Adults Are Influencers
As a kid growing up, I did not have many positive role models.
There were people I looked up to, but not all of them wanted to be role models. I remember hearing professional athletes say things like, “I’m not a role model.”
But here is what I believe:
All adults are role models in some respect.
That does not mean we are perfect. That does not mean we have everything figured out. But it does mean we have influence.
And I am okay with being an imperfect positive role model.
That phrase matters to me because it reminds us that we do not have to be perfect to make a difference. We do not have to have all the answers to point kids and teens in the right direction. We need to be willing, growing, faithful, and available.
Adults Have Influence
When we talk about Proclaim Ministries helping kids and teens connect faith and life, we are not only talking about creating resources for young people. We are also talking about equipping the adults to disciple them.
Parents, grandparents, pastors, children’s ministry leaders, youth leaders, teachers, coaches, and caring adults all have influence in the lives of kids and teens.
And especially for parents, that influence is powerful.
You may not always feel like your kids are listening. You may wonder if what you say is making a difference. You may even feel like someone else has more influence than you do.
But do not underestimate the role God has given you.
You are one of the closest voices in their lives. You see things others do not see. You have opportunities others do not have. You are positioned to help shape their hearts, choices, faith, and view of God.
That influence is a gift. But it is also something we must steward well.
There were people I looked up to, but not all of them wanted to be role models. I remember hearing professional athletes say things like, “I’m not a role model.”
But here is what I believe:
All adults are role models in some respect.
That does not mean we are perfect. That does not mean we have everything figured out. But it does mean we have influence.
And I am okay with being an imperfect positive role model.
That phrase matters to me because it reminds us that we do not have to be perfect to make a difference. We do not have to have all the answers to point kids and teens in the right direction. We need to be willing, growing, faithful, and available.
Adults Have Influence
When we talk about Proclaim Ministries helping kids and teens connect faith and life, we are not only talking about creating resources for young people. We are also talking about equipping the adults to disciple them.
Parents, grandparents, pastors, children’s ministry leaders, youth leaders, teachers, coaches, and caring adults all have influence in the lives of kids and teens.
And especially for parents, that influence is powerful.
You may not always feel like your kids are listening. You may wonder if what you say is making a difference. You may even feel like someone else has more influence than you do.
But do not underestimate the role God has given you.
You are one of the closest voices in their lives. You see things others do not see. You have opportunities others do not have. You are positioned to help shape their hearts, choices, faith, and view of God.
That influence is a gift. But it is also something we must steward well.
All of our influence has an expiration date. Let’s not let it go to waste.
We Cannot Reach Them All Alone.
We want to help kids and teens connect their faith with their lives. That is a big part of our mission.
But here is the truth: I cannot reach every kid. I cannot disciple every teen. I cannot personally walk alongside every family, every church, every children’s ministry, or every student ministry.
But together, we can reach more.
That is why equipping adults is so important.
When we equip adults, we multiply the ministry.
It is not just one person teaching. It becomes many people teaching, leading, loving, praying, discipling, encouraging, and pointing kids and teens to Jesus.
Equipping the Saints for Ministry
This idea is deeply biblical.
Ephesians 4:11–12 says:
“And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ.”
That passage reminds us that the work of ministry is not only done by pastors, preachers, and teachers. One of the roles of leaders in the church is to equip God’s people for the work of ministry. As a teacher and preacher, I do get to do ministry. I get to teach kids, teens, and adults. I get to preach, create resources, speak, and encourage people.
But part of my calling is also to equip others to do the work of ministry.
That is why Proclaim Ministries creates resources not only for kids and teens, but also for the adults to disciple them.
We want to help adults teach with clarity, lead with confidence, and disciple with purpose.
More Than Just the How-To
When people think about ministry training, they often think about practical tools.
And yes, we want to provide those.
We want to help adults learn:
But ministry is not only about learning techniques.
Ministry is also about becoming the kind of person God wants us to be.
We do not simply go do ministry. Ministry should be the overflow of our lives.
As God fills us, He uses us to pour into others. That includes the kids and teens around us.
So when we equip adults, we are not only trying to give them strategies. We are trying to help them grow in their own faith too.
One of the beautiful things about discipling kids and teens is that the adults grow too.
When you teach a Bible lesson, you are learning.
When you prepare to explain a memory verse, you are being shaped by that verse.
When you help a child understand the gospel, you are reminded of its beauty yourself.
When you guide a teen through questions about faith and life, you are challenged to think deeply and live faithfully.
I know so many memory verses today because I taught them to kids. I wanted them to know the verses, but I also had to know them. I had to understand them. I had to explain them in a way that was clear and meaningful.
Teaching kids has helped disciple me too.
That is one of the reasons I believe being involved in ministry is so important.
Whether you are in full-time ministry, part-time ministry, volunteer ministry, parenting, mentoring, or simply influencing the people around you, you are in ministry somewhere.
You are influencing someone.
You are somebody’s imperfect positive role model.
So embrace it.
Equipping Adults Who Disciple Kids
We want to reach kids and teens. But we also want to reach and equip the adults who are discipling them.
hat includes parents who want to lead their kids spiritually but may not know where to start. It includes children’s ministry leaders who want to teach the Bible clearly.
