| Recently a friend and I were discussing our thoughts | | | | decide what person they will become. I cannot think of |
| about parenting. He and I share many common ideas | | | | a better place to find a wide range of role models than |
| and values, but there was one glaring difference in our | | | | in a church. I know there are many people that I look |
| styles -- church membership. He just could not | | | | up to among our congregation and I am sure that my |
| understand why I felt it important to raise my child in a | | | | son has many as well. |
| church community. He was not questioning why I | | | | Regularly attending church and Sunday School as well |
| wanted my child to have faith in God, but he could not | | | | as participating in the church community provides a |
| see how belong to a church family could be an | | | | child with many important guidelines for being a good |
| important parenting resource. | | | | person as well as a good Christian. Learning the |
| I explained to Tom that there are actually five reasons | | | | Golden Rule, the 10 Commandments, and Bible lessons |
| why I believe it is important to raise my son in a church | | | | are all an important part of that. Children also learn |
| community. | | | | from watching others and following that example. If |
| First is, of course, the issue of faith. I want my child to | | | | they see their parents and other adults giving of their |
| have a strong faith in God because I know that faith | | | | time, love, and money then they will be more giving as |
| will provide the comfort, solace, and inspiration to carry | | | | well. |
| him through the joys and tribulations that are in store | | | | Finally, I find Church teaches my child a lot about social |
| for him as a human. I know this from my own personal | | | | relationships. He has a group of peers that he has |
| experience as well as countless studies which have | | | | known since infancy and will grow to adulthood with |
| shown that people with faith in a higher being live | | | | but he also enjoys a spread of generations and |
| longer, happier, and more fulfilling lives. | | | | knows and loves people of many ages and |
| Belonging to a church is more than simply attending | | | | backgrounds that he likely would not know if not for |
| services on Sundays. It is about becoming a member | | | | church. Simply by raising my child in a church I have |
| of that community and that is a very important factor | | | | given him a number of social connections that I hope |
| in my decision for my child. His friends are children he | | | | will help learn and grow to be a man I can be proud of. |
| has known his entire life and his teachers and | | | | These five reasons are all powerful motivations for |
| caregivers are adults and teenagers we have known | | | | raising your child in a church community, but there is |
| for years. We have history and connections that | | | | one other important factor as well. Attending church, |
| brings us together for fun and fellowship as well as to | | | | and church community activities, is something that you |
| share troubles and celebrate joys. | | | | can do together as a family. Step off the hectic whirl |
| Every child needs a variety of role models to help | | | | of day-to-day life and into a community of faith. |