Are you concerned about the growing number of Canadian young adults who are leaving their faith behind? As parents, we hold a tremendous responsibility to ensure the transmission of faith to the next generation. How can we effectively disciple our children within the confines of our own homes? What steps can we take to pass on a strong foundation of faith to our children? These are not just ordinary questions; they are critical inquiries that demand careful and thoughtful answers.
Parenting is a journey that brings both immense joy and significant challenges. However, our role as parents extends far beyond teaching life skills. We have the essential duty of educating our children, nurturing their social development, and raising them within the framework of faith.
To shed light on this crucial topic, the Canadian Evangelical Family Faith Formation Study (CEFFFS) was initiated in 2019. This groundbreaking project, led by the Evangelical Fellowship of Canada in collaboration with 15 ministry partners, sought to understand how Canadian evangelical parents perceive their role as disciple-makers and how they actively shape their children’s faith within the home. The study draws upon insights gained from interviews with parents, family ministry experts, and a comprehensive survey involving over 1,000 evangelical parents across Canada.
In this episode, we are joined by two members of the research team who will help us delve into the study’s key findings and their profound implications for Christian parents. Lindsay Callaway, a dedicated researcher at the Centre for Research on Church and Faith within the EFC, brings her expertise garnered from the Parenting Faith study, the Significant Church study, and her role as a co-host on the Faith Trends Podcast. Lindsay holds graduate degrees in systematic theology from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School and bioethics from Trinity International University. She lives in Ottawa with her husband, a pastor, and their three children.
Joining us as well is Rick Hiemstra, Director of the EFC’s Centre for Research on Church and Faith. Rick’s background encompasses pastoral experience in the Wesleyan tradition, along with teaching mathematics and computer science at the high school level. Renowned for his insights on Canadian church and cultural trends, he has contributed to several studies, including Parenting Faith, Significant Church, Renegotiating Faith, and various explorations into Bible engagement, local church missions, small evangelical churches, and faith formation during emerging adulthood. Rick holds a BMath from the University of Waterloo, a BEd from Ottawa University, and an MTS from Tyndale Seminary.
Together, Lindsay Callaway and Rick Hiemstra will unpack the research findings and guide us toward a deeper understanding of how we, as parents, can fulfill our vital role as disciple-makers and raise a generation firmly rooted in faith.
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