Graduation day can feel like the end. In reality, it is the starting line for students to own their faith. As a Youth Pastor, I have watched students step into that moment ready, and I have watched others step into it unprepared. The difference often comes down to what happened at home and in their community long before graduation. I am learning this as a parent of a toddler: kids are watching everything! My son is copying how I talk, how I react, and even how I sigh. If they are that observant at two, imagine how much they absorb by seventeen. Here are three ways parents can help their teenagers get ready to live out their faith after graduation.
Model Your Faith at Home
The first thing that we can do as parents to help prepare our kids for strong faith after high school starts earlier than we think. More than what you say, how you live your life is the best preparation they can receive. Show them how to follow Jesus by having rhythms they can witness. Your child seeing you pray and read Scripture regularly gives them a model to follow. Talking about what God is teaching you around the dinner table lets them know that your faith is alive. Serving your neighbors together shows them that you value obeying Jesus’ words. Kids are observant! And over time, consistently letting them see your faith is a great way to prepare them for a life dedicated to Jesus.
Make Church a Priority
One of the greatest things that my parents gave me during my high school years was a love for my church. They always spoke positively about church and made a point of attending service every weekend growing up. As a family, it just wasn’t an option to miss church. The New Testament consistently emphasizes the importance of gathering with other believers. Singing together, sitting under the teaching of God’s Word, communal prayer, and practicing the sacraments (Baptism and Communion) are necessary for a thriving relationship with Jesus. We should not be surprised when a college freshman chooses to sleep in on a Sunday and skip church if that was a regular occurrence at home. If they are moving away from home after high school, help them through the process of choosing a church so they can form those habits as early as possible.
Invite Other Voices In
As a Youth Pastor, one of my favorite jokes to share with parents is this: “I say the same things you say at home, but for some reason, they actually listen when it comes from me!” The truth is, every student needs multiple trusted voices beyond their parents. Youth Group is one of the best places for those relationships to grow, because it connects students with other adults who love Jesus and genuinely care about them. As a parent, encourage those relationships. Offer to buy coffee for your student and their small group leader so they can have a one-on-one conversation. Challenge your student to join the Youth Group’s student leadership team. The old adage is true: it takes a village! Don’t be afraid to invite others into the story God is writing in your child’s life.
No parent does this perfectly, and that is okay. God loves your kids even more than you do, and He is already at work in their lives. Start with one of these three this week and trust Him with the rest.
Kyle Williamson
Director of Student Leadership Development
Photo by Andre Hunter on Unsplash