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![[HERO] The Christian Parent](https://cdn.marblism.com/3yU9MzY3_xm.webp)
![[HERO] The Christian Parent](https://cdn.marblism.com/3yU9MzY3_xm.webp)
[Family and Parenting]: The Christian Parent's Guide to Digital Safety at Church: Screen Time, Youth Groups, and Online Giving
As our churches embrace technology: from streaming services to youth group group chats to online donation platforms: we're facing new questions about keeping our families safe in digital spaces. The same devices that connect us to powerful teaching and community can also expose our children to risks we never imagined a generation ago. I've watched churches navigate these waters with varying levels of success. Some embrace every new platform without guardrails. Others ban tech
Layne McDonald
5 days ago6 min read
![[HERO] Are School Cell Phone Bans Working? Here](https://cdn.marblism.com/GVz70i1aSSn.webp)
![[HERO] Are School Cell Phone Bans Working? Here](https://cdn.marblism.com/GVz70i1aSSn.webp)
Are School Cell Phone Bans Working? Here's What the Data Shows (And Why Peace Matters More)
The Facts: What's Actually Happening in Schools School cell phone bans are spreading across America at a pace that would make your head spin. 77 percent of public schools now prohibit students from using cell phones during class time, with elementary schools leading the charge at 86 percent compared to 55 percent of high schools. Teachers aren't just tolerating these policies: they're demanding them. 90 percent of National Education Association members support bans during in
Layne McDonald
5 days ago5 min read
![[HERO] Family and Parenting: Does Your Church Feel Safe? 7 Child Safety Mistakes Churches Make (and How to Fix Them)](https://cdn.marblism.com/oXnXd1-jOmH.webp)
![[HERO] Family and Parenting: Does Your Church Feel Safe? 7 Child Safety Mistakes Churches Make (and How to Fix Them)](https://cdn.marblism.com/oXnXd1-jOmH.webp)
Family and Parenting: Does Your Church Feel Safe? 7 Child Safety Mistakes Churches Make (and How to Fix Them)
Every Sunday morning, parents drop their kids off at the children's ministry area and head to the main service. We trust our churches completely, after all, these are places dedicated to God's work, filled with people of faith. But trust alone isn't enough to keep children safe. The hard truth is that many churches inadvertently create safety vulnerabilities that put kids at risk. Not because they don't care, but because they haven't identified the gaps in their systems. Afte
Layne McDonald
6 days ago5 min read
![[HERO] Bark Vs Covenant Eyes: Which Is Better For Your Christian Family?](https://cdn.marblism.com/ySOx70KpBbd.webp)
![[HERO] Bark Vs Covenant Eyes: Which Is Better For Your Christian Family?](https://cdn.marblism.com/ySOx70KpBbd.webp)
[Family and Parenting]: Bark Vs Covenant Eyes: Which Is Better For Your Christian Family?
As Christian parents, we're called to protect our children, not just physically, but digitally too. The internet brings incredible opportunities for learning and connection, but it also exposes our kids to dangers we never faced growing up. Two names keep coming up in conversations about digital safety: Bark and Covenant Eyes. Both promise to help us guard our families online, but they take very different approaches. Let me walk you through what each tool actually does, what
Layne McDonald
7 days ago5 min read
![[HERO] [Family and Parenting]: How to Avoid the Biggest Digital Safety Pitfalls (A Christian Parent](https://cdn.marblism.com/3tMnP5dFhHp.webp)
![[HERO] [Family and Parenting]: How to Avoid the Biggest Digital Safety Pitfalls (A Christian Parent](https://cdn.marblism.com/3tMnP5dFhHp.webp)
[Family and Parenting]: How to Avoid the Biggest Digital Safety Pitfalls (A Christian Parent's Playbook)
Let's be honest, navigating the digital world with kids feels like trying to build a sandcastle during high tide. Just when you think you've got things under control, a new app drops, a new challenge goes viral, or your child figures out a workaround to your carefully installed filters. But here's the thing most Christian parents miss: the biggest digital safety pitfall isn't the technology itself, it's our approach to it. After years of working with families trying to balanc
Layne McDonald
Feb 205 min read
![[HERO] Spiritual Formation Secrets: What Busy Parents Miss About Growing Together in Faith](https://cdn.marblism.com/VTqHPiMsV6Y.webp)
![[HERO] Spiritual Formation Secrets: What Busy Parents Miss About Growing Together in Faith](https://cdn.marblism.com/VTqHPiMsV6Y.webp)
Spiritual Formation Secrets: What Busy Parents Miss About Growing Together in Faith
You're racing through another morning: packed lunches, permission slips, finding the missing shoe. The devotional sits unopened on the counter. Again. And that gnawing feeling returns: the one that whispers you're failing your kids spiritually. But what if the real issue isn't that you're doing too little? What if you're focusing on the wrong things entirely? Most parenting advice tackles surface problems: discipline strategies, screen time limits, managing peer pressure. The
Layne McDonald
Feb 195 min read
![[HERO] Bark vs Covenant Eyes: Which Is Better For Your Christian Family?](https://cdn.marblism.com/aUr3ZtEFTjs.webp)
![[HERO] Bark vs Covenant Eyes: Which Is Better For Your Christian Family?](https://cdn.marblism.com/aUr3ZtEFTjs.webp)
[Family and Parenting]: Bark vs Covenant Eyes: Which Is Better For Your Christian Family?
