Every Parent is a Disciple-Maker

Written by: Justin, Next Gen Director

Every Parent is a Disciple-Maker

I’ll admit it, I’m a bit of a research nerd. While some people follow sports teams, I follow statistics and journals. Recently, I came across an article from Barna that has stuck with me as we plan Gateway Church’s 2026 calendar.

Here’s what it said: 95% of children’s ministry leaders believe discipleship starts at home, but only 49% of parents believe discipling their kids is their responsibility.

Think about that for a second. This wasn’t a survey of non-believers, it was answered by adults who attend church at least once every six months. That means there’s a major disconnect between what church leaders believe and what parents see as their role when it comes to their children’s spiritual growth.

And the truth is, many parents genuinely want to disciple their kids but face real challenges (Joksan Simanjuntak, 2025):

• Time and roles: With dual-income households, longer work hours, and busy schedules, parents spend most of their time acting as chauffeur, coach, cook, or manager—leaving little space for intentional discipleship.
  
  
• Knowledge and skills: Many parents feel under-equipped. They can share Bible stories but may feel uncertain about shaping a child’s theology or answering tough questions.
  
  
• Responses of children: Every child is different—some are eager, while others are resistant, skeptical, or distracted. What works for one child may not connect with another.
  
  
• Balancing environments: Parents juggle school, sports, and extracurriculars while trying to nurture faith at home. It’s not easy.
  
  

Gateway’s Approach

At Gateway, we believe parents are the primary spiritual leaders in their homes. Our kids and youth ministries provide amazing teachers, volunteers, and prayer support, but the truth is this: one hour at church each week is not enough to grow your child’s faith.

That’s why our mission is not to replace parents but to equip and support you, so you can disciple your children with confidence.

‍

How We Can Partner Together

Here are some practical ways to strengthen discipleship in your home while staying connected to what your kids are learning at Gateway:

• Be consistent in church and Life Group. Regular attendance helps you grow in your own faith, which better equips you to lead at home.
  
  
• Use our Parent Resource Library and Equip Classes. These tools are designed to build your confidence as a spiritual leader.
  
  
• Engage in Take-Home challenges. Kidway creates activities to help your family build spiritual habits together.
  
  
• Stay connected to what your kids are learning.
  
  • Youth sends a weekly email with teaching topics.
  • Kidway provides take-home sheets with a QR code to review the Bible story. You can even sign up for a Monday text with “At Home” content for family discussion.
    
    

Our Commitment to You

Please hear this clearly: you’re not alone in this. We’re here to walk with you, encourage you, and provide resources so you can thrive as the primary discipler in your home.

If you ever have questions, ideas, or just want to talk with a Kidway staff member, we would love to hear from you. Together, we can raise up a generation rooted in God’s Word, starting right at home.

‍

References

Joksan Simanjuntak. (2025). Parents as Teachers Amid Christian Families in HKBP. Enrichment Journal of Multidisciplinary Research and Development, 2(11). https://doi.org/10.55324/enrichment.v2i11.280 

Parents and Church Leaders Disagree on How Best to Disciple Kids. (2025, September 17). Barna Group. https://www.barna.com/research/how-best-to-disciple-children/