What would make our ministry "Family Friendly"

Awhile back I found a series of good articles called: "How friendly is your ministry to families?"  Though there is a difference on the Family Ministry spectrum of "Family Friendly/Based/Support" and "Family Equipping" (what we are trying to develop)... There are some great thoughts in this short list of eight things we can do to be more family friendly.   

So which of these is your favorite (i.e. you wish we at New Beginnings did a better job with?) and are there any you would add to the list that would make our ministries more family friendly to your family?

1. OVER COMMUNICATE 


Life is busy in the home! Teenagers have a lot going on in their life and parents have an incredible task attempting to balance all the different demands on their time. Make the commitment to help your families and clearly communicate with your parents. 

2. SPEAK HIGHLY OF PARENTS


We’re on the “same side” with parents, so make sure to take every opportunity to speak highly of them when you’re around teenagers. Resist the urge to join in when a teenager is verbally bashing his/her parents. Rookie youth workers may try to “build a bridge” with a teenager by trashing parents (i.e. “parents just don’t understand”)…but it doesn’t work long-term. 

3. SPEAK HIGHLY OF THEIR KIDS


Affirmation is a great gift to a parent! Each time you see a parent, try to pass on some time of verbal encouragement about their son/daughter. Parents love to hear great things about their kids and when it comes from someone who knows them and really cares about them, the affirmation is even more powerful. 

4. END YOUR PROGRAMS ON TIME


If you’re going to have teenagers out on a school night, get them home early. To do this, you’ll have to end your program on time. The big picture principle is that you don’t want parents sitting in the parking lot wasting their time (this applies to all events—not just weekly meetings), and most parents care deeply that their kid gets home for homework and a good night’s sleep.

5. COUNT THE COST


It’s expensive to run a family! Being family-friendly means you are sensitive to how youth ministry costs will impact a family–especially families with multiple kids. I realize everything can’t be free and that car washes were created by the devil, but anything you can do to design events/activities that don’t require parents to take out loans will be a gift to the family.

6. WORK THE PARKING LOT


At the end of a program, go out to the parking lot and be visible to parents. Talk to them, build relationships, and speaking encouraging words about their child. Don’t worry, you can clean up the youth room after everyone has gone home (or create a team of teenagers to do it for you while you’re out talking to parents). 

7. RESOURCE THEM


Point parents toward good books, websites or seminars that are helpful to you as a youth worker. If you’re not a parent of teenagers, be careful about offering parenting advice. Obviously, you know youth culture and have your “pulse” on organizations that provide free resources. 

8. SET THEM UP TO WIN IN FAITH CONVERSATIONS


Keep parents in the loop on what you’re teaching so they know what their kids are learning at church. Either email, text, or provide a few questions on your website that are tied to your youth group teaching. When faith education makes its way into the home (where it ultimately belongs) you’ve helped families. 

May God continue to move us closer to a healthy family ministry at New Beginnings... May He protect the ministry and testimony of our community... May we respond to the Spirit in each of our lives to honor God with all our life... May Jesus be glorified in all we do!!