This milestone explores the concept of parental leadership, aka parental influence, what it means, why it is essential, and how we can achieve it with our children. Parental Leadership means gaining understanding and coming into stature as forerunners (leaders) of the kingdom life—understanding and being capable of transmitting that life to our seeds.

The family is a God-organized unit set up by God as an administrative base for the raising up of the church. As parents, we have been called to provide leadership (spiritually and socially, kingdom and governance) to our children. God's intent for the family is that our children come to a specific end. He sends them to us so that we may influence them along the lines He has equipped us to guide them. (Gen. 18:19). Parental Leadership implies that there is an ancestry that produces the righteous acts of God, where God's purpose finds expression from one generation to the next.

Parental leadership is critical to the success of the Church. We cannot contract this to strangers (schools, nannies, or house helps) nor leave it to the dictates of a fallen society when God in His word has expressly communicated what His will is concerning our children and us. We cannot raise the Church based on the principles of a world at war with God!

Parental leadership is a lifestyle. It is what we do every day before our children and speaks to who they will become as adults; the way we relate with our spouses, the way we communicate with one another, and the diligence with which we approach our commitments; all of which are setting up a foundation upon which our children build their identities and find their own meaning to life.

Jesus exemplifies the type of leadership fathers and mothers are to model; you are the one equipped and authorized to start a family (bring "your flock" together) and "walk ahead" of them, setting godly examples in all areas of living. "After he has gathered his own flock, he walks ahead of them, and they follow him because they know his voice." John 10:4 NLT.

Providing leadership (spiritually and socially; kingdom and governance) in totally embodying the life of Christ and establishing ourselves as contact points between the kingdom and the marketplace with the sole intent of bringing kingdom dominion to our world through excellence in conduct as parents and leaders in the pursuit of the plans and purposes of God. The family is a God-organized unit set up by God as an administrative base for raising the church. Parental leadership is critical to the success of the church.

Tips on developing Parental Leadership

Know the Word: As parents, we must equip ourselves with an accurate knowledge of God's word to build accurately the pattern God has pre-determined for our families. "Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth." II Timothy 2:15 NKJV. This is especially important in our current world; the world is using the agents of law and governance in forcefully trying to upturn biblical truths. Everything but God's word is correct and permissible. You can get approval for a satan's club, and teachers can provide transgender education to children without parental consent but cannot talk about God or the bible to children. The dictionaries are changing the definition of things (marriage, family, gender, etc.) to reflect gay inclusion; workplaces are sending staff for gay inclusion training, higher institutions and colleges are changing and broadening the conceptualizations of inclusion to support these unbiblical positions and our children will function within these societies! In the days to come, we will, as parents, need to know God's word beyond what the preacher says; you and I will need that unshakeable revelation of God's word that we can pass on to our children one generation to the next.

Make it your lifestyle: Parental leadership is a lifestyle. It is what we do every day before our children and speaks to who they will become as adults; the way we relate with our spouses, the way we communicate with one another, and the diligence with which we approach our commitments; all of which are setting up a foundation upon which our children build their identities and find their own meaning to life. Can your children see Christ in your expressions and pursuits? Does it reinforce the kingdom mandate or tell a story of their identity and purpose on earth? Nothing is more convicting and affirming to your child than the life they see you live daily before them. Lifestyle modeling remains our most excellent tool for kingdom acculturation as parents.

Let purpose be the focus: God did not take Daniel to the palace to become an elite, He took Daniel there to drive kingdom influence! As God's children, we must realize that His purpose and will should be preeminent in all things. The way we live our lives, the pursuits we seek, and the paths we lead our children to pursue should reflect this. When they enter Babylon (school or workplace), they know to esteem their God above the king's meal.

Be proximate!: To be able to lead our children, we must influence them. To influence them, proximity is key. Jesus' disciples did not follow from afar; they were constantly proximate to the Master! Spiritual, Physical, psychological, and emotional proximity is vital to influence. Our children need to feel that closeness and know they can trust us.

• Spiritual proximity

Praying for, praying with, and helping our children understand their spiritual identity. Consistently interceding for them and discerning the different phases they are going through. Taking time to study and share God's word with them is vital to building spiritual proximity and equipping our children with the strength to uphold their mandates as God's standard bearers in their spheres of influence.

• Physical proximity

Spending time with our children provides opportunities for bonding and sharing, understudying, and mentoring them in the truths of God's word. Be close to your child, whether home or away, and let your ears be available for those times when they badly need someone to talk to.

• Psychological & emotional proximity

Paying attention and being responsive to how our children feel, being a safe place to develop and explore the different emotions that come with their human expressions. Being available to provide judgment-free support as they navigate life and learn responsible decision-making is critical. To parent is to be present spiritually, physically & emotionally.