Training Parents in Faith Formation Ministry Ideas
Visit The Networks to find contact information for each congregation if interested
in learning more about these ideas.

Ideas from the Michigan #2 Network

  • St Michael's Lutheran has started Family Time to help parents do family devotions.
    During a Sunday School class, they teach parents each week's devotion, discuss how to
    apply it throughout the week and beyond. (St Michael's - Richville, MI)

  • Bethel Lutheran has Family Confirmation.  Parents and children attend confirmation
    instruction together every week. (Bethel - Howard City, MI)

  • Our Savior is modeling how to do "Family Time in the Word"  during Sunday morning
    worship.  They are also including take home discussion sheets with their confirmands.
    (Our Savior - Lansing, MI)

  • After development of their Faith Forming Team, it was decided they would revise their
    baptism class for parents and sponsors into  a "mandatory" two session class for all
    parents preparing for baptism focused on (1) the theology of baptism and (2) faith-forming
    strategies taught by pastors or trained church workers.  In addition, Faith Chests and
    Baptism banners are given to parents. Click here to see one of the resources they created
    to include in the Faith Chest. (Trinity-Utica)

  • UPDATE 2012: Trinity Lutheran began a Home Plate Ministry with the goal: to assist and
    encourage families to bring Jesus into their homes through prayer, devotions,
    spontaneous praise and intentional discussions about the Lord and His Kingdom.  
  • Their 2012-2013 church year theme is: "Jesus: Every Day in Every Home" based on
    Joel 1:3 "Tell [the Good News] to your children, and let your children tell it to their
    children, and their children to the next generation."  
  • They created a symbol for the year with the outline of a house on the outside, a
    heart inside the house, and a cross inside the heart.  Workshop events were  
    scheduled so that families could make their own banner with the symbol on it.  
    Families could also purchase a pre-made banner or a sticky window decal.  
  • They are writing "Jesus: Every Day in Every Home" devotionals that will be printed
    in their church newsletter, school newsletter, on their website, etc.
  • They are creating video testimonials on family growth and spiritual growth to be
    offered in a consistent pattern throughout the year. (Trinity Lutheran - Utica, MI)

  • Trinity has plans to add Stepping Stones from Faith Inkubators in the next year into their
    baptism class, toddler Family Time training, first Bible give-away, newsletter resources,
    and combine "Say Yes to Know."  UPDATE 2012: Faith Stepping Stones has continued
    into the 2012/2013 church year.  They use the following stepping stones: baptism, 3-4 year
    old devotions, Kindergarten and 1st grade stepping stone, 2nd and 3rd grade first Bibles,
    pre-confirmation and confirmation programs (Trinity - Utica)

  • Trinity has also started a two part class for parents of toddlers focused on motivating
    parents to be primary faith shapers in their children's lives and to work through Family
    Time devotions. (Trinity - Utica)

  • Trinity is getting Dads talking with their children in a way that builds relationships using
    materials from All Pro Dad.  From 7:30-8:30am before school, dads gather with their kids
    at Trinity's Lutheran school to share breakfast and discuss questions such as "tell me
    what you love about your Dad/child?"  They had over 200 dads and kids attend.
  • UPDATE 2012: Now Trinity has started an "I Mom" website as well that provides
    many practical and encouraging thoughts for today's moms. (Trinity - Utica)

  • UPDATE 2012: Trinity is exploring ways to use the 5th Sunday of each month to provide
    suggestions on how to literally connect families together in worship. (Trinity - Utica)

  • Trinity in St. Joseph invited nine father/son pairs in grades 4-6 to begin using the pilot
    Tribe curriculum.  Their goal is to hook fathers and sons together around faith issues.
    (Trinity - St. Joseph)

  • Bethel plans to give kids Bibles on Rally Day and develop a Shut-In service. (Bethel -
    Howard City)

  • St. Michael's has started a family devotion class for parents during Sunday school using
    Family Time materials.  They are working on an "orientation" class for parents whose
    children attend their day school and pre-school. (St. Michael's - Richville)

  • "Tweaked" our school religion curriculum to put more connection and faith formation
    into parent's hands (Our Savior Lutheran - Lansing, MI)

  • "Resurrection Eggs" - Around Lent, we have done the training and we gave the eggs to
    families. (Our Savior Lutheran - Lansing, MI)
The Family Friendly Partners Network