In this enlightening discussion, Paul Mallard, a semi-retired pastor and author with decades of experience in guiding families in faith, shares insights on navigating Christmas with non-Christian family and friends. He highlights the unique pressures the season brings, while also recognizing it as a chance for meaningful connection. Paul emphasizes the importance of modeling Christlike values in gatherings and maintaining spiritual vitality during challenging times. He also offers practical ideas for gifting faith resources to loved ones, ensuring the gospel shines through.
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Paul's Family And Ministry Background
Paul Mallard is a semi-retired pastor, married to Edrie with four children and nine grandchildren.
His wife has lived with MS in a wheelchair for 33 years, and their family story shaped his pastoral perspective.
insights INSIGHT
Christmas Is Pressure And Opportunity
Christmas is both a high-pressure season and a strategic opportunity for reconnecting with people who have walked away from faith.
Paul Mallard urges seeing Christmas services and family gatherings as moments where nostalgia can open doors to faith conversations.
insights INSIGHT
Respect The Spectrum Of Distance
Children who 'walk away' exist on a wide spectrum from rebellious to quietly distant, so responses must be nuanced.
Paul Mallard points to the prodigal-son range to show different realities within one family.
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In today’s episode we speak to Paul Mallard about spending Christmas with friends or family who aren’t Christians, especially children who have walked away. Paul served as a pastor for 40 years in three different churches. He now works as Director for the West Midlands for the FIEC (Fellowship of Independent Evangelical Churches, UK), supporting churches and their leaders across the region. He’s the
author of several books, including Invest Your Disappointments and Heaven: Living with
Eternity in View. He and his wife Edrie have four children and nine grandchildren. Apologies that Paul’s audio isn’t totally clear in this episode, we have improvements to audio quality planned for the new season.
Links:
Free printable or interactive online advent calendar https://www.parentingforfaith.brf.org.uk/resource/questions-for-advent/
Buy the Grandparenting for Faith course for Christmas - either for people to do at their own pace or join the zoom course run by our team Tuesdays at 7pm starting on 27 Jan. https://www.parentingforfaith.brf.org.uk/grandparenting-for-faith-course/ Email proof of purchase to either with grandparents names and your names and we’ll send you a personalised gift voucher free of charge.
Buy When children walk away from Jesus by Paul Mallard https://www.thegoodbook.co.uk/when-children-walk-away-from-jesus?srsltid=AfmBOoowUY1mio5VHd8Ciwh7sZD3z_uNVMfKyAaNLS8Zrg15pfXPakw-
Paul mentions The Hole in our Holiness by Kevin DeYoung https://www.thegoodbook.co.uk/the-hole-in-our-holiness-paperback
Parenting for Faith key tool of Creating Windows https://www.parentingforfaith.brf.org.uk/tool/creating-windows/
An A - Z of Parenting for Faith https://www.brfonline.org.uk/collections/new-titles/products/an-a-z-of-parenting-for-faith-bitesize-wisdom-from-the-parenting-for-faith-podcast has a chapter on Walking away from faith based on this podcast episode with Sarah Walton and Linda Green https://soundcloud.com/parentingforfaith-brf/s7e9-the-one-where-they-walk-away-from-faith-with-sarah-walton-and-linda-green
Send us your questions, stories or topice ideas to parentingforfaith.org/podcast or email us at parentingforfaith@brf.org.uk
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