Whether it be intentional or accidental, most churches approach next-gen discipleship from the perspective that church leaders are meant to be the loudest spiritual voices in the lives of kids and students. The Bible, however, makes it clear that God's original design and intention was for parents to assume this role and responsibility. It's important for church leaders to realign their mission with God's vision for families and take action to help reinstate parents to their rightful place as the primary spiritual leaders in the lives of their kids.
ParentEquip takes next-gen leaders on a journey of examining and redefining their role in discipling the next generation, so they can then equip parents to do the same. This book emphasizes that God's original design for generational spiritual formation remains the most effective way to develop the next generation today. The Church's approach to leading the next generation is not something that should change as culture shifts; church leaders have to dig in and work hard to ensure His original plan continues to be carried out. The goal of ParentEquip is to help next-generation leaders see the value of God's original design, reframe their perspective on both parents and youth/kids ministry in general, and then discover how they can leverage their ministry to impact the family unit as a whole.
The book begins with a biblical case for ParentEquip and establishes that God's plan has always been for parents to be the primary disciple-makers in the lives of their children. Reader's hearts will connect with God's heart for the family, leading them to recognize that what they do is not just about an individual child or teen, but instead the whole family unit. ParentEquip covers the foundational ministry mindset shifts required for next-gen leaders to pivot and fully embrace family ministry. The book wraps up walking leaders through simple, practical steps to start equipping parents to step into their God-given role as primary spiritual leaders today. As church leaders lean into the philosophy and strategies of ParentEquip, they will begin to see entire families transform, and their ministries will bear fruit that lasts from generation to generation.