Sep 14, 2026

You’re More Equipped to Disciple Your Kids Than You Think, with Christie Thomas

Hosted By: Candace Nassar

Do you feel unqualified to disciple your own kids? You’re not alone — and you’re more ready than you think.

In this episode, Candace talks with Christie Thomas, a former children’s ministry director and creator of Little Shoots Deep Roots, about why family discipleship and faith formation happen most powerfully at home — not just at church. Christie shares a striking contrast: a widely cited 2007 LifeWay study suggesting only about one third of kids stay in the faith, versus a National Study of Youth and Religion finding that 82% of kids with spiritually active parents remain active in their faith as young adults. The difference? Parents who walk the walk, not just show up on Sundays.

Christie opens up about the imposter syndrome so many moms feel when it comes to discipling their children, what it actually means to feel “equipped,” and why the answer isn’t more knowledge — it’s open hands, honest prayer, and consistency over perfection. She also shares practical wisdom for what to do when your child asks a faith question you can’t answer, plus real stories of kids memorizing Scripture, overcoming nighttime fears through prayer, and families building a spiritual culture one small, imperfect habit at a time.

If you’ve ever wondered how to raise faith-filled kids, build a Christian home, or simply want practical Christian parenting encouragement, this conversation will leave you feeling equipped, not overwhelmed.

In this episode:

Why home shapes a child’s faith more than church programs alone
The surprising stats behind faith retention in kids
How to overcome fear and imposter syndrome as a discipling parent
What to do when your kid asks a hard spiritual question
Small, consistent habits that build lasting family faith culture

Timestamps

00:00 — Family Discipleship: Why Faith Starts at Home
00:30 — What Can Children’s Ministry Teach Us About Discipling Kids?
00:59 — Why Does Your Child’s Faith Start at Home?
01:29 — What Research Says About Parents and Children’s Faith
02:07 — Can Parents Really Influence Their Child’s Faith?
03:09 — How Did Christie Discover Family Discipleship?
03:43 — Finding Your Calling in Family Ministry
04:13 — Do You Feel Unequipped to Disciple Your Kids?
04:47 — What Does It Mean to Be Equipped?
04:59 — Christian Parenting and the Fear of Not Knowing Enough
06:06 — What If You Don’t Know the Answer to Your Child’s Faith Questions?
06:51 — Can Small Habits Build Strong Faith at Home?
07:06 — How Scripture and Prayer Shape Your Child’s Faith
07:36 — How Can You Create a Culture of Faith at Home?
08:24 — Can Family Discipleship Work in Busy Seasons?
08:51 — What Is the Heart of Christian Discipleship?
11:30 — How Can You Integrate Faith Into Daily Family Life?
14:21 — How Can You Make Faith Engaging for Kids?
17:07 — Why Does Gentleness Matter in Parenting and Discipleship?
20:00 — How Does Redemption Transform Christian Parenting?
22:25 — How Can Moms Lead Their Families Spiritually?
25:18 — Family Discipleship Resources for Christian Parents