THEY CAN'T BORROW YOUR FAITH FOREVER

When our kids are young, they mostly believe what we believe.

They adopt our values, preferences, and hopefully begin to embrace our faith.

But there comes a moment—and every parent knows it—when borrowed faith starts to fade.

According to Barna, 70% of parents say they’re concerned about their children staying true to their faith.

And rightly so.

Not necessarily because they are rejecting it.

Because at some point, usually during the teenage years, they begin forming their own beliefs.

And if they are going to stay true to their faith.

They have to make it THEIRS, not yours.

So how do we help teens get there?

There’s no single formula or turnkey advice that guarantees lifelong faith.

It’s never that simple.

But here’s one powerful influence I believe is often overlooked:

Teens need examples.

They need to see what faith looks like outside their home.

They need to see adults who are not Mom or Dad living out the Gospel in real life.

In particular, they need men and women who follow Jesus in everyday work like business, healthcare, construction, trades, and all industries.

At Made4More, we see it often.

A student gets paired with a business mentor in our marketplace internship program and they witness firsthand how faith matters in an everyday environment.

One of our students put it perfectly:

“My mentor showed me how I can glorify God through my work. That really helped me grow in my faith—to be around people like that.”

As parents and leaders, our job isn't just to teach teens what faith means.

It's to connect them with people who model what it looks like.

But can I be blunt?

You probably already know this.

And maybe you are already thinking about who can help your kids in this area.

But here is the harder question:

Are you willing to be that person for someone else’s kid?

Most of us want other adults to invest in our children, but are we investing in theirs?

When teens are exposed to real, relational examples of faith, even in small amounts, it can have a massive impact on their spiritual growth.

So here is my challenge:

If teens need more faithful examples outside the home, that means THEY NEED YOU.

And me.

And all of us.

Let’s help teens make faith their own.

Who are YOU investing in?