Story by: Rev. Jennifer Chickering, Sacred Roots Network Team

photos provided by: Rev. Jennifer Chickering

What happens when families with young children are given space to connect, share their stories, and discover simple ways to nurture faith in everyday life? Through Sacred Roots Family Experiences, families across Texas found opportunities to do just that.

Over the past several months, Sacred Roots has brought families together in a variety of welcoming, family-friendly spaces, including Treno Pizzeria in Temple, the Corpus Christi Museum of Science and History, The DoSeum in San Antonio, and Indigo Play in Austin. Families from local United Methodist churches and other Christian denominations gathered with their little ones, ages birth to three, to talk about the joys, challenges, and hopes of raising young children in faith.

While each gathering took place in a different location, a common theme emerged: parenting young children can be lonely, and families need connection.

Even when families attend the same church, the busyness of caring for babies and toddlers can make it difficult to find time to slow down, have meaningful conversations, and build relationships with other parents and caregivers. Family Experiences created space for those connections to begin. Parents and caregivers were able to share their experiences with others who understand the unique joys and challenges of raising little ones. They discovered that they were not alone in their questions, hopes, or struggles.

These conversations also revealed another important need. Families want simple, accessible ways to nurture their children's faith, but they often need practical ideas that fit into the realities of everyday life with babies and toddlers.

For the past three years, Sacred Roots has been developing resources designed specifically for families with children ages birth to three. These resources recognize that even the youngest children can begin experiencing God's love through the relationships, routines, and moments they share with the people who care for them. Faith formation does not have to require elaborate activities, expensive supplies, or a perfectly planned lesson. It can happen through a song, a moment of wonder, a bedtime routine, or a simple conversation about God's love.

During each Family Experience, parents and caregivers had the opportunity to explore these practices, try them with their children, and discover just how simple and accessible they could be. Families experienced firsthand how ordinary moments can become opportunities to nurture faith and strengthen their relationships with their little ones.

After their time of conversation and practice, families were invited to explore the museum or play space together using guided family devotional activities created by Sacred Roots. These guides encouraged caregivers to engage their children's curiosity, explore the world around them, and connect those discoveries to God's love and creation.

From sharing pizza around a table to exploring museum exhibits and playing together, each gathering offered something meaningful: time to be present with their children, encouragement from other caregivers, and practical ways to weave faith into family life.

The success of these Family Experiences was not simply measured by the number of families who attended. It was found in the conversations that opened doors to new relationships, the reassurance that came from realizing other parents shared similar experiences, and the discovery that nurturing a child's faith can begin with small, everyday moments.

Sacred Roots is built on the belief that relationships are central to faith development and that families are already bringing important gifts to their children's spiritual lives. They do not need to have all the answers or do everything perfectly. They need encouragement, connection, and opportunities to grow together.

These gatherings offered a glimpse of what ministry with families of the youngest children can look like when churches make room for parents and caregivers to connect, learn, and practice faith together. They also reminded us that supporting young children in faith means supporting the people who care for them.

As Sacred Roots continues its work across Rio Texas, the lessons from these Family Experiences will continue to shape how we serve families. We are grateful for the churches, community partners, caregivers, and children who made these gatherings possible.

When we create space for families to connect, we nurture more than relationships. We help create a community where caregivers feel supported, children are surrounded by love, and faith can grow in the ordinary moments of everyday life.

Stories from the Mission Field

Making disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world.

Growing Faith Through Connection: Sacred Roots Family Experiences Across Texas