Our ministry exists to glorify God by assisting parents in Reaching and Equipping students through the Word of God to present each one complete in Christ.
This is the Purpose Statement of the Student Ministry at IBC. You notice that I bolded one section “by assisting parents.” As I examine the past 5 years I have served as a shepherd to students here at IBC, this area of assisting parents is the place I feel we have made the least amount of progress and I am deeply grieved over this. It is my desire to focus on this over the next few years and by God’s grace, to do a better job in this critical role. Why do I feel this is so important? Well I could say it is because statistically Parents hold the most influential role in their children’s lives hands down (One survey of 272,400 teens found that %70 of them identify their parents as the most important influence in their life) I could also say it is important from my years of ministry experience and seeing that the kids who “last” are primarily the ones who come from families that honor and love God. I could also say it is important from personal experience where in my own life my parents life and faith was the SINGLE most important factor in my own growth and maturity in Christ. But all of those are secondary to the most important reason of why we must make assisting parents our primary goal… and that is because God’s Word says so J below is the section taken from our Philosophy of ministry that explains our position on assisting parents.
by assisting parents…
Scripture is clear whose ultimate responsibility it is to “make known” the things of the Lord to our children. Parents have been given the primary responsibility for the spiritual life of their children. Scripture gives them the responsibility to; 1. “command their children and their household after them to ?keep the way of the Lord” (Gen 18:19) 2. “teach them (The commands of God) diligently to your sons and shall talk of them when you sit in your house and when you walk by the way and when you lie down and when you rise up. (Deut. 6:7) 3. manage his own household well, keeping his children under control with all dignity (Titus 3:4) and 4. Set the spiritual tone and direction for their family, “choose for yourselves today whom you will serve… but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” (Josh. 24:15)
Because it is clear that Biblically the responsibility of the Spiritual development of children falls primarily upon parents, it is our desire as a ministry to come along side parents and to assist them in teaching their children the “Fear of the Lord and to keep his commands.” We see this relationship as a partnership in which we are able to come along side and encourage parents in their faithful service to the Lord. We also desire to never undermine the parent’s role or responsibility in their children’s lives and to seek to support parents in all issues that do not go directly against the teaching of Scripture.
That is our desire! But I need your help! I would greatly appreciate any input you could give to me in the following areas.
1. How can we help you with resources that will assist and encourage you in the leading of your family and the spiritual formation of your children? What kind of resources would you find practical and useful?
2. What training can we provide that would be beneficial for you as the primary discipler of your children? What would be the best format for that training? (Confrence, small group, online forums, etc.) What specific areas would you like to see training in? (Basic Parenting, Discipline, Marriage, Discipleing, family activities, Family worship time, General Bible knowledge, communication, problem solving, etc.)
3. How can we better involve you in our Ministry?
4. How can we better communicate with each other?
5. What other information would you like me to have in assisting you to disciple your teenagers?
So that is the goal. In an age of professionalization of every profession it is sad when the roles get skewed and the church is seen as the primary discipler of teenagers. That is NEVER how God intended it to be and it not our desire as a ministry. God left behind two institutions on earth to proclaim His glory and equip the next generation… the family and the church. We must work hand in hand to see this work accomplished. I want to do a better job at it and I pray that you will help me.
Please take some time to respond to this and let me know how we can do a better job. If you have specific things you would like to talk about in person my door is always open and my cell is 808-0755 if you ever need to talk.
Also…. If you have not taken advantage of our vehicles of communication let me remind you what they are.
Details about our ministry including a calendar of events can be found at http://sm.indbible.org You will be able to find the most current information as well as a ton of useful links to Christian websites. You can also download our Sunday morning sermons if you want. Our facebook page is www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=2357232416 if you use facebook. You can join our group and get updates on info as well.
If you are not on our txt msg list please send and email with your cell number and name to Phil@indbible.org and we will add you.
To see videos of past events we have done at IBC visit out our group on Vimeo at http://vimeo.com/groups/ibccrossroads
Thanks again,
Phil Kooistra
Student Ministry Pastor
Independent Bible Church
112 N. Lincoln St.
Port Angeles, WA. 98362
360.452.3351 ext 111
e-mail & MSN IM: Phil@indbible.org
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=502695890
Web: http://sm.indbible.org
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Parent Ministry of IBC 