The moment you hand your child a smartphone, you're giving them access to the entire world: the good, the bad, and everything in between. As Christian parents, we want to protect our kids while preparing them to navigate digital spaces with wisdom and integrity. That's where monitoring tools like Bark and Covenant Eyes come in. But here's the real question: which one actually fits your family's needs? I've spent countless hours researching both platforms, and I'm going to bre
Layne McDonald
Feb 196 min read
![[HERO] [Family and Parenting]: The Ultimate Guide to Building Safe Faith Homes: Church Safety, Screen Time, and Spiritual Boundaries](https://cdn.marblism.com/DIKGtCXrdw1.webp)
![[HERO] [Family and Parenting]: The Ultimate Guide to Building Safe Faith Homes: Church Safety, Screen Time, and Spiritual Boundaries](https://cdn.marblism.com/DIKGtCXrdw1.webp)
[Family and Parenting]: The Ultimate Guide to Building Safe Faith Homes: Church Safety, Screen Time, and Spiritual Boundaries
Building a safe faith home isn't about creating a bubble where nothing bad can ever reach your children. It's about creating an intentional environment where spiritual growth flourishes alongside protection, where kids can ask hard questions, explore their beliefs, and know they're safe physically, emotionally, and spiritually. Over the years, I've learned that safety in a Christian home requires balancing three critical areas: physical safety in church environments, digital
Layne McDonald
Feb 185 min read
![[HERO] 5 Spiritual Life Hacks for Families Dealing with Burnout](https://cdn.marblism.com/D6DkMwHfbZ1.webp)
![[HERO] 5 Spiritual Life Hacks for Families Dealing with Burnout](https://cdn.marblism.com/D6DkMwHfbZ1.webp)
5 Spiritual Life Hacks for Families Dealing with Burnout
Running on empty isn't a badge of honor, it's a warning light. If your family has been pushing through exhaustion, snapping at each other over small things, and wondering where the joy went, you're not alone. Burnout doesn't discriminate. It hits hardworking parents, devoted spouses, and well-meaning families who simply tried to do too much for too long. Here's the good news: God never designed you to run on fumes. Scripture and modern psychology actually agree on this one. Y
Layne McDonald
Feb 185 min read
![[HERO] Bark vs Covenant Eyes – Which Is Better For Your Family](https://cdn.marblism.com/zpxVZOuejpv.webp)
![[HERO] Bark vs Covenant Eyes – Which Is Better For Your Family](https://cdn.marblism.com/zpxVZOuejpv.webp)
[Family and Parenting]: Bark vs Covenant Eyes – Which Is Better For Your Family's Digital Safety?
If you're a parent trying to protect your kids online, you've probably come across two big names: Bark and Covenant Eyes. Both promise digital safety, but they take very different approaches. One casts a wide net to catch all kinds of online dangers, while the other zeroes in on one specific threat. So which one is right for your family? Let me walk you through the real differences, the hidden costs, and what actually matters when you're trying to keep your kids safe in a wor
Layne McDonald
Feb 175 min read
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