Raising Young Kids in the Faith

How do we evangelize our young children? Dave “The Ransom Is Paid” VanVickle and I share our experience raising young kids in the faith and give you practical ways to share Christ with them so they grow up with a strong faith.

Snippet of the Show

“Don’t isolate your children from the world out of fear. Teach them to be the salt and light of the world, not to escape the world.”

Raising Young Kids in the Faith:

• Start sharing the faith with your kids early. Don’t wait until you see red flags to share Christ with them. Christ should not be an emergency room doctor in the lives of your children.
  
  
• Be a witness. Make sure you model holiness to your children, and also talk about the faith at home regularly.
  
  
• Expose your children to a wide variety to Catholic traditions and spiritualities. Don’t impose your own spirituality on your children, allow them to build their own unique relationship with Christ.
  
  
• Do not reduce Christianity to just morality or rules.
  
  
• Explain the meaning behind all the things we do in regards to the faith.
  
  
• Foster a good grasp of the Kerygma. Try to incorporate the Gospel in family prayer.
  
  
• Teach your children to navigate the world by holding onto the good in the world and avoiding the evil in the world. Don’t isolate your children from the world out of fear, teach them to bring the salt and light of Christ into the world, not to escape the world. Remind them that the world is worth living for and teach them to discern between good and evil in the world.
  
  
• Implement natural discipline into their lives, discipline is needed in order to follow Christ.
  
  
• Stop trying to meet every need and desire of your child. Don’t try to keep them constantly entertained and busy. The Christian life is a fully human life, teach your children how to deal with being alone and how to deal with boredom.

3 Practical Takeaways

1. Learn about St.Philip Neri.
   
2. Purchase The Great Adventure Kids Catholic Bible Chronicles (ages 8-12).
   
   The Great Adventure Kids Catholic Bible Chronicles is designed to help children ages 8-12 understand the greatest story of all time. It features 70 stories carefully chosen to capture the story of salvation history in its entirety from Adam and Eve to Christ and the Apostles.
   
3. Provide moments of encounter to give your kids an opportunity to respond to Christ’s love.
   
   

Resources

• Email us at eksb@ascensionpress.com
• Text “EKSB” to 33-777 to subscribe and be added to Gomer and Dave’s email list
• Visit Dave’s website www.thecatholictruthaboutangelsanddemons.com and www.artofevangelization.com
• Visit Mike’s website at www.layevangelist.com
• Whisper: Finding God in the Everyday by Danielle Bean
• Ascension is pleased to offer our new and improved online bible study programs and sacramental preparation programs digitally to help you minister with flexibility. Go to ascensionpress.com to view all our offerings.