Seminar aims to help guide child's faith journey

Lynwood Baptist Church will host its third Parent Summit from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sept. 27. The summit, based on the Milestone Strategy, gives parents tools to help them guide their children through a faith journey from pre-school through adulthood.

"There are seven milestones in the strategy, and each one focuses on a different age..." Kevin Coffee, discipleship pastor a Lynwood Baptist Church, said in an interview with the Southeast Missourian.

Milestone One is about becoming a primary faith trainer and is geared for parents of preschoolers. Milestone Two, for parents of children 7 to 11 yeas old, shares insight on salvation and baptism. Milestone Three, for parents of 9- to 12-year olds, focuses on preparing for adolescence, while Milestone Four, for parents of 12- to 14-year-olds, addresses the subject of purity for life.

Milestone Five, for parents of 13- to 16-year-olds, is titled "Rite of Passage;" Milestone Six, for parents of 16- to 19-year-olds, focuses on high school and graduation; and Milestone Seven for parents of children who are 18 years old and older, centers around a life in Christ.

While this is the third Parent Summit Lynwood has hosted, it is the first one the church is actively making available to the general public.

"This is the first Summit that we've been intentional about inviting other churches and the general public," Coffee said. "We're hoping it will become a regional event."

Past Parent Summits have drawn approximately 100 attendees each.

"Those were primarily members of Lynwood," Coffee said.

The Parent Summit will offer approximately 18 different breakout sessions that are in rotation.

"About nine of them will be core sessions [that have been taught at previous Parent Summits] and the other nine sessions will contain fresh, new information that has not been offered before," Coffee said.

Parents who have participated in previous summits are encouraged to attend as well as parents who have never attended a summit before.

"It's very beneficial to come back and build on what you learned before," Coffee said. "It will help those who are already using the Milestone Strategy, but it will also help any parent."

When asked to identify some of the best tools parents might acquire by attending the Christian-based Parent Summit, Coffee said:

"The two biggest things are being in groups with other parents who can relate to where you are [in guiding your child's faith journey] and having a place to get help on this long-term journey [which we refer to as] The Common Path."

Coffee said the summit encourages planning for a child's spiritual growth.

"We encourage parents not just to look at where they've been but where they are going and to form a plan," says Coffee. "We also encourage parents to attend the break-out session of where their child is going next and to accept responsibility for their children's spiritual guidance."

The seminar is free of charge; free child care is available for children through the sixth grade for those who register by Sept. 22.

There is no deadline to register, and walk-ins are welcome.

"A free continental breakfast will be available for adults, and a breakfast and light lunch will be served to the kids," Coffee said.

More information and registration details are available at 573-334-4600 and lynwoodbc.org/milestones.

The church is at 2935 Lynwood Hills Drive in Cape Girardeau.