Southwestern, SBTC host Family Ministry Luncheon on discipleship
About 170 church leaders and members involved in family ministry from across Texas and beyond participated in the annual Family Ministry Luncheon, hosted by Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in partnership with the Southern Baptist of Texas Convention (SBTC) on Sept. 24.
“We have such a fun tradition every September, coming and hanging out with family ministry people at Southwestern Seminary,” said Karen Kennemur, Southwestern’s professor of children’s ministry and the SBTC staff member who leads children and family ministries, as she welcomed participants to the event. “I can’t think of any place I’d rather be.”
Ron Hunter, executive director of D6 Family Ministry, was the keynote speaker and shared about the theme of his recent book, Backward Discipleship—looking at the end goal of raising up a faithful believer and then considering the necessary steps through the discipleship journey that would help them reach that point.
“Backward discipleship asks one simple question,” Hunter said. “It asks, ‘If my child were 30 years old and facing pressure, loss, and doubt, what biblical convictions would they need?’”
Just as people plan out their vacations, mission trips, and even the next day’s tasks by looking at their goal and then taking intentional steps to get there, Hunter said discipleship should also be done intentionally over a length of time, not just expecting it to happen on its own.
“We like to say discipleship’s not an event; it’s a way of life,” Hunter said, pointing out it’s not the moments of attending church or a conference that have the greatest impact, “… but it’s the rhythms and routines of everyday life that will matter.”
Hunter referenced a Barna article from 2019 that stated 64 percent of children, teens, and young adults eventually walk away from their faith. In light of that statistic, he said his goal is to focus on what factors led the other approximate one third to remain faithful.
For the book, he said he looked at 43 different studies of those trends, and he came across five commonalities that seemed to result in continued faithfulness: Bible engagement, faith at home, godly mentors, sharing one’s faith, and volunteering at church. Hunter pointed out that many of those things intermingle or are done simultaneously.
He encouraged parents, children’s ministers, youth ministers, and pastors to keep in mind how long they will have the young people in their care, and then carefully plan what they want to pack into their lives during that time, because, “if we don’t pack with them early, they’re going to get to a point in life they don’t have it.”
Hunter pointed out it’s not just the current generation at stake. Reading from Psalm 78, he shared the importance of teaching God’s Word to the next generation, “so that a future generation—children yet to be born—might know.”
“Discipleship is the intentional inclusion of moments, mentors, and Scripture that prepare us for the life ahead,” Hunter said. “It begins with the end in view and maps every step with purpose, shaping believers who endure and multiply.”
Chris Shirley, dean of the Jack D. Terry School of Educational Ministries and the Jack D. and Barbara Terry Chair of Religious Education, said Southwestern leadership is supportive of family ministry, adding it is one of few schools that provide a comprehensive program in family ministry.
“We have planted our flag in family ministry here at Southwestern Seminary,” Shirley said. “And we want to carry it on into the future. We are committed to this.”
The Master of Divinity, Master of Arts in Christian Education, Master of Theology, and Doctor of Educational Ministry programs at Southwestern provide family ministry concentrations. Students can also pursue a Doctor of Philosophy in family and generational studies.
