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A Call to Youth Ministers and the Church About Parent Ministry

This document was developed by a group of youth ministry leaders during the National Network of Youth Ministries Forum in Glorieta, New Mexico, January 11-12, 2004.

• Whereas God intends for parents to serve as the primary spiritual instructors of their children (Deuteronomy 6:4-9), and
• Whereas God intends for those He calls as ministers to equip His people for service (Ephesians 4:11-13), and
• Whereas many parents in church fail to fulfill their responsibility for the spiritual development of their children (Judges 2:10, 14), and
• Whereas the church makes its greatest impact upon unbelieving youth and families when its own youth and families are healthy spiritually (1 Timothy 3:1-13), and
• Whereas we as church and organizational leaders too long have failed to equip parents for their vital role in the spiritual instruction and leadership of their teenage children,

Therefore,

• We call for youth ministers to take on their rightful role as pastoral ministers to parents, acknowledging parents as the primary spiritual leaders of their children and serving parents in that role.

To further define this role,

• We call for youth ministers to champion the call for churches to pray for parents and to mobilize parents to pray for their teenagers.
• We call for youth ministers to spend intentional time each week administering and communicating ministries that impact the home.
• We call for youth ministers consistently to involve parents with leaders and resources that equip parents for biblical parenting and primary discipling of their children.
• We call for youth ministers to acquire training in family ministry to be equipped to respond to families in crisis and to refer when necessary.
• We call for youth ministers to include events and experiences that bring parents and teenagers together when it best achieves ministry purposes.
• We call for churches to call youth ministers in agreement with this document and to support and encourage existing youth ministers to make a transition toward parent ministry.
• We call for senior pastors and church leaders to incorporate the spirit of this document in the church's ministry with parents of children of all ages.

© The National Network of Youth Ministries, 2004. Duplication and distribution of this document is encouraged.

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