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Work through nine in-depth Bible study sessions following Get, Grow, Glow, and Go to discover the Christian mission. This Bible study includes bonus interviews with Dr. Ken Schurb and is perfect for any group size. Find this title and others listed in this magazine at cph.org/llresources. LIFELIGHT FOUNDATIONS: THE CHRISTIAN'S MISSION It's also true that raising a child in the faith takes a village (or a church!). Even if you don't have children of your own, as a member of the family of Christ, you can play a role in encouraging and supporting parents—es- pecially young parents—in the great responsibility and privilege they have in teaching the faith. How? Here are a few ways to get started: Baptism. Church leaders and laypeople can encourage parents to bring their children to the waters of Baptism, where their child is marked as one redeemed by Christ crucified and is clothed in His righteousness. Infants and young children are completely dependent upon their parents to provide for all their needs. Parents don't feed their children only the foods the children want; no, they serve healthy foods that provide nu- trition to help their children grow big and strong. So similarly, parents shouldn't feel societal pressure to let their children choose if they want to be baptized or when. In Baptism, we receive the life-saving work of Christ. Why withhold this most precious gift that has eternal ramifications? Parents want what is best for their children, so we can encourage them to bring their children to Baptism to receive the best gift possible: eternal life with Jesus. Know their names. Witnessing a child's Baptism isn't a spectator sport. We, the Church, stand with the parents and child in confessing the faith into which the child is being baptized. We welcome the child as a new family member—a fellow brother or sister in Christ. As such, we join parents in the responsibility of looking after and caring for their child. Before anything else, this means learning their names. It's nearly impossible to have any kind of meaningful relationship with a nameless person. For parishioners wanting to know how to encourage youth in their faith, start with learning their names—and using them! Intentionally say hello to Bella and Judah and Ava every time you see them each week. Even if they seem disinterested or aloof, they'll take notice of you notic- ing them. The outcome? They'll know they have a place here, that they're part of this family. Church is their home. Knowing children's names is just as important for out- reach too. With this in mind, one church has rethought how it does Vacation Bible School to better know and form relationships with the kids—and parents—in the community. The church now hosts smaller VBS-like camps throughout the summer, with no more than twenty-five kids in each camp. While VBS workers at the church may not be able to say they had 500 kids on their church campus over the course of the summer, the VBS workers know the names of the 150-plus kids they do connect with, and they are forming meaningful relationships that can lead to future connection points. For some camps, parents are invited to attend and be involved in the activities, learning alongside their chil- dren and developing friendships with other families. What's the benefit of this approach? The most effective outreach starts with forming genuine relationships. This is one way to form relationships with children and families in the church's neighborhood. What does it look like to form genuine relationships with children and families in your community? Know their needs. For one church, this looks like partnering with a neighboring elementary school to provide at-risk students assistance during the COVID-19 pandemic. When schools closed, some students didn't have the technology, resources, or support to have a successful online learning experience. In response, St. Luke's Lutheran Church in Federal Way, Washington, worked with Mirror Lake Elementary School to identi- fy students who needed extra support and provide a safe space, technology, and volunteer teaching at the church—a healthy and effective environment for stu- dents. Not only is the church reaching a real need in the community, but it is also developing mutual respect and trust with the families and school, setting them up for future engagements. What needs in the community is your church equipped to meet? w 1 https://www.barna.com/research/children-faith-formation/ Lutheran Life 15

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