In the season finale of the NextGen Roadmap, Garrett, Andrea, and Daniel walk through the final stage of the parenting journey: Launch.

Senior year brings a whirlwind of emotions: joy, grief, pride, and uncertainty as parents prepare to release their students into adulthood. Whether your child is heading to college, joining the workforce, or staying home with new independence, this stage is not just the end of one chapter, it’s the beginning of a whole new one.

🛠️ In this episode, we unpack three key ways to navigate the Launch Stage with wisdom and grace:

✅ 1. Intentionally Transition

• Don’t just “ride it out”—take time to reflect, celebrate, and speak life into your student.
• Have honest conversations: offer apologies, blessings, and encouragement as you transition into a new kind of relationship—from parent to coach to friend.
• Give your student a vision for a life of faith beyond high school.

✅ 2. Celebrate the Achievement

• Mark this moment with joy—not fear.
• Find meaningful ways to commemorate what God has done—graduation parties, letters, shared memories, even trips.
• Celebrate not just the academic or life milestone, but God’s faithfulness through every season.

✅ 3. Lean Into Community

• You weren’t meant to walk this season alone.
• The transition affects everything—your emotions, your marriage, your home rhythms—and you’ll need godly friends and mentors to process it with.
• Community isn’t optional—it’s the context where encouragement, wisdom, and grace flow most freely.

💬 Key Takeaways & Encouragement:

• You can’t go back and rewrite the last 18 years, but you can influence the next 18 by launching well.
• Give your student a sense of belonging, direction, and spiritual vision—even if things didn’t go perfectly.
• Your identity as a parent doesn’t end at graduation—it just changes.
• God’s grace covers your shortcomings and fills the gaps.

📝 “You may have dropped the ball in some areas—but God hasn’t. His grace is what carries both you and your child into what’s next.”

Thank you for joining us! Want more information? Check out our website:

Kids: https://www.fbcboerne.org/kids/

Youth: https://www.fbcboerne.org/youth/

In this episode, we walk through the “Coaching Stage” of the NextGen Roadmap—a critical and often emotional season for parents of high school sophomores and juniors.

As your child begins to move toward independence, this stage calls for a shift in your parenting approach—from director to coach. You’re no longer riding the bike for them, but you’re running alongside, offering wisdom, encouragement, and correction as needed.

🛠️ Key Concepts Covered:
✅ Taking Off the Training Wheels – Let your student experience the natural consequences of their choices while staying close enough to guide, support, and help them process.

✅ Calling Them to More – Don’t just prepare them for adult responsibilities—invite them into the joy and purpose of using their gifts for the Kingdom. Serving in church and stepping into meaningful community can make faith “stick.”

✅ Prioritizing Check-Ins – Create intentional rhythms for conversation where you listen first and ask good questions. Learn to respond with grace, not just correction, especially when your child shares something hard.

💬 Big Takeaways:

• Your reaction shapes their perception of God. How you respond to their honesty often speaks louder than your rules.
• Don’t parent for your reputation. Letting your child fail can be a gift—especially when done in a gospel-centered, grace-filled environment.
• Model the Gospel. Your humility, presence, and patience preach far more than your advice.

🔁 Memorable Quote:
“Parenting at this stage is less about control and more about influence. You’re watching and guiding while they begin to ‘do.’”

Thank you for joining us! Want more information? Check out our website:

Kids: https://www.fbcboerne.org/kids/

Youth: https://www.fbcboerne.org/youth/

In this episode of the 226 Podcast, we dive into one of the most critical and challenging seasons of parenting: the Independence Stage—typically starting around 8th or 9th grade. We unpack how to intentionally prepare students for the freedom that’s coming, rather than reacting once they already have it.

🎯 Key Takeaways from This Episode:

✅ Prepare for Independence Before It Happens
Don’t wait until your student is fully independent (or has car keys in hand) to shape their habits and values. Set clear, non-negotiable expectations now—like church attendance or family priorities—and explain the “why” behind the rules.

✅ Help Them Build Their Own Faith
By this stage, kids don’t just need to know what they believe—they need to know why. The goal is to transition from you teaching them truth, to helping them explore and own it themselves. That includes welcoming tough questions and walking with them through doubts in a healthy, Christ-centered way.

