Published on: 18/08/2026
Does your ministry ever directly address the struggles and joys specific to parenting? Not only for the benefit of their child’s faith (supporting the parent to disciple their children) but also for the benefit of the parent’s own faith. Parenting young children isn’t just a time to ‘get through’ – though sometimes that’s an achievement in itself – but it’s also an opportunity for growth. It’s a chance to grow in patience, an opportunity to understand more of the heart of God, a chance to serve another person with nothing guaranteed in return. Parenting is fertile soil in which to grow in character and endurance and, according to Paul, in hope.
Not only so, but we also boast in tribulation, knowing that tribulation produces patience, patience produces character, and character produces hope. And hope does not disappoint, because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who has been given to us. – Romans 5: 3-5
The church can speak into this time in a person’s life. To direct them, support them, cry with them, celebrate with them, learn from them, and to witness how God is forming them.
In my view, it must start with prayer and getting to know the parents in your congregations. Are they mostly parents who are new to faith? Is there a group of committed Christian parents who are struggling to find time to feed their own faith? From there you can identify the people who are searching or struggling, and how you might be able to help them.
Some practical ideas as a starting point:
- Include parents, families and children in the Sunday morning prayers
- Creating a space which is welcoming to children is naturally going to make the parents feel more welcome but can you go one step further? A hot drink instead of just juice? Offering food or snacks to the adults as well as the children?
- Include activities, questions or prayer prompts aimed at adults during the informal family service (like Messy Church or Café Church)
- Direct the talks at your informal family service at the adults as well as the children
- If your family service is mainly focussed on the children, signpost to other groups aimed at adults
- Start or develop a small group that is accessible to parents. For example, by working around school drop off times or making it baby friendly
- Within the usual program of Sunday morning worship, provide opportunities for parents to regularly hear the main sermon. The sermon could be recorded to be listened to later or played on a speaker in the creche area
- On that note, normalise worship in the creche area. Could you provide a prayer station or even prayer ministry?
- Sometimes, direct your talks at the parents in the room. Use relevant anecdotes and biblical metaphors (the image of God as a parent isn’t just for Mothering Sunday!)
- Encourage parents to share their testimonies
A suggested prayer:
Father God, Thank you that You gently instruct and equip us for the challenges of ministry. Please bring to mind, now or in the coming days, the parents and families in my congregations and community. Help me to know them and their struggles, and give me wisdom for how to support their faith.
Amen
This week’s Blog post was written by Elise Deput, Church in Schools Enabler