RECLAIMING THE ROLE OF FAMILY IN LIFELONG DISCIPLESHIP SOME THOUGHTS FROM TERRY WILLIAMS, WAY2GO 2020 keynote speaker
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magine for a second a healthy heartbeat in the family, where there is…
• a strong foundation in Christ, that gives them purpose and a destiny • a loving environment that gives them confidence to dream • security in who they are, to risk doing something new • safety to explore, with a safe harbour to return to • identity in the past, so they can change the future • someone who will be in their grandstand, while they seek to grow What a wonderful vision that is! We live in a fast-paced and changing world, which creates challenge and pressure for families. Many parents feel ill-equipped to care for the spiritual needs of their children. What is the role of the church, and how can the church best support families in their vital role?
RE-EMPOWERING THE FAMILY AS PRIMARY SPIRITUAL CAREGIVERS
The rise of professionalism within the church is one of the factors contributing to the stripping away of confidence in the family as primary spiritual caregivers.
The rise of a Sunday School movement a couple of centuries ago saw the church take on the responsibility for the Christian Education of the young and this quickly became a global missional strategy. This was further reinforced late last century with the rise of the ‘professional worker’ employed by local churches. Today, the church, through its programmes and activities, continues to promote itself as the primary centre for discipling the young, mostly overlooking the biblical importance given to the family household. However, the most important building blocks in the holistic development of children are parents who have a disciplined intentionality about their spiritual parenting. As we engage, individually and corporately, in the mission given to us by Jesus to ‘make disciples’, there is an urgent need to reclaim the role of the family in lifelong discipleship. The church must assume the role as a training and support agency for parents to be the soul doctors for their children. The spiritual formation of children begins with the spiritual formation of their parents. Families are in great need of support and the church has a real opportunity to do so through things like: • Raising a priority (and not guilt) about
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