Parent Resources
Online Resources for Parents
Center for Parent/Youth Understanding – CPYU is a nonprofit organization committed to building strong families by serving to bridge the cultural-generational gap between parents and teenagers. At a time when an already confusing youth culture is changing quickly, CPYU helps parents, youth workers, educators, and others understand teenagers and their culture so that they will be better equipped to help children and teens navigate the challenging world of adolescence.
CPYU Youth Culture & Trends (news from the world of Youth Culture) – An eye-opening look in to the current trends of youth culture ranging from movies, music, media, quotes, and the like. This is a must see for any parent wanting to become more aware of the soup their teens are swimming in.
Plugged In – A Focus on the Family publication designed to help equip parents, youth leaders, ministers and teens with the essential tools that will enable them to understand, navigate and impact the culture in which they live. Entertainment is a potent influence on our culture for both good and evil. Through our reviews and discussions of that entertainment, we hope to spark intellectual thought, family discussion, spiritual growth and a strong desire to follow the command of Colossians 2:8. “See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the basic principles of this world rather than on Christ.”
RELEVANT Magazine – RELEVANT is a multimedia company looking to impact culture with the message that even though religion may be seen as irrelevant, a personal relationship with God is a relevant — and vital — aspect of a fulfilled life. We want to engage people in a conversation about faith. We want to challenge worldviews and cause people to see God outside the box they’ve put Him in.
HomeWord – HomeWord seeks to advance the work of God in the world by educating, equipping, and encouraging parents and churches to build God-honoring families from generation to generation. “Train up a child in the way he should go, even when he is old he will not depart from it.” Proverbs 22:6
FBC Willmar’s Facebook page – Facebook is a social networking site that most of today’s students are immersed in. Our church has a facebook page and we encourage you to check it from time to time to be updated. You can also access the church’s main website page: www.fbcwillmar.com
10 Tips for Getting Your Student Connected:
- - Make church a priority in your family schedule. (If your student doesn’t see YOU making church a priority they are less likely to make it a priority of their own.)
- - Make attendance a habit for your student. (Bringing them consistently will help them develop a good habit of being involved AND it will soon grow to be “just what they do”.)
- - Serve as a volunteer (showing them YOUR willing to not just show up and leave gives them more desire to want to not just go to Church but to participate in community)
- - Commit to attend a specific Sunday service.
- - Take advantage of special events throughout the year. (The reason we have events in the first place is for CONNECTION! Secondary reasons are to provide opportunities for students to have some ‘good, clean, fun’. The foundational reason is the get them in to a closer relationship with Jesus! The more events your students go to, the more likely they are to connect with someone they can relate to, which provides them a friend to DO LIFE with! Very strategic I know.)
- - Monitor the group your student runs with. (It’s a big teller for where they may be headed.)
- - Come by anytime and observe.
- - Ask your student what they learned at REFUGE, Small Groups, and SURGE.
- - Feel free to contact Pastor Miles to inquire about REFUGE or express concerns. Our desire is to come along side parents in their relationship with their student, not replace or get in the way. If there is any way we might be able to better serve you, please don’t hesitate to ask.
- Pray for your student, their friends, and Refuge Student Ministry.