RELEVANT CHILDREN'S MINISTRY

There are a few times during the year when you have a great opportunity to partner with parents (outside of the normal things you do each week).  One of those is when their children go back to school.  This is a big deal for many parents, especially if their kids are entering in a new season such as first day of preschool, going into elementary school or transitioning into middle school.  Parents are experiencing a wide range of emotions like nervousness, excitement, anticipation, sentimentalness (I just made that word up), hope, fear and more. 

This is a great time to support them and turn their attention to the power of praying for their children.  One way you can do this is by providing them with a back-to-school prayer they can pray for and with their child.  You can get this to them through social media, email and an old-school print copy handout.  I recommend using all three of these to make sure they get it. 

Here are two prayers I have shared with parents.  Feel free to use.  It might just be what God uses to jump-start parents to start praying for and with their children on a daily basis. 

A Prayer With Your Child

Dear God,

Thank you for ____________. As he/she begins this school year,

help him/her to use the talents and gifts you've given him/her to do his/her very best.

May he/she listen to his/her teachers with respect.

Help him/her be honest if he/she is ever tempted to cheat.

Help him/her to always tell the truth, be kind to everyone at school,

and treat others as he/she would like to be treated.

Help him/her to make good friends and be a good friend to others.

And help him/her to remember that You’re always with him/her.

and that You’ll never leave his/her side.

May he/she love You and follow You with all his/her heart, soul, and strength.

In Jesus' name we pray, Amen.

 
A Prayer for Your Child

Father,

Enable _______________ to stand strong in Christ. (2 Timothy 3:10-12)

Give him/her a hunger for learning. Enable him/her to use his/her ability to think and learn. (1 Samuel 2:10)

May he/she study and work with diligence. (Proverbs 10:4-5)

I pray that he/she will develop healthy relationships with others. (Proverbs 13:20)

Show him/her how to relate to others with compassion, respect, and understanding. (Ephesians 4:32)

I ask that he/she will have good relationships with the teachers and the administration and show them respect. (Romans 13:1)

I pray that Your Holy Spirit will do a powerful and gracious work in his/her heart. (John 16:7-11)

May he/she love You and follow You with all his/her heart, soul, and strength. (Deuteronomy 6:5-6)

In Jesus' name we pray, Amen.