fbpx
×

Log into your account

We have changed software providers for our subscription database. Old login credentials will no longer work. Please click the "Register" link below to create a new account. If you do not know your new account number you can contact [email protected]
Disciple-making in the home focus of September conference
C. Walter Overman, BSC Communications
July 17, 2014
3 MIN READ TIME

Disciple-making in the home focus of September conference

Disciple-making in the home focus of September conference
C. Walter Overman, BSC Communications
July 17, 2014

The Baptist State Convention of North Carolina (BSC) Disciple-Making Team will sponsor the Building Faith Filled Families Conference at Lakeview Baptist Church in Hickory Sept. 19-20. The team will focus on equipping pastors and parents to work together to build faith-filled homes that are marked by disciple-making.

“Faith starts at home and if the church desires to grow and build disciples, it must equip parents to make disciples at home,” said Eddie Thompson, BSC family evangelism and discipleship consultant. “We don’t want children to leave their home without having a strong emphasis on the truth of God’s Word, who they are in Christ, and how to live out their faith.”

According to the most recent research from the Barna Group, nearly 60 percent of 18-29 year-olds who grew up in Christian churches walk away from either their faith or from the church at some point during their first decade of adult life.

Family07-17-14.gif

Thompson believes an essential component of reversing that trend is for parents and pastors to work together in making disciples of today’s children and youth.

“We want to help the parents and the church be on the same page of discipleship,” he said. “Most parents would love to disciple their kids but many would say they don’t know how to do that.”

The two-day conference will feature breakout and plenary sessions plus roundtable discussions. Mark A. Holmen will be the keynote speaker. Holmen served as a pastor, consultant and a speaker for Focus on the Family. He is the author of several books including Faith Begins at Home, Impress Faith on Your Kids and Church + Home: The Proven Formula for Building Lifelong Faith.

Thompson said the first day of the conference would focus on equipping pastors and church staff to help parents “build strong families of faith. “If we don’t want kids to abandon the church and faith at college age, then we have to help these parents make disciples in the home. They only get one chance at this thing,” he said.

Day two of the conference will focus on parents and caregivers. Attendees will learn about disciple-making strategies for the home and how to overcome cultural barriers that limit discipleship opportunities in today’s families. There will be age-graded breakouts available.

Thompson said the biggest challenges to disciple-making in the modern home is technology and busy schedules for both parents and children. “Today’s parents are tired. Just watch young parents as they’re racing around to get their kids to all these places and events,” Thompson said. “Today’s families struggle to do so many things and faith development is too often near the bottom of the list.”

Given the cultural trends of young adults leaving the church, Thompson said this is an important topic for the church and parents.

“We can have the greatest church programs in the world, but if we don’t encourage faith at home and see discipleship among our kids it’s not going to prove very effective,” he said. “Faith has to start at home. There is just no choice about where it begins.”

Registration deadline is Sept. 12. Lakeview Baptist Church in Hickory will host the conference. Each day’s schedule is from 9 a.m. until 3 p.m. Friday’s cost is $20 per person/$25 per couple (includes lunch). Saturday’s cost is $15 per person/420 per couple (includes lunch). Visit ncbaptist.org.