The Power of Parents

Parents, you hold the weight of influence in your children's lives. To be honest, what I see many times happen in student's lives is just an overflow of what is happening in the home. I believe that although we are often a product of our environment, students can learn to surrender their lives to serving Christ. Leadership is caring for their soul more than their immediate happiness. I see this in many parents in the past 6-7 years of student ministry. In high school many parents decide that their child has arrived in complete spiritual maturity! Every decision is left up to their students such as church attendance, dating, money management and so forth. What many parents do is spend years and countless hours trying to help their child make the wise choice growing up and then when they become a high school student, they let go of leadership and expect their child to make the right choices. Parents, it is crucial that you stay focused even during the high school years of leading your students to Jesus, not stepping out of the picture. I believe this is the most important time to care more for their soul than their happiness. It is a hard time, they are struggling through who they are and their future plans.

You see, the more I work with students the more I see the importance of the environment in the home. Parents, what you do in moderation, you children will do in excess! Student ministers and churches only have a few hours a week to invest in students. Parents are the biggest influencers in the lives of their children. Period. Good or bad.

My parents were loving and passionate about serving Christ. I only say that because the person that I saw preaching the gospel on Sundays was preaching the gospel through his words and life during the week. God used my Dad and Mom to speak the gospel into my life which led to my salvation in the living room on my knees. They did not base serving God on feelings, what other people thought but based on the love that was received from Christ on the cross. Parents, you are so vital to a student's spiritual growth.

My prayer and exhortation for parents of students to be heroes for Christ:

- Dad: Surrender your LIFE to Jesus and live it out for your wife and children. It is the greatest gift to your family. Challenge your sons to make Jesus the center of their lives. Show them how to share their faith. Lead them to church! Not out of duty but because of your passion to serve and honor God. Teach your children that hobbies do not equal happiness, but joy comes through serving God with your gifts and abilities! In every way, point people to Jesus. Be a man. Never back down from truth. Love your wife like Christ loves the church. Be a protector. Be strong but gentle at heart. Teach your children that greed is the love of money. We need more men to stand for something and quit standing for things that do not matter in eternity!

- Mom: Love your children and husband like Christ. Model to your daughters the Proverbs 31 woman. Show them modesty, unconditional love and dedication to the gospel. Be submissive to your husband and work together as a team to serve God. Never be the parent that says, "Not my baby!" Be a leader of your children and care more for their holiness than their immediate happiness. Use your words to build people up and not tear them down. Say no to gossip and say yes to encouragement. Be active at church, small group and missions.

Leadership in the home is powerful. Take advantage of the time that your children are still home before they graduate high school! Don't be so fearful of them that you step out of the picture and release all control to their emotions, hormones and friend's decisions. Care for their soul and lead them to serve Jesus!

Happy Birthday Justin!

My youngest brother, Justin turns 21 today! Wow, it seems just yesterday we were playing basketball in the front yard as kids. Justin is passionate about life! He is my bestfriend (besides Jeff, my older brother) and I'm so thankful for his life. He uses his gifts and abilities from God to spread the gospel. He has gone on numerous international mission trips over the past few years with his limited time in college. I'm grateful for him because of his devotion to becoming a man after God's own heart. I'm grateful that he continues to persevere and press on in his journey with God.

A few things I have learned from Justin:

1. Make the most of every minute. Don't waste life. Go above and beyond what the culture says and live for God! I'm thankful for a little brother that inspires me to never become apathetic, but live everyday with passion.

2. Use creativity to engage people with the gospel. Justin uses videos and film-making to present the gospel and the truth of God's Word. God's hand is on his life and I look forward to how Justin will continue to reach multitudes of people through film.

3. Be a leader. Justin is passionate about truth being proclaimed and he is a leader. Justin usually has new friends each time I come to hang out. He is able to rally people together for movies, church or just to spend time together.

4. Do your best. Justin is a competitor. Growing up we (his 3 older brothers) were tough on him and taught him to play sports. He became tough as nails on the basketball court and wouldn't back down from players twice his size! Justin is a loyal and faithful brother to me, Jeff and Jordan. Justin loved Jordan as much as a person can. Jordan would be so proud of the man Justin has become.

If I could, I'd hire Justin to work with me and make amazing youth videos and films! If you need someone to do quality filming, he is your guy!

I love you Justin!

- Check out Justin's youtube channel and subscribe!

- Check out Justin's website (highlights his films).