How to Live Out Your Faith as a Parent
by Tabitha Turner
Parents Who Serve
"The greatest commandment is: 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength” (Deuteronomy 6:5)
We are called to leave a legacy of faith for our children.
Let me tell you about a volunteer who has served faithfully in both Lowco Kids and Lowco YTH for nearly 20 years. He’s not someone who seeks recognition or even fully realizes the impact he’s had on the countless kids and teens who’ve walked through our church doors. But week after week, year after year, he has quietly and consistently lived out the truth of Deuteronomy 6. He chose to lead by example—not just for the students he served, but first and foremost, for his own family.
These days, you’ll still find him in the elementary hallway on Sunday mornings—guiding kids through Bible reading and, on special occasions, baking their favorite cookies when the class hits their devotional goals. He’s done this for years, especially while his own children were coming up through the ministry. And on Wednesday nights? You’ll find him at youth group, faithfully investing in his small group of guys. Whether he’s praying with teens, talking sports, or—believe it or not—sitting in a dunk tank dressed as Santa on a cold December night (yes, that really happened), he’s there. Living out his faith, moment by moment.
The Impact
Research consistently shows that when parents live out their faith—especially through service—it leaves a lasting impact:
82% of children raised by parents active in church (including serving) remain religiously active as adults.
— Lifeway Research, 2019
Children who see their parents live out their faith through service are 5x more likely to develop a strong, lasting faith of their own.
— Sticky Faith, Fuller Youth Institute
Kids whose parents volunteer in faith-based settings are more empathetic, compassionate, and generous, scoring higher on prosocial behavior scales.
— Journal of Moral Education, 2014
When parents serve, children report greater connectedness to church and a stronger sense of belonging.
— Barna Group, 2020
Youth engaged in service projects—especially with their parents—show higher academic achievement and lower levels of risky behavior.
— National Study of Youth and Religion
Living Out Your Faith
Let me ask you—how are you living out your faith in a way that teaches your children, even without using words? The good news is this: it’s never too late to begin. Through acts of service, you can model a life of faith that teaches your children to love the Lord their God with all their heart, soul, and strength (Deuteronomy 6:5).
One day, will your children be able to look back and say, “My parent was part of that”—a legacy of faith that shaped their own? That’s what they remember most. And the hope is as Moses taught the Israelites, “You shall teach them diligently to your children” (Deuteronomy 6:7).
While speaking of God’s commandments, Moses’ hope was that the Israelites would carry their faith forward and live it out for themselves. As a parent, are you ready to take the next step and serve at LCC and leave a legacy for your children?
As for the fun-loving, cookie-baking, Santa suit-wearing volunteer mentioned above, his children are now grown adults and have had the privilege of seeing their father live out his faith in a way that leaves them with no question about his devotion to the Lord.
His actions spoke louder than words ever could, and now, his legacy of faith will continue to live on through his children—and his children’s children.
Tabitha Turner is the Kids Director at Lowcountry Community Church.