It includes youth leaders who want to help students connect faith with real life.
It includes pastors, volunteers, churches, and everyday believers who want to make a difference in the next generation.
That is why we create resources like Bible teaching series, training videos, leadership resources, curriculum, curriculum training, and the Connecting Faith & Life podcast.
The goal is not simply to give adults more information.
The goal is to help adults become more equipped, more confident, and more faithful as they disciple kids and teens.
This Is Multiplication
When we equip adults, the ministry multiplies.
One resource can help one leader teach a group of kids.
One training can help one parent have better conversations at home.
One curriculum can help a church strengthen its children’s ministry.
One podcast episode can encourage someone to keep going when they feel discouraged.
One equipped adult can impact many kids and teens over time.
That is why this part of the ministry matters so much.
We are not only creating content for today. We are investing in people who will continue to teach, lead, and disciple others.
And this work is not limited to one church, one city, or one country. We hear from people in different places, even different parts of the world, who are finding and using these resources.
That is exciting because it reminds us that God can use simple resources to encourage and equip people far beyond what we can see.
Thank You, Proclaim Partners
We want to help kids and teens connect their faith with their lives. That is a big part of our mission.
But here is the truth: I cannot reach every kid. I cannot disciple every teen. I cannot personally walk alongside every family, every church, every children’s ministry, or every student ministry.
But together, we can reach more.
That is why equipping adults is so important.
When we equip adults, we multiply the ministry.
It is not just one person teaching. It becomes many people teaching, leading, loving, praying, discipling, encouraging, and pointing kids and teens to Jesus.
Equipping the Saints for Ministry
This idea is deeply biblical.
Ephesians 4:11–12 says:
“And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ.”
That passage reminds us that the work of ministry is not only done by pastors, preachers, and teachers. One of the roles of leaders in the church is to equip God’s people for the work of ministry. As a teacher and preacher, I do get to do ministry. I get to teach kids, teens, and adults. I get to preach, create resources, speak, and encourage people.
But part of my calling is also to equip others to do the work of ministry.
That is why Proclaim Ministries creates resources not only for kids and teens, but also for the adults to disciple them.
We want to help adults teach with clarity, lead with confidence, and disciple with purpose.
More Than Just the How-To
When people think about ministry training, they often think about practical tools.
And yes, we want to provide those.
We want to help adults learn:
- How to teach a memory verse.
- How to facilitate a small group.
- How to connect with kids.
- How to connect with teens.
- How to lead a lesson.
- How to use curriculum.
- How to talk about faith in everyday life.
But ministry is not only about learning techniques.
Ministry is also about becoming the kind of person God wants us to be.
We do not simply go do ministry. Ministry should be the overflow of our lives.
As God fills us, He uses us to pour into others. That includes the kids and teens around us.
So when we equip adults, we are not only trying to give them strategies. We are trying to help them grow in their own faith too.
Because the more we are shaped by God, the more we can help shape the next generation.
Adults Grow While They DiscipleOne of the beautiful things about discipling kids and teens is that the adults grow too.
When you teach a Bible lesson, you are learning.
When you prepare to explain a memory verse, you are being shaped by that verse.
When you help a child understand the gospel, you are reminded of its beauty yourself.
When you guide a teen through questions about faith and life, you are challenged to think deeply and live faithfully.
I know so many memory verses today because I taught them to kids. I wanted them to know the verses, but I also had to know them. I had to understand them. I had to explain them in a way that was clear and meaningful.
Teaching kids has helped disciple me too.
That is one of the reasons I believe being involved in ministry is so important.
Whether you are in full-time ministry, part-time ministry, volunteer ministry, parenting, mentoring, or simply influencing the people around you, you are in ministry somewhere.
You are influencing someone.
You are somebody’s imperfect positive role model.
So embrace it.
Equipping Adults Who Disciple Kids
We want to reach kids and teens. But we also want to reach and equip the adults who are discipling them.
hat includes parents who want to lead their kids spiritually but may not know where to start. It includes children’s ministry leaders who want to teach the Bible clearly.
It includes youth leaders who want to help students connect faith with real life.
It includes pastors, volunteers, churches, and everyday believers who want to make a difference in the next generation.
That is why we create resources like Bible teaching series, training videos, leadership resources, curriculum, curriculum training, and the Connecting Faith & Life podcast.
The goal is not simply to give adults more information.
The goal is to help adults become more equipped, more confident, and more faithful as they disciple kids and teens.
This Is Multiplication
When we equip adults, the ministry multiplies.
One resource can help one leader teach a group of kids.
One training can help one parent have better conversations at home.
One curriculum can help a church strengthen its children’s ministry.
One podcast episode can encourage someone to keep going when they feel discouraged.
One equipped adult can impact many kids and teens over time.
That is why this part of the ministry matters so much.
We are not only creating content for today. We are investing in people who will continue to teach, lead, and disciple others.
And this work is not limited to one church, one city, or one country. We hear from people in different places, even different parts of the world, who are finding and using these resources.
That is exciting because it reminds us that God can use simple resources to encourage and equip people far beyond what we can see.
Thank You, Proclaim Partners
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