your faith and your relationship with God to the top of the priority list. If you do, life won’t be perfect, but we think you’ll be glad you did.

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Subject Line: Offering Grace to Our Kids

Dear Parents,

Do you ever find yourself in a situation where you are in conflict with your child? Of course you do. It’s just a natural part of family life. As your kids continue to grow and stretch their wings, there will be the inevitable struggles and relational challenges that are a part of life together. Our hope for your family is that you can learn to work through these conflicts and challenges in ways that will strengthen your relationships over time.

One of the key pieces of navigating these conflicts is learning how to live in the grace God provides and taking time to repair relationships along the way. If you, as a parent, can get into a pattern of asking for forgiveness from your child when you fall short, you will be planting seeds for a grace-filled relationship in the future. And, if you can learn to truly forgive your child when they fall short, you will be building a bridge to a stronger relationship. This month, we want to give you some tools that can help you step into parenting in a way that models the grace and forgiveness that God gives us and helps you have the relationships you long for.

Don’t forget to check out the resource called Grace and Repair in the Parenting Journey. This practical resource will help you navigate those moments in your family when conflict interrupts. You’ll find helpful prompts and questions that encourage healthy conversation for you and your child!

To watch this month’s video or download the Toolbox Resource, click on the links below.

[ INSERT LINK TO ONLINE PARENTING CLASS VIDEO ]

[ INSERT LINK TO TOOLBOX RESOURCE ]

We are praying for you!

[INSERT LEADER’S SIGNATURE HERE]

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Subject Line: Creating an Environment of Grace

Dear Parents,

Dream with me a little. Imagine a home where both you and your kids learn to live with and under the grace and forgiveness that God offers. Imagine a place where, even in the midst of conflict, relationships are strong, and love abounds. Unfortunately, this is not a typical picture of family life, especially as our kids start to spread their wings. As they grow and continue to explore who they are, conflicts arise, and relationships fracture. As a parent, you have the opportunity to create an environment where God’s grace is truly at the center of your relationships.

In order for you to be able to offer God’s grace to your kids, you have to start with prayer. We have to ask the Lord for wisdom about our own lives as well as about the lives of our children.  This month we hope to help you step into learning how to better repair your relationships at home through living in the grace that God provides and teaching your kids to do the same.

I hope you’ll take some time to look over our parenting resource, Grace and Repair in the Parenting Journey. It’s full of practical insight to help navigate building a stronger relationship with your child through intentional questions and conversation prompts. We’ve also got a helpful parenting blog for you titled “I’m Sorry” Says “I Love You.”

Be sure to check out all the resources below:

[ INSERT LINK TO M2P PARENTING ARTICLE ]

[ INSERT LINK TO M2P ONLINE PARENTING CLASS VIDEO ]

[ INSERT LINK TO TOOLBOX RESOURCE ]

Don’t ever hesitate to reach out if we can do anything for you!

[INSERT LEADER’S SIGNATURE HERE]

M2P KIDS December Parent Video Script

Hi, Parents! Thank you for joining me as we talk about the power of apologies and seeking forgiveness in the relationships we have with our kids.

The Bible has much to say about forgiveness. Psalm 86:5 reminds us of a wonderful aspect of God’s character, stating, “For you, O Lord, are good and forgiving, abounding in steadfast love to all who call upon you.” God’s forgiveness is an act of His unending mercy and grace toward us. We are reminded of how He handles the sins we confess to Him in Psalm 103:10-12. “He does not deal with us according to our sins, nor repay us according to our iniquities. For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far does he remove our transgressions from us.” His Word instructs us that as we have experienced the Lord’s forgiveness, we need to extend that same gift to each other. We see this through Paul’s words in Ephesians 4:32. “Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.” Teaching our kids about confession and forgiveness is an important responsibility we have to help them understand a key component of healthy relationships.

Apologizing and asking for forgiveness is not always something that comes easily for any of us. Conflict with others is so hard. It’s uncomfortable being vulnerable enough to acknowledge our shortcomings and mistakes, and pride and fear can prevent us from taking the initiative to move toward restoring relationships. But we can’t avoid conflict, so we need to become more comfortable with handling it. The goal of repair in any relationship like that between parent and child is to reestablish emotional connection and trust.

So where do we start in teaching our children healthy and godly ways to admit our wrongs and seek to fix it with those we’ve hurt? Always with prayer. We can ask the Lord for wisdom to recognize our sins and the humility to admit them and apologize to others we’ve hurt. Whenever we blow it, as we all do, we need to confess it to the Lord, ask for His forgiveness, and accept the grace and mercy He offers.

When we make mistakes that affect our children, we must start to repair the hurt. With anyone we’ve wronged, it’s important to be clear, concise, and sincere. This is especially true with children. Short explanations given in all sincerity are effective. We simply tell them we take responsibility for our words and actions, emphasizing that we know what we did hurt them. Taking time to ask our children to express their feelings validates them and affirms that what they feel isn’t trivial or unimportant to us. Hearing what they have to say gives us important insight into our kids’ hearts.

Offering an explanation about what happened and why helps them learn that we need to be cautious about what we say and do when our emotions are in overdrive. It can be as simple as “I was upset about something that happened at work, and I allowed it to come out in anger toward you.” It’s important for us to avoid making excuses or inserting an “I’m sorry, but…” statement. That shifts the blame off us and negates the heart of the apology.

Finally, asking the question, “How can I make it better?” and following through on it shows our kids that repairing things with them is very important. It assures them that our love for them is never-ending, allowing them to rest in the safety of a relationship that desires to fix what’s been broken. We want them to understand that the ultimate goal of forgiveness is to restore our relationship with the Lord and, whenever possible relationship with the one we’ve hurt.

There is so much our children learn from us as they listen to our words and observe our actions. When they inevitably make their own mistakes and hurt us, their siblings, and their friends, we can use those opportunities to guide them toward the restoration that they have seen us model. We will be able to walk them through making things right with the Lord and with others. Our faithfulness in modeling and coaching in this area helps to equip our children with tools for a lifetime of healthy relationships.

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Subject Line: Moments That Matter

Dear Parents,

We wanted to take a moment to acknowledge something: There is a lot happening in your world right now. We know you’re busy and juggling so much with your child as they grow and experience new things. Between school, activities, and everything in between, it can sometimes feel like a lot to manage. As they continue to grow, they’re reaching different milestones and moments that will one day hold special meaning in their lives.

