Podcast
Despite decades of effort since George Barna popularized the “parents as primary spiritual influence” framework in 2003, children’s ministry leaders still report that parents aren’t consistently discipling their kids at home. Awana’s 2022 research reveals why: it’s not a motivation problem on either side — it’s a structural one. Kids pastors spend the overwhelming majority of their time on administrative and logistical tasks, while parents consistently say no one has ever relationallyshown them how to disciple their children. The result is a stalemate: both parties want the same outcome but the ministry operating system isn’t built to produce it.
The practical solution isn’t an overhaul — it’s a calendar shift. Matt Markins argues that children’s ministry leaders should block two to four hours per week for relational parent engagement, but do it six to twelve months in advance, before the calendar fills with urgent tasks. Start with two or three families already doing it well, build from there iteratively, and eventually integrate parent-equipping as a standing program — like a new members class, but for discipling your own kids. The goal isn’t perfection or scale from day one; it’s moving from zero relational investment to something consistent and repeatable.
Show Notes
What You’ll Learn:
- Why the church-home partnership is stuck in a stalemate — and what the data actually shows
- How children’s ministry leaders really spend their time (hint: mostly admin)
- What parents say is the #1 reason they don’t disciple their kids at home
- The one calendar move that makes relational parent ministry actually sustainable
- How to start small — whether you lead a church of 50 or 5,000
Research Referenced:
Transforming Children into Spiritual Champions — George Barna (2003)
Faith of Our Children: Eight Timely Research Insights for the Next Generation — D6 (2022)
Forming Faith — Moody Publishers
Quotable: “Parents aren’t saying they don’t want to do this. They’re saying no one has ever shown them how.”
