Parents Of Prodigals Ministry
The toughest struggle you will face as a Christian parent is the mental, emotional, physical and spiritual battle of a wayward son or daughter.
Here is a list of some of the struggles and battles you as a parent have or are currently dealing with:
Denial, guilt, blame, failure, frustration, anger, resentment, fear, compromise, futility, disappointment, hopelessness.
Let me share with you some reasons why. Although we as parents have a lot of experience in helping our children deal with friend issues, homework assignments, which college to attend, we don’t when one or more of our children suddenly becomes:
Rebellious, disrespectful, sexually active, drugs and alcohol use, cutting school, failing school, misbehaving in school, involved with the wrong crowd or suicidal.
When these situations take place, you hurt as a parent because, one, you don’t know how to help them and second, often times you don’t know what to do or how to think because the more severe the child’s difficulty, the greater the impact and the greater amount of incapacitation and numbness you feel as a parent.
Norman Wright in his book “Loving A Prodigal,” writes,
‘The prodigal years can cause parents and families to bond more tightly or to be ripped apart…
You and I will experience storms until we are called to heaven; and then all storms will cease. Expect the storms and don’t be afraid of them, because God is always faithful.
Just remember God’s message to you: Always look for the rainbow. Depend on the faithfulness of God. Sometimes He’ll show you the rainbow after the storm, sometimes during the storm, and sometimes before the storm. But He will never fail you.’
Parents of Prodigals is a ministry that offers support and encouragement to parents to stay the course, to fight the good fight of faith for their child or children.
PURPOSE:
To provide support, encouragement and accountability for parents, single dads and single moms who are facing challenges and difficulty with a rebellious son or daughter.
VISION:
To see these prodigal sons and/or daughters return to their relationship with Jesus Christ through commitment to the ministry of prayer.
PLAN:
Support and encouragement will be done through:
1. Teaching on various topics as:
2. how to love the unlovable
3. forgiveness
4. having the right attitude in the midst of the crisis (have I or am I still influencing my child’s
rebellion because of my attitude)
5. encouragement
6. how to have a Christ-centered united front
7. parents and prayer
8. Guest speakers
9. Lesson plans on how to fight for the lives of our children
10. Spending time together praying for our prodigals
PARENTS OF PRODIGALS
Class Schedule
“Surviving A Prodigal” is a 13 session interactive study designed for
parents of prodigals: children who have left home or the values they have
been taught. Children who have turned from the God who loves them.
The purpose of Surviving a Prodigal is to help parents, single moms,
single dads, step-parents sort through the wreckage, build a support team,
and prepare for the future. . . with or without the prodigal.
Surviving a Prodigal Studies gives parents the opportunity to identify and examine the conflicting emotions that have, as a result of their child or children’s choices, become an integral part of their daily lives.
Surviving a Prodigal is designed to serve as a catalyst and a support for groups of parents who are suffering in a unique way.
CONTENTS AND COURSE OF STUDY
UNIT 1: YOUR FAMILY’S PAST
Session 1: Rejected by a Child
Aim: To help parents examine their children’s choices from a biblical perspective, identify their emotions, and recognize that, as parents, they are not alone.
Session 2: What Went Wrong?
Aim: Parents will identify feelings of guilt, recognize who is sending the message, and begin to learn how to manage their feelings accordingly.
Session 3: Why Is This Happening?
Aim: Parents will learn how to accept their anger without allowing it to control their behavior.
Session 4: Living with the Unknown
Aim: To help parents learn how to deal with their fear and develop a strategy to rely on God’s strength.
Session 5: Letting Go
Aim: Parents will learn the necessity of letting go of their prodigal child, with love and grace, and trust God with the outcome.
Session 6: People Need People
Aim: Parents will begin to establish relationships with other parents for prayer and encouragement.
UNIT 2: YOUR FAMILY’S PRESENT
Session 7: The Blame Game
Aim: Group members will look at the impact that a prodigal has on the marriage relationship, and will be encouraged to take steps to ensure “damage control.”
Session 8: The Silent Siblings
Aim: Parents will examine the impact that a prodigal has on a sibling or other close family member or friend.
Session 9: Personality Styles
Aim: Parents will learn to identify their own personality types, their child’s personality type, and how to improve communication with each other.
UNIT 3: YOUR FAMILY’S FUTURE
Session 10: Living with Tough Love
Aim: To help parents learn how to set boundaries that are in the best interest of their prodigal and themselves.
Session 11: Made in God’s Image
Aim: Parents will know that they and their prodigals are all “image bearers” of God, no matter what they have done. Parents will discuss the feelings and choices they have faced.
Session 12: The Grace and Truth of God
Aim: To help parents understand that extending grace (unmerited favor) to their children is not a weakness and is not a contradiction to tough love.
Session 13: The Doctor Is In and Will See You Now
Aim: To help parents find hope as demonstrated in the bonds that have been created.
If you would like more information about the Parents of Prodigals Ministry, please call
Calvary Chapel Pearl Harbor @ (808) 678-3994
Jeremiah 31:15-17 says,
“Thus says the Lord: A voice was heard in Ramah, Lamentation and bitter weeping, Rachel weeping for her children, refusing to be comforted for her children, because they are no more.
Thus says the Lord:
Refrain your voice from weeping, and your eyes from tears;
For your work shall be rewarded, says the Lord, and they shall come back from the land of the enemy. There is hope in your future, says the Lord, that your children shall come back to their own border.”