In the midst of it all, we want to encourage you not to miss the moments that will matter the most in the long run. While those natural, everyday milestones are important, it’s even more vital for your child to experience spiritual milestones that will help build their faith. These are the moments that will shape their relationship with God and help them see how He’s been guiding their steps all along the way. We want to help you recognize and embrace those moments, so we’ve put together resources in our Online Parenting Class this month that are designed to support you on that journey.

Be sure to check out the resource called Creating and Celebrating Spiritual Milestones. This resource will help parents think through what spiritual milestones are and how to celebrate them. These are special moments in the life of your child and family!

To watch this month’s video or download the Toolbox Resource, click on the links below.

[ INSERT LINK TO ONLINE PARENTING CLASS VIDEO ]

[ INSERT LINK TO TOOLBOX RESOURCE ]

We are praying for you!

[INSERT LEADER’S SIGNATURE HERE]

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Subject Line: Spiritual Milestones – The Foundation of Faith

Dear Parents,

As a parent, you know your child is already involved in so many things in life—school, activities, friends, and family. There’s always something going on, and they’re constantly experiencing new things that will shape who they are as they continue to grow. These moments will no doubt create memories that will stay with them for years to come.

But we know that you want more for your child than just fun experiences and good memories. You want them to have meaningful moments that will shape their faith—spiritual milestones that will become the foundation for a lifelong relationship with God. Part of helping them experience these milestones is making sure they’re in environments where their faith can grow, like church.

This month, we are offering resources to help our parents in celebrating spiritual milestones. These are huge moments in the life of your child and family and we want you to embrace them. Be sure to check out our Parent Toolbox resource for the month called Creating and Celebrating Spiritual Milestones. We’ve also got a helpful article titled, Faith Milestones Matter. There’s some simple but meaningful things you can do as parents to celebrate these monumental moments.

We hope you know that we’re here to support you in guiding your child toward these significant spiritual moments. We want to partner with you on this journey of leading your child into a deeper, lasting faith. Let us know how we can help along the way!

To see this month’s parent video, click on the link below.

To watch this month’s video, download the Toolbox Resource, or read the article, click on the links below.

[ INSERT LINK TO M2P PARENTING ARTICLE ]

[ INSERT LINK TO M2P ONLINE PARENTING CLASS VIDEO ]

[ INSERT LINK TO TOOLBOX RESOURCE ]

Don’t ever hesitate to reach out if we can do anything for you!

[INSERT LEADER’S SIGNATURE HERE]

M2P KIDS November Parent Video Script

So, you’re the parent of a child. They might be a baby or toddler, or maybe your former toddler is in elementary school and plowing towards their teenage years. In reality, your child has a lot more life ahead of them than they do behind them. They already have a lot of great memories, but they have so much ahead of them.

Here’s my encouragement to you today. As you go through the next few seasons of life with your child … don’t miss it! Now, you may have heard some version of that before, some encouragement to make sure you stay present, and you take it all in along the way. That’s not what I mean. You see, your child is going to have a lot of great moments like birthdays and things they accomplish. They’re going to leave elementary school and go to middle school. They’re eventually going to make it to high school and get their driver’s license and then they’ll graduate high school and be off into the world. And all along the way you’ll be there to celebrate them and take pictures and hopefully be really proud. If you get to experience all of that, you likely won’t miss it.

But, if you’re not paying attention, if you’re not intentional in a different kind of way, not only might you miss some things, but your child will too. As the parent of two college students, we have a lot of those memories (along with some memories that aren’t so great). But, if you’re watching this, you likely don’t just want for your kids to get to their young adult years and have a bunch of “good” memories. You want more for them. You likely want them to be able to point to some spiritual milestones that have helped them begin to develop a real relationship with God and grow in their faith in a real way. You don’t want them to just remember going to church, but you want them to develop a faith in Jesus that makes a real difference in their life.

So I would encourage you, as their parent, to position them in a way that leads them to some spiritual milestones. Spiritual milestones are simply significant moments in a child’s walk with God. In order for your child to experience these milestones, you might have to arrange your family life in such a way that fosters faith more than it fosters anything else. You can put your child in situations and environments that will lead them to experience God in a way that creates these milestones that are so important to their spiritual development. The first environment that really matters when it comes to all of this is your home. Make your home a place where faith in God is at the center of all you do. It can’t be an add on or an afterthought, because if it is, your kids will pick up on that. If you, as their parent, aren’t prioritizing your relationship with God and making your home a place where faith is real, your child is less likely to prioritize their faith and experience real spiritual milestones.

The next place your kids can experience spiritual milestones is in your church. My guess is that your church has some milestone moments like giving out Bibles at a certain age, a confirmation class or baptism moments. Your church might celebrate when your child moves from one grade to another. There are lots of opportunities for your child to participate in spiritual milestones at your church. But the only way that your child experiences these milestones at church is if your child is … at church. And I don’t just mean for the moments or events. In order for these milestones to have any real meaning, your child has to have relationships at church that make the moments meaningful. They have to know people who know them, and they have to feel like a part of the community. If you just parachute your kids in for these seemingly significant moments without them actually being a part of something bigger, these moments won’t mean anything to your kids. They may be present for an event, but it won’t really be a spiritual milestone. Make church involvement and participation a part of your family’s life and rhythm and help your kids feel like your faith community is a second home.

And then, when your kids experience spiritual milestones, recognize and celebrate them. Organize special family moments, write letters of encouragement, pray together and pray for your kids as they move from one phase of life to the next. Make a big deal out of the decisions they make and the steps they take and help them see that God is with them on their journey.

Part of what we are trying to do is help our kids develop a faith of their own, and a big part of that for them is going through spiritual milestones along the way. So don’t miss it. Don’t be so focused on celebrating and pushing your kids into the milestones that the world has to offer that you miss something much bigger. Lead them to a real faith in Jesus that is marked by significant milestone moments along the way that they can hold onto for a long time.

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Subject Line: Support for Every Parent

Dear Parents,

As we all navigate life, it becomes clear how varied our experiences can be. Despite our shared goals, each of us faces unique challenges shaped by our individual situations and circumstances. Whether you’re navigating your family dynamics with a spouse or partner or as a single parent, our goal is to offer you support and encouragement along the way.