✅ Formative Rhythms > Behavior Modification
It’s not just about telling your student what not to do. Help them develop rhythms and practices (like Scripture reading, prayer, and community involvement) that form them into someone who loves and follows Jesus. Focus less on rule-following, and more on identity and spiritual formation.

✅ Widen the Circle of Influence
At this age, students begin to view their parents as the least-informed people in their lives. Instead of fighting it, recruit godly voices—small group leaders, mentors, coaches, and teachers—who can say the same things you are. The message stays the same, even if the messenger changes.

✅ Who They Do Life With Matters
The people surrounding your child in this season will either shape them toward Jesus or pull them away. Help your teen evaluate their friendships by asking, “Who do you want to become—and are your friends helping or hurting that?” Prioritize community that encourages confession, prayer, and growth.

💬 Encouragement for Parents:
➡ You cannot parent from a place of fear. Trust God with your student’s heart and future.
➡ Give yourself grace. This season is fast, messy, and hard—but you are not alone.
➡ Parent in community. You need godly adult friendships just as much as your student does.
➡ Don’t aim to control—aim to coach. Give your teen room to process, fail, and grow under your guidance.

📌 Three Essential Areas to Focus On in This Stage:

1. What They Believe – Build a resilient, gospel-shaped worldview.
2. What They Do – Cultivate habits and rhythms that shape their character.
3. Who They Do Life With – Surround them with Christ-centered community.

Thank you for joining us! Want more information? Check out our website:

Kids: https://www.fbcboerne.org/kids/

Youth: https://www.fbcboerne.org/youth/

In this episode of the 226 FBC Boerne Next Gen Podcast, we dive deep into one of the biggest challenges facing preteens and teenagers today—identity. As kids navigate the pressures of friendships, academics, sports, social media, and culture, they’re constantly asking, "Who am I?" and "Where do I belong?"

Join Daniel and Garrett as they explore how middle schoolers wrestle with identity, the false identities the world offers, and the freedom found in Christ. They’ll break down practical ways for parents to guide their kids away from identity idols—like achievements, relationships, and social status—toward the secure and unshakable identity they have in Jesus.

This episode includes:
✅ A breakdown of identity idols that shape how kids see themselves
✅ Practical conversation starters for helping your child process their identity
✅ Biblical truths to reinforce their worth in Christ
✅ Resources and tools to continue the conversation at home

If you’re raising a preteen or teen, this is an episode you won’t want to miss! Listen now and equip yourself to help your child build their identity on the only foundation that lasts—Jesus.

Thank you for joining us! Want more information? Check out our website:

Kids: https://www.fbcboerne.org/kids/

Youth: https://www.fbcboerne.org/youth/

In this episode of the 226 FBC Boerne Next Gen Podcast, Daniel and Teresa dive into one of the most critical aspects of a child's development—identity. As kids enter the later elementary years (4th & 5th grade), they begin forming beliefs about who they are, where they belong, and what gives them value. But in a world full of shifting messages and pressures, how can parents help their children find their worth in something unshakable?

This episode unpacks:
✅ Why identity is the bridge between childhood and adolescence in the NextGen Roadmap
✅ The five common identity idols (IDOLS: Items, Duties, Others, Longings, Suffering) that can shape how kids see themselves
✅ How culture fuels anxiety by pushing kids to define themselves by their achievements, friendships, or social status
✅ Practical ways parents can combat identity struggles with biblical truth
✅ How to use Ephesians 1:3-14 as a foundation for helping kids understand who they are in Christ

If you’ve ever felt the tension between what the world says about your child’s worth versus what God says, this episode will encourage and equip you with tools to speak truth into your child's life.

Tune in now and learn how to help your child build an identity that is secure, unshakable, and rooted in Christ!

Thank you for joining us! Want more information? Check out our website:

Kids: https://www.fbcboerne.org/kids/

Youth: https://www.fbcboerne.org/youth/

In this episode of the 226 FBC Boerne Next Gen Podcast, Daniel, Teresa, and Staci dive into the Formation Phase of the NextGen Roadmap—a critical season in early elementary years when faith habits begin to take root.

During this stage, kids begin to understand what it means to pray, read the Bible, engage in Christian community, and live out their faith daily. As parents, it can feel overwhelming to add another thing to your already full plate, but the good news is that faith formation happens in the everyday moments—driving to school, eating dinner, or tucking your kids into bed.

