What if we saw our work and learning as an opportunity for worship? If the College Transition Initiative is about anything, it is about casting a vision for how to make the most of the college experience. At the conclusion of the first session of the College Transition Seminar (Why Are You Going to College?), I tell stories about people I know who are living out their calling in different areas of life. I try to reveal how it is possible to “worship God” by being a teacher, landscaper, accountant, hair stylist, business owner, nurse/doctor, engineer, and on and on. Generally, people are pretty energized by the vision. They learn that all we do should be seen as service to God. “Calling” is not only reserved for pastors and missionaries. Our calling, as followers of Christ, is to love God and love our neighbors. And, that “calling” can be fulfilled wherever God places us. Sometimes students and parents will come up to me during a break in the seminar and say something like, “We never heard this before. I never thought of my ‘calling’ as being a part of what I do at work or school.”
I credit my good friend Byron Borger, of Hearts & Minds Bookstore, for first pointing me in the direction of this life-shaping and life-altering way of “seeing” and being. Byron recently posted the video above (Work as Worship) on his website. It’s worth watching and passing on to others who might be looking for a vision of the Gospel for Monday-Saturday. Of course, all of this has major implications for the way we think about college and learning:
Reason #1: Parents are usually the most important spiritual influence in their kids’ lives.
Reason #2: Most parents miss out on opportunities to talk about faith with their kids.
Reason #3: The best discussions about faith happen not just when parents ask questions but when parents share their own experiences too.
The rest of the article explores ways that youth workers can help parents engage teens in discussions about faith, focusing on four important questions: (1) How Can I Help Parents Talk About Faith in the Midst of Normal Life? (2) How Can I Set Up Parents to Succeed in Their Conversations? (3) What’s my role with parents who don’t yet know the Lord? (4) How do I help parents whose kid doesn’t want to talk to them?
Talking to your own kids or other family members about faith is not easy. What makes this article so useful is that it not only explains why the above questions are so vital, but it also provides very practical tips on how to help parents start these conversations naturally. This is a great article to pass along to all parents and youth workers, especially those struggling to connect with their teens.
