How do I motivate my 12 year old son to go to church?

1. 60

   ipenposted 12 years ago

   How do I motivate my 12 year old son to go to church?

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2. 60

   MickSposted 12 years ago

   You don't. Let him go in his own time and make up his own mind when he's old enough to work out the stories for himself.

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   Angelme566posted 12 years ago

   Simply by showing him myself as an example. I will also go to our , its a christian's obligation. Like telling him not to smoke and drink , therefore i should set myself the best example.

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   glmclendonposted 12 years ago

   Through prayer and talking to and with him. Not easy at that age. Keep praying and many times encourage him  to go to church events, but careful not to run it down his throat.

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5. 61

   nightwork4posted 12 years ago

   why not let him decide if he wants to go? if god is there, he would lead your son to him, if not then nothing is wasted.

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6. 69

   betteryouposted 12 years ago

   Hi,
   
   One thing you should definitely not do is force him to Church. Going to Church should be motivated by love. You need to first let him understand why he needs to attend Church. As a father, you are to LEAD him first to Christ NOT Church which can start from home then he will gradually begin to see the need to be at Church and hear more about God.

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7. 61

   Dave Mathewsposted 12 years ago

   There is an old adage I remember still: "You can lead a hores to water, but you can't make it drink." There's good reasoning in that adage.

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   denkmuskelposted 12 years ago

   What motivated you to go? I had to go there as a child, every darn sunday till I was 15, when I could sleep long and it didn't give me anything (Germany, little catholic village) as nobody cared to explain things to me or made it special in some way. My god then was one I had to apologize to, when I failed but never ever send love of some form down to me [My grandparents did a better job there]. After years of struggling with this surveyor I finally let him (?) go and felt better then ever before. I fled into buddhism for another ten years, not realizing it was based on similar principles [do good and you will be rewarded, do bad and you will have to suffer for aeons]. I am free of any believe now, thanks to observation of those who (were) claimed to be advanced practicians/believers and realized that what they (or their idols) preached wasn't the least achievable in a lifetime (and of other lifetimes there was no prove). Hence those religions became unbelievable for me. Long story, short message...
   Even though I do not think much of religion, I believe in the power of idols and at the same time am aware that there is not a single person nor teaching who/that has it all, or THE truth. Let him watch you and take the best from what he sees. If you are happy or authentic with going to church it should radiate without having to convince anyone. Others will follow your example naturally. Good things don't need  external motivation.

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   mintinfoposted 12 years ago

   It no doubt a hard task because of societal views about the church that are influencing him but try to explain to him why its important to maintain a wide world view. Don't force him to go every week, maybe only once or twice per month.

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    Levertis Steeleposted 12 years ago

    It is better to begin taking children to church in their infancy, but since he is 12, just take him to church without a fuss, and continue to talk to him about the importance of a guiding higher power in order to build his respect of the prime reason for churchgoing. What can you do, leave him home alone, or get a sitter? No! Involve him in active children's programs in the church. Take him to church socials for the children, and he will make friends and grow to look forward to going to church to be with them. During the summer take him to vacation Bible school. That is usually a winner of children. Get help from your church clergy and youth leaders, and continue to pray for him. If he insists on doing drugs, how firm would we parents be? Don't be afraid to guide your child.
    
    My siblings and I hated long services and going to night revivals during prime-time tv, but Mom made us go. We were miserable, but I must say that I am thankful that she did. I look back on those days and appreciate her for the fine roots she gave us. Four of her six living children are regular churchgoers.

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    ikechiawazieposted 12 years ago

    You can start by being an example to him. Don't force him to go to your church if he doesn't want to; try and see if he has a church of his choice. Also try and understand why he does not want to go church; it could be because he finds church boring or peer pressure from his friends. If he sees church as boring, you can look for a church that fills his needs or let him pick one himself.

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