WORTHINGTON -- "Communik8: Thriving, Not Just Surviving, the Parenting of Teenagers" is a free seminar begin offered Saturday morning in Worthington.
Sponsored by Lifelight Student Ministries and the Worthington Area Youth Ministers Association (WAYMA), the informal session will be from 9:30 to 11:15 a.m. at BenLee's Coffeeshop in downtown Worthington.
"Lifelight is networking with probably about 32 communities in the tri-state area, and we're one of the satellite communities," explained Dave Kinsman, youth director at St. Mary's Catholic Church and WAYMA member. "Last year, we brought in a concert with Lifelight, and on the flip side of the year, they're going to bring in a seminar. It's about equipping and supporting the community in whatever way we can."
Lifelight is a faith-based, non-profit organization in Sioux Falls, S.D., known best for its huge annual Christian music festival. But Lifelight also partners with churches, businesses and other organizations on tours, mission trips and student ministries. The parental seminars are a new addition to the Lifelight slate of offerings.
"Unfortunately, there's not a manual that goes along with these kids that we have," explained Kinsman. "So we feel this is a great opportunity for parents to have something here, to not have to travel to Sioux Falls. We can bring it right to this community, to encourage them in their vocation as parents, knowing that sometimes things can be difficult, and maybe this would be a source of encouragement to them."
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Facilitators for the Worthington seminar will be Jeff and Becky Aegerter of Sioux Falls.
"Becky and I have been married for 26 years and have three children," said Jeff during a recent phone interview. "They are all launched, but we are still parenting. I've talked to my own parents about this, and they say it never ends."
The Aegerters have worked with New Haven Ministries, a biblical counseling center, but Jeff stresses that their qualifications for facilitating the seminar come from their own experiences in parenting.
"Becky and I have stories to share with the group," he said. "Our kids have not been perfect, and we've had to struggle through that with them. For most of us, we're embarrassed when our kids stumble and fall. We feel there's something we should have done better and differently. We want people to come and see they're not alone in this journey in life. If nothing else, you can share your own experience, and it might be helpful to someone else."
The coffee shop location was chosen for its welcoming, laid-back atmosphere, according to Kinsman, and should be conducive to comfortable discussion.
"These parenting seminars are really a chance for parents just to get together and talk about the challenges they face in communication and raising teens," added Jeff. "Communication is important in any relationship, but especially when teens find their independence and parents prepare to release them into that world and maintain a relationship through that.
"We'll talk about the process, about guiding but not controlling," he continued, "because really the goal of where this person ends up in life is really between them and God. Parents have a duty to care and nurture, but as children become adults, there has to be a transfer from our hands to the Lord's hands."
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