Print the Parent Resource Guide

While the Student Ministries Department sees our role as significant, we understand that as a parachurch organization, we exist as a support to both the family and the church. It seems as though God has offered a structure of discipleship in a given student’s life. The first place that discipleship should occur is in the family. Dunn suggests, “The influence of the student’s family on his or her value system will exceed the influence of the teacher/staff member on most occasions.” In Souls in Transition, Christian Smith summarizes his study by suggesting, “The most important factor is parents. For better or worse, parents are tremendously important in shaping their children’s faith trajectories. That’s the story that came out in Soul Searching. It’s also the story that comes out here.” Finally, Chap Clark echoes these thoughts when he states, “The problem is that adults have not invested the time, energy, and commitment to reach adolescents. Both practical and academic literature show strong evidenced that youth ministry in its current form makes little difference in the future faith commitment of the vast majority of adolescents, especially when compared to the overwhelming influence of parents.”

Therefore, CVCA and the Student Ministries Department desire to partner with parents in the responsibility of raising a generation for Christ. The purpose of this resource guide is to aid parents in the profound and weighty responsibility of parenting.