MILESTONES

Family Dedication

The first step on the Flight Plan is Family Dedication. This is a seminar and a ceremony that normally occurs for parents who have children between birth and one year of age. Parents, through a required seminar, learn how to become primary faith trainers for their children and accept the responsibility. Resources and learning opportunities are provided for the new parents desiring to dedicate their child to the Lord. During the ceremony, the church body commits to partner with the parents in the faith development of the child for the duration of the journey.

Faith Committment

An important milestone in the life of every person is salvation and baptism. For the child growing up in a Christian home and in the context of a local church, a decision point is often reached between the ages of 7 and 11. This decision may also occur later in life.

Between Milestone 1 and Milestone 2, we partner with and equip parents to lead their kids toward a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, which leads toward salvation. Parents are encouraged to attend a seminar that teaches the biblical truth about salvation and baptism, and are equipped and given resources to lead family devotions in their homes where these principles are taught.

To make this milestone steps memorable and special, families can include a Spiritual Birthday which focuses on the child’s date of salvation and a family celebration at and following the child’s baptism event. Parents are encouraged to invite family, friends, and those who spiritually influence the child.

Preparing for Adolescence

It is so important to help children prepare spiritually, emotionally, and physically for adolescence. Between the ages of 10 and 12, we begin to introduce these concepts to kids as they attend church ministries and activities. We also equip parents to intentionally prepare their children to enter the teen years. Parents are encouraged to attend a two hour seminar called Preparing for Adolescence: Parent Edition. This seminar teaches the basics concerning talking with your kids about relevant issues such as physical changes, identity in Christ, and sex. Parents will learn how to use James Dobson’s CD series called Preparing for Adolescence in the course of a road trip for just you and your maturing child.

Commitment to Purity

During Junior High, it becomes glaringly obvious that we must address “SEX” from a biblical perspective. The Student Ministry partners with parents by teaching students the importance of accountability, healthy friendships, and biblical standards for purity. At the same time we think it is much more important for students to learn these principles from their parents. We coach parents to focus on these issues in faith talks and intentional conversations before, and throughout the middle school years.

Rite of Passage

The passing of a child into adulthood is a significant event. Biblically, we must equip our children to become men and women of God. Age 16 is a significant time of freedom in our culture. Rite of Passage is not about keys to the car; instead, it is about becoming a man or woman of God. In our seminar we will equip you to disciple your freshmen and sophomore students for adulthood. Issues such as spiritual gifts, the roles of men and women, spiritual disciplines, service in the church, dealing with failure, and other Biblical issues will be explored both in your family devotion and on the church campus. We teach parents to host a very special “Rite of Passage” ceremony as the discipleship process has been completed and the student enters his or her 16th year of life.

High School Graduation

Between the ages of 16 and 18, parents must help their students develop the practical and spiritual skills to leave home. Our seminar teaches parents how to prepare their students for the world outside of the nest. This can be a very healthy time in the family journey if parents continue to keep the lines of communication open with their students. Issues such as basic apologetics, courtship and marriage, determining the will of God, life skills for living away from home, and other biblical issues will be explored both in family devotions and on the church campus. We teach parents to write out a spiritual blessing for their child to be presented at the Senior Summit just before graduation. These important years of discipleship are our last chance to shape the faith of our children before they are on their own.