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Hero 10-Year-Old Saves Toddler Sister From Drowning in Dramatic Video

Harrowing surveillance video shows the moment a 10-year-old girl raced to save her toddler sister from drowning after getting stuck in an inflatable tube.

My Toddler Drowned on Our Family Vacation–Here’s What I Want You to Know

How could I have known that every parent’s worst nightmare would be my reality? It happened so quickly.

‘From Darkness Into Light’: Real-Life Teen Witch Who ‘Should Be Dead’ Went From Casting Spells to Worshipping Jesus

Sarah Anne Sumpolec once found herself enraptured by incantations, Tarot cards, and casting spells —until an encounter with Jesus transformed her perspective.

7 Ways Parents Push Their Kids Away from God Without Knowing It

Why are young people leaving the church? If I had a dollar for every time I heard this question, I would have a lot of dollars. And I get it. The rate at which young people are leaving the church is alarming. Everyone has experienced a young person throwing aside their faith and walking away from God, either directly or indirectly. It’s devastating.

So, how does the church need to change? While this question needs to be addressed, I don’t think it provides an answer to the problem.

Stick with me, I am going somewhere.

You see, I believe parents are the primary link between young people and God. Not the church. In his book Soul Searching, Christian Smith says this:

The most important social influence in shaping young people’s religious lives is the religious life modeled and taught to them by their parents.

In an interview with Drs. Kara Powell and Chap Clark, Smith goes even further:

When it comes to kids’ faith, parents get what they are.

Whoa. That’s real.

Here’s the deal. Parents, you are painting a portrait of God for your children every day. Every word, action, and conversation is a brushstroke. And when your children prepare to leave home, they are staring at a portrait of God. A portrait that shapes their actions and decisions about faith moving forward. Parents, we are the ones pushing our kids away from God.

Are there exceptions? Absolutely. As a youth minister, I witnessed young people turn away from God, even though the faith of their parents was rock solid. I also saw young people continue into college on fire for God, even though their parents had shaky, fickle faith. So, this isn’t a black and white, issue. Few issues are.

But will you, as a parent, play an enormous role in shaping the faith of your children? No doubt.

With that being said, I want to point out some things young people need from their parents. I present these as someone who left God for a season in college, someone who ministers to young people every day, and someone who is passionate about reaching about the next generation.

Kelsey Straeter
Kelsey Straeter
Kelsey is an editor at Outreach. She’s passionate about fear fighting, freedom writing, and the pursuit of excellence in the name of crucifying perfectionism. Glitter is her favorite color, 2nd only to pink, and 3rd only to pink glitter.

Hero 10-Year-Old Saves Toddler Sister From Drowning in Dramatic Video

Harrowing surveillance video shows the moment a 10-year-old girl raced to save her toddler sister from drowning after getting stuck in an inflatable tube.

My Toddler Drowned on Our Family Vacation–Here’s What I Want You to Know

How could I have known that every parent’s worst nightmare would be my reality? It happened so quickly.

‘From Darkness Into Light’: Real-Life Teen Witch Who ‘Should Be Dead’ Went From Casting Spells to Worshipping Jesus

Sarah Anne Sumpolec once found herself enraptured by incantations, Tarot cards, and casting spells —until an encounter with Jesus transformed her perspective.