Vibrant Faith Ministries

The 4th Soil Parenting Project

Vibrant Faith Ministries, founded by family ministry pioneer Dr. Merton Strommen, is a research/resourcing/training/coaching organization with a clear mission: “We empower ministry leaders to cultivate Jesus-centered families.” Vibrant Faith’s 4th Soil Parenting Project—a reference to the fourth (growth-producing) soil in Jesus’ Parable of the Soils—is a partnership with 20 churches from diverse communities across the U.S. The goal is to equip ministry leaders to embed the “3 C’s” of a 4th Soil environment (Calling, Connecting, Committing) in their church culture. Vibrant Faith’s leaders develop home-based, church-supported experiments that are embedded in the life of these congregations, with the goal of maximizing the latent influence of parents in their kids’ faith development and maturity. These experiments are planted in the “everyday rhythms” of parents’ lives, supported and fueled by their church. Working with an experienced Vibrant Faith Coach, these ministry leaders receive training, support, and resourcing to carry out these experiments. Using feedback from participating churches, the ideas are honed for maximum impact. In the last year of the grant Vibrant Faith will convene a national conference for ministry leaders on Fourth-Soil Parenting strategies, taught and led by the ministry leaders in participating churches.