TFT: What if our kids resent it later?
January 19, 2026
WinterCON
Students in grades 6-12, you’re invited to join us March 13-15 at WinterCON, a conference that will encourage you to go deeper in your walk with God and grow 
your ability to live out your faith in your everyday life. Taking place at the Kalahari Resort in the Poconos, one of the largest indoor water parks in the country, you’re sure to have a meaningful and fun weekend with us! Abe and Jordyn Skacel are planning to lead the group from LEFC. For more information, visit the website and see the FAQ sheet that you may have received in your church mailbox. If interested in attending, please let Jordyn know ASAP. For more information, email [email protected].
Homeschool Support
Attention homeschooling families! Would you be interested in a homeschool group right here in the West Branch area? With several homeschooling families in our church and others who are considering it for the future, we want to support and provide opportunities for you. If you have any interest in homeschool support, whether navigating the “how-to’s”, attending events and field trips, or opportunities for your child to learn from professionals, please respond to this email to indicate your interest and let us know what would be helpful for you. Talk to Vicky Albert or Jordyn Skacel if you have questions!
Egg Hunt at the Ark Park 2026
Save the date for this year’s Egg Hunt at the Ark Park on Saturday, April 4th at 10:00am!
This Week’s Challenge: Helping Our Kids to Pray
Does your family have a prayer you always recite before meals? Do you pray for your kids at bedtime or during a family devotional time? Have you ever asked your child to pray instead of you? This week’s challenge is to invite your child(ren) to take a turn during one of those times that your family usually prays. For the youngest ones who might have trouble knowing what to say, you could consider leading them line by line having them repeat after you. For those who are a little older, using a prompt such as “God thank you for…” or “God would you…” could guide them. Remember that your kids hearing you pray is one of the best ways they can learn to do it, too!
“The Prophet Zechariah” Kids Bible Class Devotional
You have free access to a family devotional based on the curriculum our kids are studying each week in KBC! It’s called “The Gospel Project at Home.” Today’s Bible Study is “The Prophet Zechariah” (Volume 6: Unit 17: Session 3), and the devotional can be found at this link.
Visit the Family Ministries page on our website for information about how to access The Gospel Project at Home for the first time.
And for Dessert…
This week’s recommendation is a super-short and super-encouraging answer to the super-scary question, “What if our kids resent us for our family discipleship?”
Some Christian parents worry that their kids will one day begrudge all of the discipling things they were “made to do” when they were young–go to church, participate in family devotions, pray, sing, etc.
In a recent “One Question Episode” of the Family Discipleship podcast, Adam and Chelsea Griffin discuss this question and give some brief and encouraging things for parents to remember when that fear arises. I (Pastor) Matt was so encouraged by their words that I listened to it twice!
As usual, the Griffins are not only helpful but funny, too. Find out why Chelsea ends up saying, “In most ways God’s Word is not like cigarettes.”
Probably the most inspiring thing they did in this episode was to pose the counter-question, “What if your kids resented you for not discipling them?”
If you have 11 minutes to spare, I recommend you listen to it, too.
May the Lord bless your families as you seek to follow Him.
Jordyn Skacel, Director of Family Ministry
Matt Mitchell, Pastor