Not every parent of confirmation students at Lutheran Church of Our Savior (Bethany, OK) was enthusiastic when the request came.  "We were requiring the presence of at least one parent with each child every week in class," recalls Pastor Ron Schornhorst. "At first, we met with a lot of skepticism and hesitancy. Parents were concerned about the amount of time this would require from their already very busy schedules. They also wondered why they had to attend when they had already been through confirmation."

Parents benefit from listening to the witness of their children.

Pastor Schornhorst and DCE Chris Schwenneker have been using The Divine Drama® for this confirmation program. Schwenneker says the program has brought families closer. Youth and adults are encouraging one another in their Christian walk and witness in class, and in the general assembly of the Christian community. He notes that there has been a dramatic increase in church leadership involvement by some parents who had been marginally involved in the congregation. Schwenneker attributes this to the parental involvement in the confirmation class; they were challenged to lead by example.

Rev. Schornhorst says that the parents are now grateful for this opportunity. They "have expressed thanks for having this time together with their junior high children, as well as thanks for what they as adults have learned." Parents and children study the Bible together. They pray together in class. Schornhorst says the adults benefit from listening to the witness of their children.

When it is impossible for a parent  to participate in the program, the pastor and DCE find another adult to mentor the child.

For more on The Divine Drama®, click here.

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