This month, we’re focusing on providing resources for single parents. If this is you, we know that you face unique challenges, and we want to help. We never want you to feel like you are parenting alone, and we want to help come alongside you and your family as best we can. For those in two-parent homes, we encourage you to extend support to your single-parent friends. There are practical ways you can step in and make a difference in their lives.

Our Online Parenting Class this month addresses both single and two-parent families and offers some ideas on how to engage with each other. Be sure to check out our helpful resource called Parenting With Peace. This resource will guide you through a time of reading and reflection from Philippians 4. We invite you to check out the resources available and consider how you can engage and support other parents in your community.

To watch this month’s video or download the Toolbox Resource, click on the links below.

[ INSERT LINK TO ONLINE PARENTING CLASS VIDEO ]

[ INSERT LINK TO TOOLBOX RESOURCE ]

Don’t ever hesitate to reach out if we can do anything for you!

[INSERT LEADER’S SIGNATURE HERE]

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Subject Line: Parenting Together

Dear Parents,

One of the phrases you often hear from those raising young children is this: “Parenting is hard!” I’m sure you can relate. We all know that caring for little ones is both a joy and a challenge, and it can feel especially overwhelming for those of you doing it alone as single parents. You’re navigating decisions and responsibilities that others in two-parent households may not fully understand. We want you to know that we see you and we’re here to support you.

This month, we’re offering resources specifically for single parents while also providing insights for those in two-parent homes. Be sure to check out our Parent Toolbox resource for the month called Parenting With Peace. This resource provides you with time for reading and reflection on Philippians 4. We’ve also provided you with a helpful article titled A Letter to Single Moms and Dads. There’s so much we can learn from one another, and together, we can build a stronger community within our church. Parenting isn’t meant to be done alone, and we have the opportunity to lift each other up as we walk this journey.

If you’re a single parent, please don’t hesitate to reach out. We’d love to connect you with other parents in our church who can support you practically and emotionally.

To watch this month’s video, download the Toolbox Resource, or read the article, click on the links below.

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Cheering you on as you parent your students!

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M2P KIDS October Parent Video Script

If you’re watching this video, you fall in one of two categories. You are either part of a two-parent household, or you’re a single parent navigating the ups and downs of life on your own. Well, I want to take a moment to speak to both groups as we all walk through the complexities and the joys of parenting.

Let’s start by speaking to single parents. I want to remind you of something very important—you are a beloved child of God. You are enough. You are not just capable, but you are perfectly positioned to guide your children in their faith journey. I know the world can sometimes make you feel less than or unworthy because of your circumstances, but let me assure you—that’s not how God sees you. He knows you intimately, and He knows that you are exactly who your children need to lead them, love them, and point them toward their purpose in Him.

Remember this: God’s grace is sufficient for you. You don’t need to have it all together or have every answer. What you do need is a heart that’s willing to keep growing, learning, and leaning into God’s strength. He has a plan for your life and your children’s lives, and no situation or challenge can derail that divine purpose.

I also want to gently remind you of this: you don’t have to do it all alone. You are hopefully part of a community a church, and sometimes the hardest thing is asking for help. But asking for help is not a sign of weakness—it’s a sign of living in a healthy, supportive community. Your church family wants to be there for you, but sometimes they don’t know how. Don’t be afraid to reach out and say, “I need help.” Whether it’s with child care, a ride, or even just someone to talk to, there are people in your church who would love to come alongside you.

And for your children, help them be connected to the church community as well. Sunday school teachers, youth leaders, and other church members are there to help, support, and encourage you and your kids. They want to see your children grow in their faith and thrive. Try your best, even in the busyness of life, to stay involved with the church. The more you show up, the more you will find relationships deepening and the more support you will feel in both spiritual and practical ways.

Now, I want to speak to those of you who are in two-parent households. You may not realize it, but there are single parents in your church right now who are carrying a heavy load. They might not always show it, but they need you. I encourage you to look around, find those single parents, and ask yourself how you can serve them. Get to know them. Build real relationships with them. Invite them over for dinner, offer to babysit, or help with everyday tasks. It’s easy to get caught up in our own lives, but Scripture tells us to “look not only to your own interests but also to the interests of others” (Philippians 2:4). You don’t have to do anything extravagant; just being present in their lives and offering a helping hand can make all the difference.

And here’s a practical challenge: pray for the single parents in your church. Lift them up to God in prayer. Ask Him to provide for their needs, give them peace, and comfort their hearts in ways that only He can. And let’s not forget to pray for their children as well—that they would grow strong in their faith, feel loved, and see God working in their lives every day.

Finally, I want to remind all of us of one thing: we need each other. God created us to live in community. Single parents, lean into your church community. Let them in. Let them help. And those of you in two-parent homes, open your hearts and your homes to those who may need encouragement. Together, we can support and love one another through the challenges and triumphs of life. Let’s be the hands and feet of Christ to each other and learn how to build one another up along the way.

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Subject Line: What to Do When Parenting Hurts

Dear Parents,

We all know that life can be incredibly challenging, and with those challenges often comes pain. As parents, especially of young children, these challenges can sometimes feel overwhelming. The love you have for your child is immense, yet the journey of parenting is filled with moments that can bring heartache and strain. Whether it’s dealing with a tough tantrum, navigating a difficult phase, or simply facing the daily demands of parenthood, parenting can sometimes just plain hurt.

So, where do you turn when you feel the pain of parenting? How do you find the strength to keep moving forward, to make the right decisions, and to navigate the tough moments? It’s important to remember that you are not alone in this journey. We understand the unique struggles you face, and we’re here to support you every step of the way.

This month’s Online Parenting Class will offer you guidance on what to do when parenting becomes difficult. We are providing you with a helpful resource titled, When Parenting Hurts: A Resource for Moms and Dads from Carrie Bevell Partridge. Carrie and her husband are parents who have walked a unique and challenging family journey, facing pain and struggle while maintaining resilience and faith. Carrie has provided invaluable tips and encouragement for parents who find themselves feeling overwhelmed. We hope this month’s resources will provide you with practical tools and spiritual encouragement to help you lead your children—and yourself—through these trying times.

