Legacy Milestones:
In January we kicked off our Legacy Milestones program. This program provides a clear common strategy for parents and church to lead kids through 7 important Milestones beginning with birth and ending with graduation from high school and a life lived For Christ.
Spiritual maturity is a lifelong process. It begins the day you are born and continues throughout life. Influencing the generations means that as you and I grow, we lead the next generation spiritually. Leading begins at home with family.
At St. Matthew, we believe the church and family should work together to raise the next generation of Christians. We see discipleship as a two-sided coin: Church and Family. We believe God designed parents to be the uniquely perfect, primary faith trainers of their children. If the church and family are to work together to equip the generations, we need a common path to walk on. We call this the path of Legacy Milestones.
Everything we do at St Matthew helps people mature along the path. Everything you do as a parent as you host family devotions, celebrate milestones, and capitalize on God Moments also helps your children mature along the path. No one can walk your path but you. Will you join us?
Milestone 1: Parent Dedication/Baby Baptism
The first step on the milestone path is when parents not only dedicate their child to God, but when they dedicate themselves to be their child’s primary faith trainer. Beginning with this Parent Summit this will be a required class for all parents wanting to have their child dedicated at St. Matthew.
Staff Contact: Robin Medina, Director of Preschool Ministries
Campus Event: Baby Baptism- ceremony in worship.
Parent Seminar: “First Steps” - This seminar covers topics such as: Understanding Baby Baptism; The Development of Your Child: The Importance of Mom and Dad and Ways to Bless Your Child and Build Biblical Foundations.
Core Competency: The parent as the primary faith trainer.
Milestone 2: Salvation and Baptism
An important milestone in the life of every person is salvation and baptism. For the child growing up in a Christian home and in the context of a local church, a decision point is often reached between the ages of 7 and 11 although this decision may also occur later in life.
Between Milestone #1 and Milestone #2, we partner with and equip parents to lead their kids toward a personal relationship with Jesus Christ which leads toward salvation. Parents are encouraged to attend this seminar that teaches the biblical truth about salvation and baptism if their child has not yet made a decision for Christ.
Staff Contact: Becky Prince, K-5th Children’s Ministry Coordinator
Campus Event: Baptism/Profession of Faith
Family Celebration: Spiritual Birthday Party
Parent Seminar: “How to Lead Your Child to Christ” - This seminar covers topics like: Accepting Christ as Savior; Is my child ready for salvation?; God’s plan of Salvation, Baptism Explained and Discipleship Begins at Home.
Core Competencies: Jesus, Faith/Belief, Biblical Truth, Personal Sin, Repentance, Salvation, Baptism
Milestone 3: Preparing for Adolescence
It is so important to help children prepare spiritually, emotionally, and physically for adolescence. This seminar will help equip parents of kids between the ages of 10 and 12 to intentionally prepare their children to enter the teen years. This seminar covers such topics as Relating to your Adolescent, discussing physical, emotional, social, and spiritual changes, and how to face the challenges of Junior High.
Staff Contact: Becky Prince, K-5th Children’s Ministry Coordinator
Campus Event: 4th & 5th Grade Retreat
Family Celebration: Road Trip
Parent Seminar: “Preparing for Adolescence: Parent Edition” - This seminar covers topics like: Relating to Your Adolescent; Facing the Challenges of Junior High; A Look at Today’s Culture; Faith that Prevails; and The Biggest Obstacles to Christian Living.
Core Competencies: Identity, Spiritual Growth, Spiritual Disciplines.
Milestone 4: Purity for Life
In our culture, it is blaringly obvious that we must address "SEX" from a biblical perspective. This seminar will discuss the Biblical standard for sex and purity and coach parents to use family devotionals and intentional conversations about the importance of accountability, identity in Christ and healthy friendships.
Staff Contact: Minister to Youth
Campus Event: Purity for Life Weeks in January & February
Family Celebration: Commitment to Purity / Purity Symbol Celebration
Parent Seminar: “Purity for Life” - These seminars cover topics like: Strategies for Purity Conversations with Teens; The Biblical Standards for Purity; Foundations for Successful Relationships; Parent Roles and Church Roles in Protecting and Training Teens; and Accountability and Personal Boundaries.
Core Competencies: Biblical89 Purity, Healthy Relationships, Accountability and Personal Boundaries
Milestone 5: Rite of Passage
The passing of a child into adulthood is a significant event. Biblically, we are called to equip our children to become men and women of God. Age 16 is a significant time of freedom in our culture. In this seminar parents will be equipped to disciple their freshmen and sophomore students for adulthood. Issues such as spiritual gifts, the roles of men and women, spiritual disciplines, service in the church, and dealing with failure, will be discussed.
Staff Contact: Minister to Youth
Family Celebration: Rite of Passage Ceremony
Parent Seminar: “Preparing my Student for Adulthood” - This seminar covers topics like: The Biblical Roles of Men and Women; Spiritual Training of Teens; Parent Roles and Church Roles: Rite of Passage: The How To and Following Up After You Have Completed the Rite of Passage.
Core Competencies: Roles of Men and Women, Spiritual Gifts and Service, Catechism
Milestone 6: High School Graduation
Between the ages of 16 and 18, parents must help their students develop the practical and spiritual skills to leave home. This seminar teaches parents how to prepare their students for the world outside of the nest. This can be a very healthy time in the family journey if parents continue to keep the lines of communication open with their students. Issues such as basic apologetics, courtship and marriage, determining the will of God, life skills for living away from home, and other biblical issues will be explored both in family devotions and on the church campus. These important years of discipleship are the last chance to shape the faith of our children before they are on their own.
Staff Contact: , Minister to Youth
Campus Event: Senior Celebration
Family Celebration: Written Blessing
Parent Seminar: “Preparing My Student to Leave Home” - This Seminar covers topics like: Apologetics: Connecting with Other Adults; Knowing the Will of God for Your Life; Dating and Marriage and Money.
Core Competencies: Apologetics, Dating/Marriage, God’s Plan for Me, Person of Influence, Life Skills
Milestone 7: Life in Christ
I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.
Life in Christ is a journey of following Jesus. John 15 sets the precedence for this amazing journey describing a fulfilling life with eternal purpose. Real life begins and grows in relationship with Jesus Christ. In that relationship, a Christ-follower grows in such areas as prayer, knowing scripture, and giving/serving throughout the journey. It is a path filled with both highs and lows that ends in eternity with Jesus. Life in Christ is experienced by every adult believer no matter one's life stage or circumstances.
Staff Contact: Jeff Gehle, Minister of Discipleship
Campus Event: Adult Bible Fellowship, Foundations, Worship
Seminar: “Life in Christ” - This Seminar cover the core competencies of Milestone 7, touching on importance of each.
Core Competencies: Prayer, Scripture, Authentic Faith, Obedient Follower, Disciple Maker, Giving/ Serving, Community