037- Beth Meverden- Raising Kids Who Love Jesus and Won't Leave His Church

Are you ever afraid you are not doing enough to help your kids love Jesus and stay connected to His church?

In this episode, I talk with Bible teacher, author, and family ministry leader Beth Meverden about motherhood, ministry, church hurt, and what it really looks like to spiritually train our kids at home AND at church.

Beth shares from her book Church(ing) Kids and from nearly three decades in youth ministry. She explains why so many kids drift from the church after graduation, why discipleship has to start in the home, and how moms can model faith, invite hard questions, and intentionally train their kids in everyday life, not just in church programs.

If you are listening and thinking, “I want to disciple my kids, but I am not even sure what my gifts are,” start here.

👉 Take my free Spiritual Gifts Quiz to discover how God uniquely designed you and how your gifts can show up in your home, your church, and your community.

📺 Watch on YouTube @onlylovetodaymom

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Beth’s Resources

• 🌐 Website: https://bethmeverden.com

• 📖 Book: Church(ing) Kids by Beth Meverden

• Weekly devotional blog for parents: linked on her website

• “How to Share the Good News of Jesus with Your Children” free resource

Other Resources We Mentioned

• 🎵 Seeds Family Worship for scripture based worship songs for kids and families: https://www.seedsfamilyworship.com

• 🧠 Axis for help having hard cultural and faith conversations with teens: https://axis.org

• 📚 The Jesus Storybook Bible

• 📚 Hands On Bible for elementary kids

• 📚 Life Application Study Bible, NLT

If this episode was helpful, you will love these other conversations:

• Episode 36: 💪 Physical Strength, Mental Strength, and Motherhood with Lindsey Bomgren

• Episode 31: Nurturing God-given Gifts and Entrepreneurship in Your Kids with Jenn Wright

  TAKEAWAYS

  You are still one of the top influences in your child’s life, even in the teen years.

  Youth ministry and church programs are helpful, but they cannot replace discipleship that starts in the home.

  There is a big difference between teaching and training.

• • Teaching is information.

  • Training is modeling, coaching, and empowering your kids to live it out.

• 👀 Many kids leave the church because they never saw faith modeled at home, never learned to serve, and were trained to be spectators instead of participants.

• 🛟 Your home can be a safe place for hard questions. You do not have to have all the answers. You can be calm, honest, and point your kids to Jesus.

• 🧰 Training kids to serve in church builds a “church skill set” so they know how to plug into a local body when they are adults.

• 🙏 It is never too late to start spiritual training. Moms and grandmas can keep praying, keep loving, and keep pointing their kids and grandkids to Jesus.

  Time Stamps

  00:00 Navigating Motherhood and Ministry

  06:03 The Importance of Community in Faith

  08:55 Addressing Church Hurt and Finding Healing

  11:55 Discipleship: Training Children in Faith

  14:56 Balancing Family and Ministry Responsibilities

  17:05 Beth's Journey: From Youth Ministry to Empowering Parents

  19:27 Surrendering to a Higher Calling

  21:25 Empowering Teens Through Faith

  22:53 The Importance of Home Discipleship

  24:57 Reasons for Disengagement from Faith

  29:33 The Role of Church in Spiritual Growth

  32:30 Navigating Faith and Free Will

  35:54 Creating a Safe Space for Questions

  39:14 Empowering Parenting and Discipleship

  41:51 The Importance of a Relationship with Jesus

  43:50 Four Keys to Spiritual Training

  48:49 Encouraging Church Involvement and Service

  52:53 Practical Steps for Intentional Discipleship

motherhood, ministry, family, discipleship, church, education, parenting, faith, community, spiritual training, church hurt, youth ministry, spiritual gifts, Bible reading for kids, Christian mom, Christian parenting, home discipleship, family ministry, spiritual formation for children