Please know that we are here for you, ready to listen, pray, and walk alongside you. Don’t hesitate to reach out and let us know how we can support you along the way.

To watch this month’s video or download the Toolbox Resource, click on the links below.

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Don’t ever hesitate to reach out if we can do anything for you!

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Subject Line: Parenting Through the Pain

Dear Parents,

As you navigate the journey of family life, you will undoubtedly face some challenging and painful moments. Your child might have a difficult day (or two or three), and you’ll find yourself helping them navigate their thoughts and feelings. Relationships that were once lighthearted and joyful may sometimes become strained and challenging. The pressures and brokenness of the world around us can seep into your family, making it feel like you’re caught in a real struggle.

We want you to know that these experiences are a normal part of parenting. In many ways, raising children comes with its own set of hurts. But take heart—there is always hope. God is right there with you, ready to guide you through these tough times. Every challenge in parenting, no matter how overwhelming, is an opportunity for growth and a deeper connection with your child and with God.

This month, we’ve gathered some valuable resources to help you navigate these tough times and equip you with tools to use when the challenges feel too heavy to bear. Be sure to check out our Parent Toolbox Resource this month, which includes a free resource from Carrie Bevell Partridge titled, When Parenting Hurts: A Resource for Moms and Dads. Carrie provides a list of things to do when parenting hurts and things for parents to remember as they encounter the inevitable pain and difficulty of family life. We are also providing you with an article titled Hope In The Heartache that will encourage you on your journey through parenting and remind you that you are not alone. Please don’t hesitate to reach out if you need further support. We’re here for you, ready to walk alongside you through every season.

To watch this month’s video, download the Toolbox Resource, or read the Article, click on the links below.

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Cheering you on as you parent your students!

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M2P KIDS September Parent Video Script

Hey parents. One of the things that we know is hard. These little kids we have in our house, they aren’t always perfect, and oftentimes, we can feel some pain and some struggle in the midst of our parenting. Well, this month, we have a special guest who is going to be able to share with you and encourage you. Her name is Carrie Bevell Partridge, and Carrie is a writer, and author, a mom, and a wife, and she has some great resources. She has a book called Growth Spurts that can be really helpful for you. But she has an incredible story, and Carrie is going to be able to encourage you this month as you seek to parent your kids well.

Hi, parents. My name is Carrie, and I just wanted to offer you some encouragement in your parenting journey today. My husband and I have five children between the ages of 17 and 23, so they’re not little bitties anymore, but we are still very much in the trenches of parenting. And I’m here to tell you from experience that there are a lot of days that parenting just hurts. It’s because we love our children so much and when you love someone so much you risk being hurt so much. Sometimes the hurt comes because of choices our kids are making. Sometimes, it’s just because we’re different from them, and sometimes it’s because of circumstances beyond our control. But we are guaranteed that there will be days that parenting hurts.

During those tough seasons here’s a verse that I keep in mind. It’s Romans 12:12. It’s not necessarily about parenting, but I believe it still applies. It says, “Be joyful in hope, be patient and affliction, be faithful in prayer.” I believe that our God is a God of hope. He gives it to us and to our children, and we never need to lose that, and that is where our joy can be found. The second part is “be patient in affliction.” We are guaranteed that there will be affliction. There will be hard days, but we can be patient through it, concentrating on that hope that the Lord offers to us. And the last part, “be faithful in prayer.” Sometimes we treat this as a last resort when it should be our first priority. And we don’t need to wait until things are difficult with our kids before we start talking to the Lord about these things. We should be in constant conversation with God about our children, about our parenting.

I also want to encourage you during these tough seasons to not forget to think about what the Lord has to show you during these times. It’s not just about our kids. I believe that the Lord uses all things. They’re often for our refinement and our growth. So, I want you to pay attention to that too. But most of all, I want you to know that you’re not alone. You have people in your church family. I hope that you have friends, extended family, others you can call on when you need support because you do need this. This parenting journey is tough, and we need each other. So, remember you’re not alone. Remember be joyful in hope, be patient in affliction, and be faithful in prayer.

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Subject Line: Surrounding Your Kids

Dear Parents,

When you think about how your kids are being shaped and influenced, what comes to mind? What are the voices that are coming their way? What are those voices saying, and where are they leading them? Of course, you kids have to listen to you in lots of ways, but when it comes to learning about God and growing in their faith, are there other voices present in their lives? Are there other people you trust who are building relationships with your kids in order to speak the truth to them?

This month’s Online Parenting Class will help you to think through whether your kids are surrounded by the voices they need to be hearing and share some things you can do to intentionally surround them with the people in their lives who will encourage them in the right direction. As a parent, you have the opportunity and arguably the responsibility to put your kids in proximity with voices that will help them move along in their journey of life. Now, it’s no secret that this takes work and effort on your part, but it’s so worth it in the long run.  This month, you’ll find a practical resource by Rich Griffith on how to disciple your kids. In life, it is easy to get caught up in the mundane and routines and miss out on the moments God has already given you to disciple your kids. Be sure to take time to read through the linked PDF below to find some practical ways you can either start or grow in when it comes to discipleship in your home. Rich is a long-time pastor, author, parent, and professor. He has spent many years focusing his ministry on parenting and ways parents can disciple children. He has some great insight!

To watch this month’s video or download the Toolbox Resource, click on the links below.

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Cheering you on and here to help however we can!

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Subject Line: A Great Cloud of Witnesses

Dear Parents,

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith.” This encouragement comes from the New Testament book of Hebrews in chapter 12, verses 1-2, and clearly reminds us that we all need people in our lives who will push us in the right direction. As parents, you need outside voices in your lives speaking into who you are and where you are going. And guess what? If you need it, so do your kids!

This month, we have several great resources that can help you as you seek to disciple your children. We all know this isn’t something that happens on its own or even easily. It takes time, effort, and encouragement along the way. Don’t forget to check out the Parent Toolbox Resource this month, which includes a free resource from Rich Griffith titled “Ways to Disciple Your Children “As You Go.” Rich provides several practical steps you can begin to do in your home to better disciple your kids. We are also providing you with an article titled Filter Out The Noise that will remind you of the spiritual filter you are for your children. Your children have many voices that speak into them, but they still need help filtering out what is helpful, hurtful, or wise. So, as parents, what are some steps you can take to help filter out those voices? Be sure to read through this article to help filter out the noise for your children!

