In a previous post, ‘Using the Kid for Bait’, we agree that Child Dedications is a great time to grab parents attention.  Why?  Because they’re hungry for information… AND they’re not yet disillusioned with their ability to parent.

I said it.  And I own it.

After 9 years of parenting, I know my weaknesses.  I know my tendencies.  I’m slightly disillusioned with my ability to navigate the parental waters.  Sometimes I walk away from a parental encounter and I know I’ve done a good job.  Other times I walk away as baffled as my child.

Did I make the right decision?  Am I expecting too much of him?  Am I expecting enough?

So, I love to get with parents that have only been parents  for 5 minutes.  They’re so raw in the “I don’t want to mess this up” phase.  They’re willing to try something new and they still have enough faith in themselves to believe they can do it!  And if I have their attention, I want to shift their paradigm.

Many parents in my community parent with their eyes wide shut.  They just don’t realize that by doing what every other family is doing ultimately tears their family apart.   When I get mom/dad’s attention… Goal #1 is to open their eyes to their role as parent.  I open scripture to the all-familiar Deut 6:4-7 and walk them through the picture it paints.  A picture of  a family (not a church staff/volunteer/VBS/summer camp/bible study group) learning how to love the Lord their God with all their heart, mind and strength.   I keep it in simple terms, simple actions, simple processes that all result in a family invested in God and invested in each other.

Next week I’ll share more about the parenting skills I learned from ReThink that help give a framework to Deut 6.

Last week I posted about hooks in ministry.  Read it here to catch up.

Hooks are important in ministry b/c most people know what they want, but don’t know what they need.  I need a good hook to gain parents’ attention in order to expand their vision for their family.  The best hook in my tackle box for a young family is Child Dedications.

Child Dedications is a natural draw because:

• It’s the ’shiny’ moment where the parents showcase their child/family.
• Parents want to express their sincere intent to do what is best for their child.
• Parents are hungry for direction.

How do we know parents are hungry?

• They’ll pay $25 for the book, “What to Expect When Expecting”
• They study the origins of names searching for the perfect one
• They’ll tour the hospital BEFORE giving birth to their first-born

For the record… once you reach child #3… things change a little:

• That $25 book becomes a booster seat for the toddler
• Your kindergartner chooses the name based upon his favorite movie character.  And that’s how you have a child named Jack-Jack
• The hospital tour occurs while you’re pacing the halls in the midst of labor

But I digress.  Back to my point… Parents are willing to jump through a few hoops to participate in an event like Child Dedications.  So it should be more than just an isolated event.  Child Dedications should be a  process that lead mom and dad to embrace a God-sized vision for their family.  I’ll unpack my process for Child Dedications, but I’d like to hear your thoughts first.  No lurking. What’s the most important thing you want parents to know when they walk away from your Child Dedication event?

In-roads.  On-ramps.  Avenues.

I can be creative with the term.  When it comes down to it, the goal is the same.  Create an entry point to my ministry inserting the participant on a journey.  A pilgrimage toward loving the Lord their God with all their heart, mind and strength… and loving others more than they love themselves.  If I’m honest I’ll be on this pilgrimage for as long as I draw breath.

The process has been on my mind a lot lately.  Grasping a God-sized vision for families in my ministry… in my community.  What are the entry points that will attract their attention, capture their imagination, then engage them on a journey to willingly and deliberately live their lives differently?

My current hook is Child Dedications.  I’ll share some of my thoughts over a series of scattered posts.  (I’m not trapped by linear thinking )  They’ll all fall under the category titled Child Dedications, so click on the category link and you’ll be up to date.