Getting your kids through church without them ending up hating God

James Pope | September 2013 - Highfields Book of the Month

Rob Parsons, founder of Care for the Family, has written a book called ‘Getting your kids through church without them ending up hating God.’  Admittedly it’s not one of his catchiest titles, but his aim is to do exactly what it says on the cover.  His aim in his own words is, ‘my heart is that not one child loses their love for God.  And my prayer is simple; that this message will help prevent thousands of young people walking out of church forever.’  With that as his mission it should definitely be worth a look for all parents or anyone who is passionate about children and young people in the church.

It is an easy read, as the chapters are very short and written in Rob Parsons witty, natural way.  But some of the stories will challenge you to the heart; it will make you both laugh and cry!

The problem Parsons sets out to deal with is the number of young people who leave church as soon as they can.  He believes that in this they are not turning their back on God but rather what we have presented to them as church.  He tells of avoiding the jelly mould syndrome, forcing our children into our own church shape.  He then goes on to discuss five pitfalls of modern church culture that can quench a child’s faith.  He calls them the ‘big five’ comparing them to the major game animals in Africa; they are, ‘over-busyness’, ‘cynicism’, ‘hypocrisy’, ‘judgmentalism’, and ‘over-familiarity’.

I believe that this book would help every parent regardless at what point of life they are in.  I believe it is also an important read for our leaders and everybody else who belong to the family of God; we all have our opinions and expectations of kids in church, and this book will help us check if they are in line with God’s heart.  Some have read this book and gone away with a feeling of guilt.  I certainly don’t believe this was the aim of the book but rather to help us inspire our children and young people and give them a real vision of Jesus and His Church!