“Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one. You shall love the LORD God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise.”
Deuteronomy 6:4-7
Family Ministries Pastor
Our families are part of God’s perfect design for creation. As parents, we are to impress the commands of God on our children in everyday life as we walk along the road, as we sit at home, when we lie down, and when we get up. (Deuteronomy 11:19.) While this primary responsibility is in our hands as parents, God’s intention is not that we go it alone. The church is meant to partner with parents, serving as “another voice” in the life of our children.
Berean has created a strategy to partner with parents providing for maximum spiritual impact in the life of a child. The Family Ministry Discipleship Plan provides a map for parents to follow in the discipleship process of their child and an avenue for the church to partner with parents.
Child Dedication
Child Dedication is the first step in discipling your child. During one of our FaithFamily Celebrations, typically within your child’s first 18 months of life, you publicly commit your child to the Lord and devote yourself to being the spiritual leader in your child’s life.
In turn, the church body promises to partner with you in guiding your child’s faith development. At Berean, we provide training and resources to prepare you as your child’s primary faith trainer.
Core Competencies: Parent as a spiritual leader, trainer, evangelist
Family Celebration: Child Dedication Celebration | Berean performs Child Dedications during our quarterly FaithFamily Celebrations.
Register your child for Dedication
Faith Commitment
Your child’s response to the gospel for salvation is the “Central Station” on our Family Discipleship map. We partner with and equip you to lead your child toward a personal relationship with Jesus Christ – to help your child understand repentance, receive God’s gift of grace, and to follow through with obedience in baptism.
Core Competencies: Jesus, faith/belief, sin, repentance/confession, forgiveness, salvation, eternity, and baptism
Family Celebration: Faith Commitment Family Meal
Faith in Practice
Now your child will learn how to put faith into action. A genuine faith commitment should influence every aspect of life – and we provide you with training and resources to help your child learn to live out this newfound faith and join the mission of the local church. We challenge families to regularly serve God and others together.
Core Competencies: Spiritual gifts, service, the Great Commission, humility/selflessness, the church, missions, prayer, Bible study, and evangelism
Family Celebration: Family Journal
Preteen Passage
Between the ages of 10 and 12, kids undergo a lot of physical, emotional, and cognitive changes. As a parent, your task is to prepare your child spiritually, emotionally, and physically for those changes. You’ll teach your child to navigate new realities and thought processes in the context of a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. We will equip you to discuss topics related to physical changes, current culture, personal identity, and a prevailing faith as you prepare your child for life as a teenager.
Core Competencies: Identity in Christ, spiritual growth, spiritual disciplines, theology, and navigating culture
Family Celebration: Road Trip
Commitment to Purity
Today’s culture influences teens to view sex, gender, and relationships in ways that are increasingly counter-biblical. Sexual purity is among the biggest battlefronts in the spiritual growth and maturity of our young people. At Berean, we equip you and provide resources to help you teach your child about accountability, healthy friendships, and biblical standards for purity. We are committed to supporting you in the all-important task of engaging in intentional conversations about these topics and maintaining ongoing dialog.
Core Competencies: Biblical purity, healthy relationships, identity in Christ, biblical sex, dating/marriage, and accountability
Family Celebration: Commitment to Purity Dessert
Transition to Adulthood
The Bible commands us to disciple our children to become men and women of God. At Berean, we equip you to prepare your freshman and sophomore students for adulthood through conversation and instruction on issues such as the roles of men and women, Christian ethics and philosophy, and so much more. Berean supports and reinforces the process through our educational ministry. Through this milestone, students will mentally and practically transition from being a child to a maturing young adult within the home.
Core Competencies: Roles of men and women, Christian ethics and philosophy, being a person of influence, life skills, and spiritual leadership
Family Celebration: Rite of Passage Weekend
Life in Christ
Following Jesus is a lifelong journey. Between the ages of 16 and 18, students must develop the practical and spiritual skills to prepare them to live on their own. As a parent, one of your tasks is to keep the lines of communication open – basic apologetics, determining the will of God, dating, and marriage, life skills, and other biblical issues become the fodder for discussion and instruction. These critical years of discipleship are a chance for parents to shape the faith of their students and set the tone for offering valuable spiritual advice on into adulthood.
Core Competencies: Authentic faith, apologetics, being an obedient follower, being a disciple maker, generous living, community, and autonomy
Family Celebration: Grad Banquet
Books, blog posts, articles, and other resources to help equip you as you disciple your child.
In conjunction with our physical resource center at each of Berean's campuses, this online resource center features a greater list of suggested reading from our Family Ministry team and insight to help you, no matter what milestone you may be working toward with your child.
BK Line
SH Line
All Lines
All Lines
SH Line
ResourcesAn overview of the lessons (including Team KID memory verse) and ideas of how to continue
the conversation at home for both Team KID and Preteen.
The Bible story that you can read with your child and an overview of the lesson. Included are discussion questions, a family activity, and other resources to use to spend time together in God's word. Preteen Daily Reading Bible verses are also included.
Resources