Strengthen faith formation in the home
“Parents are crucial. Above and beyond any other effect on children’s religion is the influence of their parents.” Christian Smith and Amy Adamczyk, Handing Down the Faith, p 224.
Shine believes . . .
. . . that parents are the primary influence on their children’s faith formation
. . . that the church has a critical role to play in partnering with parents
. . . that parents cannot raise children alone. “It takes a village,” and church is the village.
How churches can provide encouragement and resources to parents
- Plan a worship series focused on the Six Practices that Grow Faith at Home. Download the Six Practices Worship Series.
- Give parents this Six Practices handout.
- Give church leaders this Six Practices handout.
- Buy and distribute The Peace Table, “Follow the Peace Path” Cards, and The Peace Table Activity Books to families in your congregation. Find them here.
- Use Shine: Living in God’s Light faith formation curriculum and support parents in using the at-home pieces: Family Storybook for PreK-Kindergarten (ages 3-6), Flicker Family Magazine for Elementary (grades 1-5), and Ignite Devotional for Junior Youth (grades 6-8).
- Participate in a seasonal Shine Everywhere Circle for ideas and support on how to help parents use the at-home publications that come with Shine: Living in God’s Light Curriculum.
- Buy, assemble and distribute kits for families.
- Distribute or provide links to free resources on the At-Home Resources webpage.