To watch this month’s video, download the Toolbox Resource, or read the Blog Article, click on the links below.

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Thank you for letting us partner with your family! Let us know if there is ever anything we can do for you or your family!

Praying for you as you lead at home,

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M2P KIDS August Parent Video Script

So, here’s my guess. If you’re watching this video, you likely have younger kids and you are just trying to survive day to day. I can remember when we were in that phase of life, and someone told us the phrase: “The days are long, but the years are short.” You’ve likely heard some version of this in your parenting journey … “Don’t blink because it’ll soon be over.” Well, let me give you another phrase or principle that might apply to you when it comes to our conversation today: “Begin with the end in mind.” When it comes to the long-term faith development of your child, you are somewhere near the beginning, and I want to paint a picture for you of where you might want to be, not necessarily at the end but several years down the road.

Our daughter recently graduated from high school, and it’s been a fun few months going through a lot of really special events. We recognize that we’re not at the end of our parenting, but we are at the end of a very important season. Probably the most meaningful event we’ve been a part of as we’ve wrapped up high school was a dinner we hosted at our house where we invited a group of women who have been loving and leading her in different ways over the last number of years. It was two women who had been leading her small group at church for the last seven years. It was a young lady who works in the children’s ministry at our church, where our daughter has been serving for a few years. There were a few members of the student ministry staff at our church who have been pouring into her. It was a few family friends who have been a part of her life for a long time. And there was my wife and me. We had dinner together, and then we moved into a time of sharing. We had asked all of these women to write a letter to our daughter and speak some words of encouragement to her as she was finishing this chapter of her life. We wanted for some of the people who have had a tremendous impact on her to have a chance to share what they see in her and how she has grown in her faith. These were some voices that had been speaking into her life for years, and my wife and I were so thankful for that event and for the years and years of investment into our daughter.

Hebrews chapter 11 is often referred to as the “faith hall of fame.” It’s where the writer talks about a lot of people like Moses, Abraham, and Noah … people who scripture says were “commended for their faith.” Then, chapter 12:1-2 says this: “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith.”

The story I described to you is a great cloud of witnesses that have been around my daughter as she has grown up. These women, along with a lot of other people, have provided consistent, healthy, faith-filled voices that have had a tremendous impact on my daughter, and a lot of these relationships started when she was just a kid. Our son, who is a few years older than her, had a similar group of men in his life and we were able to have a similar dinner for him when he graduated high school.

The purpose of these witnesses, these voices is to help our kids learn how to run with perseverance the race marked out for them. My wife and I have been praying that our kids would learn how to fix their eyes on Jesus, and these men and women have been instrumental in pushing them in that direction.

So, my encouragement for you today is to do everything you can to start the process of surrounding your kids with witnesses like these. Find people who are the voices you want your kids listening to and put your kids in proximity with them. Now is the time to start doing this. We all know that there are a lot of voices speaking into the lives of our children, voices like friends, coaches, and teachers. And, as your kids continue to grow up in the technological world we all live in, there will be lots of voices online. I know you want to shelter them from these voices as long as you can, but they will know about and follow people on YouTube and eventually on other social media platforms. There will be lots of voices that are speaking into their lives for sure so, as parents, we need to make sure that they are listening to the right voices as they grow and develop.

How do you make sure your child is surrounded by healthy, faith-filled voices? Well, you have to know and build relationships with healthy and faith-filled voices. This can be at your church or, in the community, or in your extended family. You have the capacity to essentially turn a dial in your kid’s life and insert some really important voices. But this does take work and sacrifice on your part. If you want for some of the people at your church to be key voices in the life of your child, then you need to be a real part of your church. You need to be invested in both the organization of the church and the people in the church so your child can have more opportunities to rub shoulders with and get to know people who can pour into them over the years.

Last thing. I would also encourage you to help your child value having healthy, trusted voices in their life. Help them understand that who they are listening to will have a tremendous impact on their thoughts, beliefs, and actions. Help them embrace Proverbs 13:20, that says this, “He who walks with the wise grows wise, but a companion of fools suffers harm.” We want for our kids to not suffer harm, and we want them to grow wise, and part of the way they grow wise is to, yes, be surrounded by their peers who are walking in the right direction, but to also be surrounded by adult voices that are helping them grow wise in the Lord.

Our kids have a lot of voices coming their way, and sometimes, we have very little control over the influence of these voices. We, as their parents, have the opportunity, and I would argue the responsibility to surround them with a great cloud of witnesses who are being the trusted voices that our kids desperately need!

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Subject Line: Having Healthy Conversations

Dear Parents,

As you move through your daily life with your family, there are lots of conversations that happen along the way. Unfortunately, some of those conversations can turn into conflict and create distance between you and your child. Learning how to have healthy conversations and navigate conflict well is hard for everyone, and your child is hopefully developing the tools they need in this area of life. As their parent, you have the opportunity to lead them to the healthy thoughts and practices they will need as they deal with conflict in their lives.

This month’s Online Parenting Class will give you some practical suggestions on how to approach conflict and have healthy conversations in your family. We highlight a few verses in Ephesians 4 where Paul says, “As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.” We also want to equip you with a special Parent Toolbox Resource that will encourage you to focus on building solid relationships with your child so that you can have the conversations you need to have with them as they grow. This downloadable PDF reflection titled “Their Voice” shares some thoughts and a few thought-provoking questions concerning the importance of affirming the voice of your child as they grow and develop their own voice through their opinions, desires, passions, and thoughts. Imagine what having healthy conversations around conflict in your home would do for you and your family.

To watch this month’s video or download the Toolbox Resource, click on the links below.

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You can do this! We are always here for you if you need us.

Cheering you on,

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Subject Line: Encouraging Healthy Conversations with Your Children

Dear Parents,

In today’s fast-paced, screen-filled world, our kids are increasingly reliant on technology for information and communication. As they move deeper and deeper into the digital space, they can lose the ability to engage in meaningful face-to-face conversations. As kids learn and grow, it’s so important for parents to help them develop the essential communication skills that they will need along their journey of life. They need to be able to have face-to-face conversations where they can build relationships, ask questions, and learn to share what is going on in their life. As a parent, you have the opportunity to model to your child what it looks like to communicate well and have healthy conversations that are grounded in faith.

