A session featuring Isaac Kim and Aren Rennacker focused on practical strategies for parents to connect with, disciple, and support their teenagers and young adults in a modern, digital-first world.

The Role of the Parent

• Parents are the primary spiritual influence in their children's lives.
• Teenagers often push against boundaries to ensure they are firm and secure.
• Parenting is not about being a friend; it is about being a stable guide.
• Teens feel more valued when they are seen rather than just controlled.
• Give yourself grace; poking and prodding is normal teenage behavior.

Understanding Gen Z

• Gen Z are digital natives who view technology as a native language.
• They face the challenge of real-world overprotection and virtual-world underprotection.
• They lack the privilege of ignorance, as they are constantly exposed to global crises.
• The pressure to fit in is constant, turning off only when they sleep.
• They crave authenticity and have a high radar for fake behavior.

Building Connection Through Communication

• Practice listening to understand rather than listening to respond.
• Show genuine curiosity in their interests, such as music, sports, or hobbies.
• Use their interests as an entry point to discuss deeper, harder topics.
• Maintain a spirit of non-judgment to keep communication lines open.
• Personal touches, like handwritten notes, go further than ever before.

The One Conversation Model

• Tip #1: Build trust through ongoing, lifelong dialogue rather than formal lectures.
• Tip #2: Use daily moments and pop culture as entry points for deeper discussions.
• Tip #3: Make dialogue a common, consistent practice in the home.
• Tip #4: Utilize resources from organizations like Axis to help translate teen culture.

Practical Tools for Daily Life

• Implement the 'Sacred 15' by turning off phones and music for 15 minutes after pickup.
• Use the 'High, Low, Buffalo' game to spark conversation about their day.
• Maintain a united front as parents to provide a consistent environment.
• Understand that culture is what happens between major events and church services.
• Consistency in family activities sends a message about what is truly important.

The 1/168 Fraction

• At best, a child gets one hour of spiritual exposure at church per week.
• There are 168 hours in a week, leaving 167 hours for other influences.
• Parents control the vast majority of these hours, making home discipleship vital.
• The church's role is to support parents, not replace their influence.
• Consistency in family spiritual practices is more impactful than sporadic events.

Growing Together Curriculum

• The curriculum is designed to help families study scripture in concert.
• It covers all 28 fundamental beliefs over a three-year cycle.
• It is age-appropriate, allowing all family members to study the same story.
• Resources include podcasts, daily videos, and an app for devotions.
• It is crafted by Seventh-day Adventist pastors and teachers for Adventist families.

Lines Worth Remembering

• “When your child turns 13, put them in a wooden barrel and feed them through a hole.”
• “They don't have the privilege of ignorance.”
• “Culture is what happens between events.”
• “The more uncomfortable the conversation, can I encourage you as parents to have it?”

One-Sentence Takeaway

Parents are the primary spiritual influence in their children's lives, and they can build lasting connection by listening with curiosity and maintaining consistent, authentic dialogue.

If You Only Have 2 Minutes

• Parents are the primary spiritual influence, not the church or youth pastor.
• Gen Z are digital natives who crave authenticity and empathy.
• Listen to understand, not to respond, and avoid being judgmental.
• Use the 'Sacred 15' to create space for conversation during daily commutes.
• The 1/168 fraction reminds us that home is where the most discipleship happens.
• Have the hard conversations, because if you don't, someone else will.
• Consistency in family rituals and spiritual practices builds a strong foundation.

References & Rabbit Holes

• The Anxious Generation — A book by Jonathan Haidt regarding the impact of technology on young people.
• Axis — A Christian organization that provides resources to help parents understand teen culture.
• One Love — An organization founded by Sharon Love that provides tools for healthy relationships.
• Deuteronomy 4 — A biblical passage regarding the importance of impressing faith upon children.
• Growing Together — An Adventist curriculum designed for intergenerational family discipleship.