This episode unpacks:
✅ The four key faith skills (Pray, Hear, Talk, Live) that shape a child's walk with Christ
✅ Practical ways to incorporate faith into busy family life
✅ Why community and relationships matter in shaping your child's spiritual growth
✅ How the church partners with parents through Bible distribution, mission opportunities, and discipleship resources
✅ Why creating a home where kids feel safe to ask questions strengthens their faith long-term

Whether you're just beginning to disciple your kids or looking for new ways to integrate faith into your family's rhythms, this episode will equip and encourage you to build a foundation that lasts.

Listen now and take intentional steps toward raising a generation deeply rooted in Christ!

Thank you for joining us! Want more information? Check out our website:

Kids: https://www.fbcboerne.org/kids/

Youth: https://www.fbcboerne.org/youth/

In this episode of the 226 FBC Boerne Next Gen Podcast, Daniel, Teresa, and Staci unpack the Foundation Phase of the NextGen Roadmap—focusing on preschool years (ages 3-5), a critical season for shaping spiritual habits and values in young children.

As parents, you are constantly building something in your home—whether intentional or not. The foundation you lay in these early years sets the stage for a lifetime of faith. But where do you start? What habits, values, and rhythms will create a solid spiritual foundation for your child to grow into a lifelong disciple of Jesus?

This episode explores:
✅ The importance of beginning with the end in mind—What kind of faith and character do you want to see in your child as they grow?
✅ How daily habits like Bible reading, prayer, and conversations about God shape a child’s faith
✅ Why kids need to see awe and wonder in God, not just another superhero story
✅ The power of community and relationships—How mentors, small groups, and church family shape faith development
✅ How to model and reinforce biblical truth in everyday life
✅ Why marriage and personal spiritual health matter in parenting

Practical ways to strengthen your child’s foundation:
✔ Faith-filled routines – bedtime Bible stories, mealtime prayers, and car ride conversations
✔ Simple family values – writing down and displaying biblical values in your home
✔ Engaging faith experiences – hands-on activities like the Wedding Celebration (Jesus’ first miracle) and Rocket Day (Jesus’ ascension) to bring Scripture to life
✔ Building a support system – Surrounding your child (and yourself) with mentors, small groups, and godly community

💡 Key takeaway: The foundation of faith isn’t built overnight, but consistent, intentional steps create a lasting impact. And if you haven’t started yet—it’s never too late!

👉 Listen now for practical ways to lay a foundation that will help your child grow into a lifelong follower of Christ.

Thank you for joining us! Want more information? Check out our website:

Kids: https://www.fbcboerne.org/kids/

Youth: https://www.fbcboerne.org/youth/

In this episode of the 226 FBC Boerne Next Gen Podcast, Daniel, Teresa, and Staci discuss Stage One of the NextGen Roadmap: Birth and Blessing—a crucial season from infancy to age three where parents begin shaping the spiritual foundation of their child’s life.

Raising the next generation to know, love, and walk with Christ starts long before they can understand theology—it begins with consistent rhythms, biblical blessings, and modeling faith at home. This episode unpacks:

✅ Why Dedication Matters – The biblical foundation of dedicating children to the Lord (1 Samuel 1) and why it’s more than just a ceremony—it’s a commitment to disciple your kids within the support of a faith community.

✅ The Power of Blessing – How speaking biblical truths over your children from infancy builds their identity in Christ and strengthens their sense of worth in God’s eyes rather than the world’s.

✅ Parenting in God’s Grace – Why it’s never too late to start speaking blessings over your child—whether you’re raising an infant, adopting, or have older kids—God’s grace is enough to begin fresh today.

✅ Daily Rhythms for Young Families – Simple ways to incorporate faith into everyday life:
✔ Praying and speaking scripture-based blessings over your child
✔ Singing songs like Jesus Loves the Little Ones Like Me
✔ Reading storybook Bibles and talking about God as the Creator
✔ Attending church regularly to develop community and faith rhythms
✔ Gratitude journaling for parents to focus on God’s presence in daily life

💡 Key takeaway: The early years set the tone for a lifetime of faith. Small, intentional steps—prayer, blessing, and modeling faith—create a foundation that lasts.

👉 Listen now for practical tools to begin shaping your child’s faith from day one.

Thank you for joining us! Want more information? Check out our website:

Kids: https://www.fbcboerne.org/kids/

Youth: https://www.fbcboerne.org/youth/