We know all this can sound intimidating, but remember, you are not in this alone. We are here to walk alongside you, pray for you, encourage you, and even equip you with tools to help you live this out. If you haven’t checked out this month’s resources, we hope that you will. They can help you continue to grow in your own communication and lead your family in a healthy direction. Take a few minutes to watch our Online Parenting Class for some needed encouragement, or read this month’s blog article titled “Two Cans and a String – Building Strong Connections Through Conversation” for some ways you can practice connecting with your child through great conversations. Also, don’t forget to download the Parent Toolbox Resource that will give you a series of questions to work through as you seek to parent well. Each of these incredible resources was created to equip, encourage, and help you be the best parent you can be. You got this!

To watch this month’s video, download the Toolbox Resource, or read the Blog Article, click on the links below.

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We are in this together! Let us know if there is ever anything we can do for you or your family.

Praying for you as you lead at home,

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M2P KIDS July Parent Video Script

One of the things that is difficult about parenting is the fact that there it feels like there is so much to pay attention to. As our kids get older and encounter more things, there is more that we have to teach them so that they can effectively navigate the world. At the same time, it feels like an entire generation is losing a skill that is vitally important, and that is the ability to simply have face-to-face conversations. They are learning to communicate with each other and with us through screens, devices, and apps, and all of this is being introduced to kids at earlier and earlier ages. They use and need devices in school and their friends get phones and learn how to communicate via text or some other social media. If we’re honest, we, as parents, can play into this trend because allowing our kids to use all of this technology sometimes makes life easier for us. But our kids need to learn that communication happens best when we can just talk … when we can have a conversation about what is going on, and we can deal with whatever issues are at hand.

Here are a few suggestions for you as you think through helping your kids learn how to have healthy conversations. And I want to frame these suggestions with this scripture: Ephesians 4, starting in verse 1: “As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.”

First, model living a life of faith. Model doing what you can to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. Now, you may wonder what this has to do with having conversations, and I would say it has a lot to do with it. When we, as adults, are grounded in our faith, and we are modeling what it looks like to authentically follow Jesus, it speaks volumes to our kids in every way. The picture of faith that our kids see in us has an impact on how they see their life and their faith. What we think, what we say, and how we act influences what they think, what they say, and how they act. If our kids can see us stepping into our conversations with a foundation of faith, they are more likely to do the same.

Next, model having healthy conversations. Let your kids see you talking to your spouse or your parents, or your siblings in healthy ways, especially when there is conflict or tension. If we hope to have good and healthy conversations with our kids, then they need to believe that we are capable of having good and healthy conversations, and that starts with what they see us do. If our kids know that we have issues with a family member or a friend and they hear us either talk bad about that person or lose it in a conversation with that person, they may shy away from talking to us because of what might happen. But, if our kids are used to seeing us doing what Paul says in Ephesians … “Being completely humble and gentle; being patient, and bearing with one another in love,” … then they’ll believe that’s how we’ll be in our conversations with them, even when there is conflict.

Finally, when it comes to having real conversations with your kids, resist the urge for most of your real conversations to be lectures or sermons. Sure, there are definitely times when we need to be firm and take the time to instruct our kids on certain things, but I would encourage you to make that the exception rather than the norm. Build a relationship with your kids that is based not on what you need to them to do or learn but on who they are and the connection you have. I once had someone tell me that we, as parents, need to learn how to talk about everything so we can talk about anything. We need to have a thousand small, maybe meaningless, conversations so that our kids will get used to talking to us. We need to care more about the connection we have with our kids than we are with the content we deliver to them. If we’re going to be able to have the kinds of conversations we want and need to have with our kids, we need to have the kind of relationship that can bear the weight of those conversations.

The last part of the scripture I shared from Ephesians says this: We need to “make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.” In our relationships and our conversations, particularly with our kids, we have the opportunity to build unity and bring peace. What would it look like in your home if the conversations you had didn’t bring division and angst but they brought unity and peace? My guess is that your home would be a more joyful place to live, and you would be more likely to have the conversations you want and need to have and build the relationships you want to build.

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Subject Line: Embracing a Different Kind of Discipleship

Dear Parents,

We all know that leading and guiding kids can be hard, and there always seems to be a lot to focus on. Not only do you have to keep everything running in your house, but you also have to teach your kids so many practical things as they progress in their journey of life. What often gets crowded out are the important lessons of faith that will lead your child to be a true disciple of Jesus. Just getting through the days can be overwhelming, so finding time to focus on the bigger issues of life seems impossible.

This month, we hope to help you have a different picture of discipleship and maybe make things a little easier for you as you lead. Discipleship doesn’t have to be an intimidating process, and we hope the resources we are providing will help you step into some simple things that will help both you and your kids. We have a great Online Parenting Class that will get your mind thinking in a different direction. Our Parent Toolbox Resource this month is a free chapter from a book called First-Century Youth Ministry: A Look Back For The Way Forward In Youth Ministry Discipleship, where author Heather Quiroz encourages us all to learn from the norms and practices of the first century and learn to value some different things. Don’t be fooled by the title; this resource will provide you as the parent of a non-teenager with a lot to chew on when it comes to how we think about discipleship, and it also offers some steps we can take to reclaim some of the ancient practices Jesus used with His disciples that would serve us well. Take a moment to download it and give it a read. Our goal is to help you make discipleship a normal and natural part of life at home. Let us know how we can help.

To watch this month’s video or download the Toolbox Resource, click on the links below.

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Cheering you on!

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Subject Line: Walk with Me as I Walk with Jesus

Dear Parents,

When you think about your faith and how you are growing as a believer, can you picture being on a walk? Not a walk where you are all alone, but a walk where you are side by side with the creator of the universe. Picture a walk where you are being guided, learning, seeing new things, and understanding more and more about the world and yourself. Think of being on a walk with Jesus. Being a disciple is much like this kind of a walk. Jesus invites us all to follow Him as we move through the world, and it is comforting to know that we can follow a God who is a worthy leader.

