Leading Boomers to Commit to Godly Parenting

Written by Phil Briggs

The children of the “Boomer” generation, now the parents of today’s teens, are described with both positive and negative labels. Among their negative characteristics is that they shy away from commitments. So how do you help parents keep their commitment to godly parenting?

Understanding the thoughts and feelings of these Boomers can help you in leading them toward commitment. Try these suggestions to help parents make or renew their commitments to God and to parenting:

Help Boomer parents feel an ownership in what’s done for their teens. Avoid the temptation to isolate non-supportive parents. Continue to reach out to them and to communicate with them. They need support, education, and direction to keep them on the right parenting track.

Talk, talk, talk to parents. Parents of teens want and need information and feedback. Boomer parents are willing to support you and make commitments to help you when they see positive results. They need to see results for their time. Be sure to affirm them when they do participate, and encourage teens to express appreciation to their parents for their involvement and participation.

Be proactive in helping Boomers by providing information, resources, and parenting conferences. Take an active part in working with your adult minister to provide parenting newsletters, seminars, workshops, discipleship classes, and support groups for parents of teens. Commit yourself to the betterment of their families, and be available to meet needs. If you need help establishing parent ministry or organizing parenting events, enlist one or two parents to follow through with the planning and organization. Once Boomers see the proactive role you and your church are taking to provide help, they’ll make commitments to participate and possibly take leadership roles. Remember that Boomers like to see results for their investments. 

Encourage parent-teen relationships. Seventy-eight percent of American teens say their parents have a major influence on their lives. Affirm the mothers of teens, and nurture and encourage the dads. Plan events specifically for fathers to have one-on-one time with their teen, and do the same for mothers. Give them the opportunity to get to know one another better and build their relationship.

Provide Boomers with quick and easy ways to spiritually nurture their teens. Time is valuable with the heavy demands of family and the busyness of schedules. Boomers want to make every moment count. Provide devotional thoughts, prayer support, and remind them to have family Bible times. Promote the Family Bible Time in Living with Teenagers magazine. The Scriptures and applications are for both teens and parents to study together.

Help Boomers experience fresh praise and worship. Plan a joint parent-teen worship experience with the teens leading in worship and praise. Teach parents the choruses their teens sing. You’ll see a difference in parents’ faces and their attitudes as they praise God and worship Him.

Commitment: it’s needed and very important. Why is it so hard to get? It’s not. Get to know your parents of teens, love them in the Lord, let them know that you want to partner with them in parenting their teens, and their commitments to parenting and family will grow and flourish.

Phil Briggs is Distinguished Professor of Student Ministry and Youth Education at Southwestern Seminary in Fort Worth, Texas.

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