How to Raise Kids that Will Keep the Faith

It’s every Christian parent’s worst fear – watching their child walk away from the faith they were raised in. Studies show that a shocking 70% of kids raised in Christian homes will leave the church after high school. With the odds stacked against us, how can we raise children who keep the faith as adults? While there’s no guaranteed formula, research points to several key factors that make a big difference.

Model an Authentic Faith

More is caught than taught when it comes to faith. Our kids will be far more influenced by what they see in our lives than what we tell them to believe. If we want our children to have a vibrant, lasting faith, we must model one ourselves. This means:

• Prioritizing time in God’s Word and prayer
• Demonstrating repentance and humility
• Keeping Christ at the center of our lives
• Admitting when we mess up and need God’s grace
• Showing our kids that faith is relevant to every area of life

Children are quick to spot hypocrisy. If our beliefs don’t match our behavior, they’ll likely reject the faith as irrelevant. But when they see our faith is real and life-changing, it makes a powerful impression.

Teach Them to Think Critically

Many young people walk away from Christianity because they’ve never been equipped to defend their faith. They may have experienced God’s power in their lives but can’t articulate why Christianity is logical and reasonable. To prevent this, we must:

• Teach apologetics from an early age
• Help them understand the evidence for Christianity
• Equip them to evaluate other worldviews
• Give them answers to common objections and doubts
• Encourage them to ask tough questions

Natasha Crain’s book ‘Keeping Your Kids on God’s Side’ is a great resource for these kinds of conversations. The goal is to give them a faith that is intellectually robust, not just emotionally appealing. When they face challenges in college, they’ll have a firm foundation to stand on.

Prioritize Family Worship

Attending church is important, but it’s not enough. We must make worship a priority in our homes too. This could look like:

• Reading the Bible together
• Praying as a family
• Discussing sermons and devotionals
• Singing praise songs
• Celebrating the church calendar (Advent, Lent, etc.)

 

When faith is a normal part of everyday life, it becomes second nature to our kids. They’ll see it’s not just a Sunday thing, but a way of life. Involving them in family worship also gives them ownership of their faith. It becomes something they do, not just something done to them.

Develop Close Relationships

Research shows that the single biggest factor in whether kids keep the faith is the quality of their relationship with their parents. When kids feel deeply loved and connected to their mom and dad, they’re far more likely to embrace the faith their parents hold dear. To build these bonds:

• Spend regular one-on-one time together
• Be affectionate and verbally affirming
• Listen to their thoughts and feelings without judgment
• Apologize when you mess up
• Forgive quickly when they mess up

If a relationship has grown cold, it’s never too late to work on restoring warmth and connection. Counseling can help if needed. The goal is for our kids to feel safe, accepted and cherished. When they know they’re loved no matter what, they’ll be far more open to the God we love.

Surround Them with Godly Influences

While parents are the most powerful influence, we’re not the only ones. Our kids need a whole community of believers speaking the same language of faith. This means:

• Choosing a church home and attending regularly
• Involving them in age-appropriate ministries
• Connecting with other Christian families
• Inviting grandparents and other mentors into their lives
• Sending them to Christian camps and retreats

When our kids are surrounded by a cloud of witnesses, it reinforces the faith we’re teaching at home. They see it’s not just our family’s belief, but the belief of the whole people of God. This provides a powerful sense of belonging and identity.

Pray Without Ceasing

Ultimately, our children’s faith is God’s work, not ours. We can do all the right things, but only the Holy Spirit can truly transform a heart. That’s why prayer is so crucial. We must:

• Pray daily for our kids’ salvation and spiritual growth
• Ask God to protect them from the enemy’s schemes
• Intercede for them when they’re struggling
• Pray for ourselves, that we’ll be the parents they need
• Trust God’s perfect timing and sovereignty

When our child wanders, it’s easy to lose hope. But God is always at work, even when we can’t see it. If we keep praying, keep loving, and keep pointing them to Jesus, He will be faithful to complete the good work He began. Our job is to be faithful and leave the results to Him.

Raising kids who keep the faith is no easy task in today’s world. But by modeling authenticity, teaching critical thinking, prioritizing family worship, developing close relationships, surrounding them with godly influences, and praying without ceasing, we stack the odds in our favor. Most importantly, we must remember that our children’s faith is ultimately God’s work. If we’re faithful to plant the seeds, He will be faithful to make them grow. With God’s help, we can raise a generation that stands firm in the faith.