the speaker

Mark Gregston is the founder of Heartlight Ministries, a residential counselling program for teens, and the author of several books and workbooks. A popular speaker and seminar leader, Mark offers Biblical insights and practical wisdom for parents wanting a deeper relationship with their teen. For over 30 years, Mark has been helping families and teens through the challenges of adolescence. In the words of Dr. Tim Kimmel, “Mark Gregston’s never met a teenager he can’t believe in or a parent he doesn’t want to help become better. . . . [he] has a clear ‘big picture’ grasp of effective parenting. It’s formatted by the power of God’s grace and seasoned from decades of experience.” Mark and his wife Jan have been married for 34 years and have two children and two grandchildren. To learn more, visit www.parentingtodaysteens.org

Stops and Starts for Parenting Teens

Parents who are dealing with an out of control teenager tell me that they just don’t know what to do anymore.  They’ve tried everything they can think of, but things keep getting worse, not better.  When they ask for my advice, we start looking at the situation from a wider angle to set the stage for working with the teenager.  So, I tell them something like this…

If you believe God is in control of all things, then your situation is not hopeless. And, we can help you get through it. But a first step is to look to see if God may be calling you to do something different in your own life.  This isn’t to say that you’ve caused the current problem, but what you do and don’t do now can be a catalyst for it continuing, or getting to the other side of it.

Another way to say it, is that doing something different can involve stopping and starting… >> Article continued…