Building Credibility with Parents

1. Let parents know you care. Let them know that you are willing to do whatever it takes to get their teens to heaven. Don’t just tell them you care, show them. Plan quarterly meetings that keep them up to date on the present ministry and what will be happening over the next few months. Check the copyright information, and make copies of any articles you think will help make their job easier, then pop them in the mail. Plan a PAN (Parents Appreciation Night) to honor parents.

2. Provide parenting classes or workshops. This will help you create a family ministry and prove that you are interested in the adult side of youth ministry as well. Of course, an excellent resource would be Parents & Adolescents: Building Our Relationships Together, available soon from Teen.

3. Schedule a Family Retreat. Build credibility by building families. Few families today have enough time to get together regularly. Even fewer have the money to take a vacation together. Plan a Friday through Sunday retreat that will be inexpensive for families. Develop a family oriented theme, but keep a relaxed atmosphere that will provide plenty of time for parents and teens to explore, pray, and play together.

4. Attend events that their children are involved in. Although this was mentioned earlier from the teen perspective, parents will notice as well when you show up at their teen’s play, or basketball game.



Spot as many parents as possible in the crowd and make an effort to speak to them. You might think that working a room is only for business professionals. But they’re no fools, they know that the more hands they shake and the more sincere compliments they give will help make a positive lasting impression.

5. Use the telephone. Keep a list at your house and call parents just to see how they are doing. Ask if there is anything you can do that would help them as a parent. It will be a pleasant surprise that you are not calling to report misbehavior on the part of their child.



Designate 15 minutes three nights a week for these calls. You will be amazed at how many parents you can contact in 15 minutes. You will also be amazed at the level of friendship and trust you build as a result of these calls.

6. Send birthday cards. By the time you are an adult people rarely remember your birthday (maybe you don’t want them to). The church office should have a record of members’ birthdays. If not, send an information card to each family for them to fill out. This way you can make sure you have up to date addresses, email, telephone numbers, and birthdays. Mark all birthdays on your calendar and send a card a few days before. If you have the ability, send a homemade card designed especially for that particular parent.

7. Visit parents at home. Make an appointment to visit with the entire family. Ask about their dreams for the ministry and goals they may have. Ask about the ministry areas they feel have been successful.



In their homes, parents don’t feel pressured or intimidated - like asking to see them in your office. This open atmosphere will allow you and the parents to be yourselves.

8. Praise your parents and teens. Take every opportunity to brag publicly on your families. Parents love to hear their child’s name mentioned for something they accomplished. Parents may act embarrassed, but they like it too when they are mentioned for having such wonderful children.



Notice something special in each teen and then give the parents credit for it in private. If you notice that Julie always says “Yes, sir,” and “Yes, ma'am” let the parents get some praise. Say, “I notice Julie always treats adults with respect by saying ‘Yes, sir,’ and ‘Yes, ma'am.’ I want to thank you for raising your child with manners.”

9. Involve parents in special ways. Use a military parent for a war testimony when your class is on spiritual warfare. Bring in an accounting parent to show how God erases liabilities, and counts only assets. Allow them to use their experiences as a way to make Scripture real and interesting.

10. Form parent support groups. Parents can feel like they are facing their problems alone. They may feel like the only one facing a certain dilemma. Support groups help everyone involved realize that every parent struggles with some aspect of raising teenagers.



You may want to begin by asking a parent to facilitate the group for six weeks to determine how deep the need is in your congregation. Also, encourage the facilitator to provide open sharing. Parents may not be searching for answers as much as an empathetic ear.

Special tip: Always be sincere in your praise with parents and teens. These ten tips will help you build credibility only if they are genuine and from pure motives.

Article Source: http://youth-ministry-resources.com

Paul Evans is the co-developer of Teen Life Ministries. Teen Life is a youth ministry membership resource center for youth workers.

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