Jeff Reed, Lead Pastor of Hillside Covenant Church in Walnut Creek, will guide us in ways to achieve harmony in reflecting Christ inside and out.  

This topic was chosen by Pastor Reed as the message he felt most led to communicate to moms shepherding this generation of pre-teens, teens and college aged.

Jeff has applications and encouragements you’ll want to implement and share among family and friends.

GEM attendees represent over a dozen churches across the East Bay area. Our kids cross paths with one another among various schools, churches, youth groups, missions trips and sports.

Moms, let’s be committed to getting to know one another too!  This is a beautiful mentoring opportunity for us to receive prayerful and scriptural wisdom and then go forth and plant those seeds in our communities.

There is no cost to attend.

Bring friends, bring grandmothers, bring the women in your life who seek to be Godly influences upon the sons and daughters of this generation.

GEMs of Wisdom from "Image Bearing vs Image Casting" by Pastor Jeff Reed of Hillside Covenant Church:

After Jeff's endearing encouragements, the evening ended with lots and lots of sharing. We greatly appreciate all the thoughtful and prayerful prep from local pastors such as Jeff Reed. We are all improved by the involvement and dialogue of such a wonderful community of moms.

Image casting is striving for a “perfect” or “cool” persona.  Adolescence is hallmarked with insecurities so this can be a dicey time in parenting on one hand trying to bolster our kids'  self esteem and belonging, while at the same time encouraging humility and authenticity.

It takes as much courage as it does discernment for parents to guide sons or daughters toward a congruence which reflects Christ inside and outside.  But the outcomes are worth it as life is far less complicated and more abundant when "who you are on the inside matches who you are on the outside."

Practical Ways to Parent Toward Image Bearing (Jesus’ Teaching Matthew 6: 1-24):

Integrity is who you are when no one is looking.  Jesus goes after image casting in the Sermon on the Mount.  Two good questions adults and teens might ask themselves:  How does the world see me? How does God see me?

Ease up on “resume building” and participation in numerous activities.  Well-roundedness can actually be achieved in other ways such as family travel and even the simple blessing of listening to multi-generational conversations.   

Resist trendiness and try to avoid the nuanced messaging of brands that speak status.

Identify and invest in your child’s unique strengths and callings.  

Coach young adults to let their yes mean yes and no mean no.

Remember, we are created in God’s image.  Image bearing brings freedom and joyful confidence!