Volunteering - Do It For (Your) Kids

When a parent volunteers it is a huge benefit for their kids. When kids grow up in a household where mom and dad serve every week they are much more likely to begin serving themselves when they get into 6^th, 7^th, 8^th grade. The reason for this? Because that is what is normal to them, it's all they know. When they leave high school and go off to college, the first thing they are going to do is look for a church where they can be plugged into serving. Their thought will be, “Doesn’t everybody do that? It’s just the way I was brought up, the way I do church.” What greater gift can we give to our kids than that?

Now serving as a family is not a magic bullet, but in all the years I’ve been doing children’s ministry, the majority of families that have orbited their lives around church and served are the strongest families. Divorce and discord is down. Children going south and getting into drugs and alcohol is down. Rebellion against parents is way down.

Parents look at many things for the benefits to their children: sports, ballet, music and assorted other extra-curricular activities. Now, there’s nothing wrong with those things, but only if they’re following in the footsteps of serving in the church. Obviously those other activities can help you become well rounded as a person, but they cannot replace church and service and living an others-oriented life. Our family's priorities should center around service to the church.

We need parents to see that. If I want my child to grow up to be a morally responsible adult, if I want him or her to grow up to be a force for Christ who leads others to Him and is a productive person in society, then I'm going about it the wrong way if I'm not incorporating church and service as a huge part of what I'm doing as a parent.

Comments

[Fred]

We have fired half of our staff and now need volunteers. Thanks.

[Candice Bailey]

Mike, Glad you decided to blog. Love your thoughts on serving. I hope you can reach parents needs through this to help them see the importance of serving and getting their children to church. Many parents are always looking for extra activities for their children and don't miss those events or practices, but when it come to getting them to church and church activities the priority and commitment is not the same. Look forward to hearing more of your thoughts, resources and insight to help me and other families grow strong Christian children.

[Karl Bastian]

Welcome to the Blog-o-sphere! Keep it coming!

[Todd McKeever]

Mike loving that you have joined the blogosphere. Keep it going.

I also must say that I am trying hard to not covet your office. I forgot how cool it was when I visited until recently when you had shown some pictures.