As a parent, you have the opportunity to take your kids on a walk, too. You can invite them to walk with you as you walk with Jesus. That’s discipleship! It doesn’t have to be difficult. You don’t have to have all the answers to all the questions or know all the ins and outs of theology. You just need to walk with Jesus and invite your kids to be on the same journey.

This month, we have a lot of great resources that can help you embrace this mindset and practice a different type of discipleship in your family. Don’t forget to check out the Parent Toolbox Resource this month, which is a free chapter from a book called First-Century Youth Ministry: A Look Back For The Way Forward In Youth Ministry Discipleship, where author Heather Quiroz encourages us all to learn from the norms and practices of the first century and learn to value some different things. This month, we also want to provide you with an article titled Along The Way: Everyday Discipleship that will remind you that the Lord designed the family to be the primary place where faith is passed on through regular, simple, everyday moments lived together. And it’s in “along the way” places where we put our faith into practice. If you haven’t yet watched our Online Parenting Class, we would encourage you to do so as you think through this important topic.

[ INSERT LINK TO M2P PARENTING BLOG ARTICLE ]

[ INSERT LINK TO M2P ONLINE PARENTING CLASS VIDEO ]

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We are in this together! Let us know if there is ever anything we can do for you or your family.

Praying for you as you lead at home,

[INSERT LEADER’S SIGNATURE HERE]

M2P KIDS June Parent Video Script

As parents, we all have to embrace the responsibility of nurturing, guiding, and teaching our kids. Like you, ever since my kids entered the world, I’ve been keenly aware of the need to provide them with a solid foundation for growth and development. If I were to describe my role into one word, it would be that of a leader tasked with helping my kids become the people they are meant to be in the eyes of God.

Now, as we talk about parental duties in the church, there is one thing that often arises, and it’s the reality that you and I are the primary spiritual leaders and faith developers of our kids. We are responsible for their discipleship. If faith holds any significance in our lives and fostering a genuine relationship with God is a priority for our family, then it becomes really important to not only lead our kids but also to disciple them. This involves more than just exposing them to religious teachings or sporadic church attendance; it means that we have to take steps toward creating an environment in our home that is conducive to spiritual growth and development.

One critical piece of this is the idea that if we want our kids to be growing as disciples we, as parents, must also be growing as disciples ourselves. It is incumbent upon us to embody the principles of discipleship, showing our kids a tangible example of what a mature faith looks like. While we can’t be perfect (no one can) … we can try to lead by example and foster an atmosphere of discipleship within our homes.

Over my three decades of experience in family ministry and over twenty years of being a parent, I’ve observed a tendency that parents have to inadvertently hand over the spiritual development of their kids to the church. We do this for a lot of reasons. We don’t feel like we have all the answers. We’re not educated enough in theology or doctrine. We’re not living the life of faith we want to live, and we’re scared our kids are going to sniff it out. So, it’s just easier and maybe better if we leave the spiritual development to someone else … to one of the “professionals.” While I deeply value the influence of church leaders and programs, I recognize that my role as the primary influencer in my kids’ spiritual journey is not something that I can give away.

So, what does it mean to embrace this role? How do we go about discipling our kids? Contrary to what you might expect, it’s really not as daunting as it appears.

Heather Quiroz is a friend, ministry leader, and author who wrote a book called “First Century Youth Ministry. “In her book, she talks about the manner in which Jesus led and instructed his disciples. One of the central parts of what Jesus did was live in community. Jesus modeled what it looked like to allow obedience to the Father to permeate every aspect of life. We tend to compartmentalize our faith and make sure it fits within our busy schedules. But what if we took a cue from the Jewish culture of the first century and we worked to integrate our lives fully into a relationship with God?

When it comes to discipling our kids, quality of time matters. Not just a time where we all live in the same house and we all work to be successful and get things done. We need genuine community where we are fully engaged with one another and we build shared experiences that are centered on faith. As parents, we have to be willing to set aside all of the distractions that can easily grab our attention, and we have to prioritize our children’s spiritual well-being. We have to lead them towards a deeper understanding of God.

Here’s the good news … like other than the gospel good news … but related …

This journey of discipleship is not about having all the answers or, controlling behavior, or creating an illusion of perfection. Instead, it really revolves around fostering authentic community and prioritizing a life lived in alignment with God’s will. This all requires effort and sacrifice, but I promise you, the rewards far outweigh the challenges.

So, if I had to boil it down for you, I would say this: If you want to help your kids become disciples of Jesus, then walk with Jesus yourself and invite your kids to walk with you. Maybe simplify it a little, slow it all down, and value relationships and community. Walk with Jesus and invite your kids to walk with you as you walk with Him. If you simply do that, you’ll be laying the foundation for a journey of faith that will shape their lives for years to come.

Email 1

Copy/ Paste this email into a browser and send it to parents.

Subject Line: Caring for Your Kids

 Dear Friends,

There are lots of different roles that you play as a parent. You are sometimes a chauffeur, sometimes a cook, sometimes a personal assistant, and always a guide. Your kids need a lot from you, and there is always something to be paying attention to. Because of the pace of life, you might miss doing the thing your child likely needs the most. You might not care for them in the way they need it.

At this point, you are likely saying, ‘What are you talking about? I care for my child deeply!” That’s true, but lots of parents mistake guidance for care, and they are not the same. Your child very much needs you to provide for their needs and point them in the right direction when it comes to a variety of different issues and circumstances. But possibly more than that, they need you to care for them on a deep, personal level. They need to feel that care and know that you want to lead them in more than a functional way. To use a biblical metaphor, think of yourself as a shepherd. Look at your shepherding in more than just a practical sense where you want to keep your sheep safe. Think through how you can really care for your kids, understanding more about them and their world, what they are experiencing, and what they need. If you do, you’ll have a stronger relationship with them, and they will be better equipped to handle the world because they know you care.

This month, we want to encourage you to take your care to a different level. The care that we are talking about goes much further than simply providing direction or meeting physical needs. It starts with the heart and seeks to meet your child’s emotional and spiritual needs. To help you think through this idea of care and help you live it out at home, check out this month’s Online Parenting Class and Parent Toolbox Resource. They will provide you with some insight, wisdom, and a list of practical ideas that will help you step into caring for your child in a deeper way. There are easy yet practical things that you can do that will incline your heart to care for your children in a different way and demonstrate that care in everyday life.

