Einstein.
As the parent of three small children, and the owner of several Baby Einstein DVDs, I must say I wasn’t surprised when THIS news story broke on last week.
I have never been a big fan of this creatively hypnotic program series Disney created several years back for children, but my girls just had to have them, so I gave in. {How could anyone resist these kids?}
I think what is truly interesting about this story is not whether or not Disney actually sought out to create ‘educational’ videos for children, but that the parents involved in this lawsuit seemed to be more consumed with what Disney wasn’t doing, than what they were doing as parents.
As a former youth and student ministry director, it was always astonishing to discover how many parents who wholeheartedly believed that the primary responsibility of teaching their children about God and the core tenets of the Christian faith belonged to the local church.
Despite this faulty system, thousands of leaders burn themselves out every week trying to create and sustain a church ministry model God never intended for us to pursue.
There is absolutely no substitute for the love, guidance, and grace God freely gives through the institution of the family.
As a ministry survivor, sometime this week, I’d love for you to pass this small equation to your church youth or student ministry leadership team. It just might save their life.
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There are 52 Sundays in a year.
The average Sunday student worship service (children or youth) can last between 75-90 minutes.
Now, if you remove the time necessary for parents to check-in or register their children for service as well as the time needed to sit them in their seats accordingly, lead them in worship, and any other creative service programming prior to the actual period allotted for a message…
…the actual instructional time spent in front of our students can be anywhere between 15-30 minutes.
Guess what that equates to over the course of one year?
A maximum of 26 hours. That’s right, for the ENTIRE year.
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According to a survey done earlier this year by the Nielsen Company, the average American is now watching more than 150 hours of television per month, a combined average that is nearly six times the amount of time our children will spend in church for the year!
And we wonder why we can’t reach this generation?
Perhaps it’s time we (as parents) become an Einstein for our children to see…
…instead of simply sending them to one.
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Category: Church & Ministry
Amen bro. Great post this AM. Hope we can finally do a lunch now that I’m here regularly.
Peace!
It certainly seems like society wants the church, the school, even the police, to manage our children for us . . . to keep them “on the straight and narrow”, teach them correct behavior, etc. Of course that isn’t working, and will never work. We need to reach the parents. Not an easy project, but I just saw an important reminder for those of us willing to face these monumental struggles, “together the ants ate the elephant!”
I am a faithful reader of “Streaming Faith” and I get quite excited when you and Pastor Marques Boone write. I have had so many feelings that I can’t explain since this year is coming to a close. I call it a tug-of-war, the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak though I know that I can do all things through Christ that strengthens me. When I read your article today, one sentence made an impact on me and immediately tears began to flow down my cheeks, “I feel like I have gone as far as I can possibly go WITHOUT FAITH!” I thank you for allowing God to use you to write that article. Although it may not seem much but for people like myself (a poet) I needed that, God Bless You!
WOW! Extremely insightful, thought provoking and challenging. The stats really help to make this plain. I love your innate ability to make even the most most simple things profound. God Bless you!
As always Bro. Milan, so insightful and so prophetically true! Thanks for the enlightenment and continue to allow “Almighty God” to use your voice! You are truly a “Psalms 81:10″ kind of brother! Be Blessed!
Great article and infomation. I agree we as Parents and now Grandparents must take more responsiblity in the lives of these little angels ( our children and grand children) “The Lord” has entrusted (intrusted) into our care for nuturing. If we take on ownership as God has ordained we will have less time to blame or critic others. Thanks for your passion!!!