Pastors/Teachers...

D/C provides a great opportunity for the pastor/teacher to encourage students to grow in their relationships with God, the pastor and the other students. In order to accomplish this, the leader needs to:

• Arrive early to interact with the students and show interest in their daily lives.
• Keep the sessions moving. Include activities as well as words.
• Take time to explore the spiritual journey of each student.
• Provide opportunities for students to serve both individually and as a group.

Don’t forget to have fun. Let the students see you as a real person. Allow God’s word to come alive through you.

"Start children off on the way they should go, and even when they are old they will not turn from it.” Proverbs 22:6 (TNIV) 

Parents...

D/C is designed to help foster a partnership between youth, parents and church. For D/C to be most effective, parents are encouraged to use the Parent/Mentor Guide, reading the session overviews and Scripture passages, as well as discussing the questions weekly. The key here is not just to find the “right“ answer, but to use this guide as a tool to foster discussion on faith and life issues. 

Simply stated, a parent’s role is to:

• Engage regularly in faith life conversations
• Encourage regular participation in group time and daily readings
• Encourage your child by showing interest in what he/she is learning
• Use the Parent/Mentor Guide to help in the spiritual growth journey

Celebrate Discipleship

• Include opportunities for students to share their faith-related insights.
• Use the Building Blocks as a responsive reading or opportunity for reflection. This will also remind students from earlier D/C classes of their learning.
• Share D/C testimonies, projects or sermons written by the students.

Celebrate Confirmation

Confirmation has traditionally been a time of blessing. To make the experience meaningful:

• Using the Rite of Confirmation from the Covenant Book of Worship.
• Incorporate salt and light to signify that these students are to be salt and light in their world.
• Lay hands on the students as you bless them. Some churches invite parents, friends and mentors to participate in this time of blessing.

Create reminders

Gifts from the church provides a meaningful way to help students remember their D/C journey. Often leather bound Bibles are presented.  Other churches give Bibles when students begin D/C so they are able to use them for study. Other symbolic gifts might include:  a cross, a candle or candle holder,  a nail or a rock. Is there something you could give that would help students remember their D/C experience in a special way?