To watch this month’s video or download the Toolbox Resource, click on the links below.

[ INSERT LINK TO ONLINE PARENTING CLASS VIDEO ]

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You can do this! We are always here for you if you need us.

Cheering you on,

[ INSERT LEADER’S SIGNATURE HERE ]

EMAIL 2

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Subject Line: Shepherding Your Kids

Dear Parents,

When it comes to parenting your kids, where do you put your focus? Are you fixated on helping them learn all the right information so they can be “successful” in life (whatever that means)? Are you intent on getting them onto the right team or into the right class or attached to the right group of friends so they can excel in the world? None of these things are inherently bad or wrong, but they might not be the best things for you to focus on. What if you decided to really focus on their heart and cared for them in a way that goes beyond the mechanics of life? What if your care for them led them to a place where they experienced life in a different way and felt a true sense of peace?

In Scripture, we are told that Jesus is our Good Shepherd. He cares for us, His sheep, in a personal and relational way. He reminds all of us that we, too, are to think like shepherds, caring for the sheep in our lives like God cares for us. Your child is a sheep in more ways than one and needs the care and guidance of a shepherd, not just the direction of a leader. We know all this can sound intimidating, but remember, you are not in this alone. We are here to walk alongside you, pray for you, encourage you, and even equip you with tools to help you live this out. If you haven’t checked out this month’s Online Parenting Class yet, we talk about what it would look like for you to think like a shepherd and provide your sheep with the things they really need to flourish in the world. In this month’s Parent Toolbox Resource, we offer some practical steps to care for your child in ways that will protect them, nourish them, and lead them in a way that will give them life. Lastly, we have an incredibly insightful blog article for you titled “Entrusted To Our Care” that we think will truly encourage you along the way.

To watch this month’s video, download the Toolbox Resource, or read the Blog Article, click on the links below.

[ INSERT LINK TO M2P PARENTING BLOG ARTICLE ]

[ INSERT LINK TO M2P ONLINE PARENTING CLASS VIDEO ]

[ INSERT LINK TO TOOLBOX RESOURCE ]

We are in this together! Let us know if there is ever anything we can do for you or your family.

Praying for you as you lead at home,

[INSERT LEADER’S SIGNATURE HERE]

M2P KIDS May Parent Video Script
Caring for Your Kids

One of the things I know about you as a parent is that you care for your kids. You care deeply for them. There is something about the parent-child bond that is so strong and something that wells up in you as a mom or a dad that you sometimes can’t even describe.

But today, I want to ask you to think about something. I know you care for your kids… emotionally and with all your heart. But how are you caring for your kids? How are you not just teaching them and guiding them and pointing them in the direction you think they should go, but how are you caring for them? This question takes me to an image from Scripture that you’ve probably heard before, where Jesus gives us a picture of what it looks like to care. In John 10:11, Jesus says, “I am the good shepherd.” Shepherds care for their sheep.

Now, we may not always look at our kids as cute little cuddly sheep, but maybe we should. When it comes to how we care for our kids, maybe we should take on the character of a shepherd and have that mentality. I’ve heard it said recently that lots of parents have begun to see themselves as their kids’ agent, negotiating deals and manipulating situations, making sure that their kids are well-positioned for the future and set up for success. If I’m honest, I can gravitate to a version of that sometimes. But what if we saw ourselves not as our kids’ agent or guide or even their teacher? What if we saw our primary role as being our kids’ shepherd?

What would that look like? The second part of John 10:11 says, “The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.” Jesus sacrificed for you and for me, so part of being a shepherd for our kids and caring for them involves sacrifice. You know this because you’ve been doing this for years. As parents, we have to sacrifice our wants, our needs, and sometimes, our dreams for what our lives can look like for our kids. This doesn’t mean catering to their every want and whim, but it does mean loving our kids in such a way that we deny ourselves in order to love and care for them.

John 10:14-15 says, “I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me—just as the Father knows me and I know the Father…” Part of being a shepherd and truly caring for our kids is really knowing them. It’s having a relationship with them. I don’t mean just a functional relationship where things keep moving, and stuff gets done, but I mean a deep relationship where you know one another and you are truly doing life together. And this takes work! Building and maintaining a strong relationship with our kids is not always easy and how we need to do it will change in different seasons. Building that relationship may require us to sacrifice things we want to do or talk about and step into things our kids want to do and talk about. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve had to act like I was interested in something in order to step deeper into a relationship with one of my kids. But when I do that, I’m always glad I did.

When I think about some other things that shepherds do, one of the big things that comes to mind is they protect their sheep. I know for a lot of us, it’s easy to go into protection mode when it comes to our kids, but I would encourage you to really evaluate how you protect your kids and particularly think about the posture you take when you are protecting them. Yes, our little sheep need protection, but they also need to feel confident that they can grow up into big sheep. I wonder if the culture our world is creating around protecting our kids is actually scaring the sheep and making them wonder if they can or even want to grow up. Definitely protect your kids from the evil in the world, but also give them the space they need to learn and grow so that they don’t always need you to be an overprotective shepherd. Learn how to have conversations with your kids about what is going on in them and in the world so that they can grow and develop in a healthy way while under your care.

One more thing about shepherds. They nourish their sheep. Now, obviously, you’re going to feed your kids lots of stuff, but I want to talk about a different type of nourishment. Part of caring for your kids is learning how to nourish them spiritually. How are you helping your kids get the spiritual nourishment they need to grow in their trust in God and life with Him? I hope you aren’t hiring another shepherd to do that part of the care. I hope you aren’t relying on someone from church or, a family member or a friend to be the spiritual shepherd for your kids. God has given that role to you, so take some time to figure out how you can lead your kids spiritually because they need you. They need you to have honest conversations with them about life and faith. They need you to keep building the relationship that gives you the influence you need as you guide them along the way.

Here’s the last thing I want to say. I hope you know that other than Jesus, there is no perfect shepherd. In all of this, you’re going to make mistakes and get some things wrong, and you’re going to need to rely on your shepherd to care for you. Jesus laid down his life for you and offers the same grace, forgiveness, and care that you are offering your kids. Lean on that and when you think about the fact that you care for your kids, go deeper into HOW you are caring for them as they continue to grow and develop.