A new analysis from the Institute for Family Studies suggests that the kind of parenting that feels hardest in the moment—setting clear rules, enforcing boundaries, and maintaining structure—may actually lead to stronger relationships with children over time. Survey data from thousands of parents found that teens in homes with consistent expectations, such as curfews or screen limits, often report closer relationships with their parents.
For families, this insight points to an important truth: love expressed through guidance, accountability, and stability helps children grow in trust and resilience. Strong parenting, rooted in committed families and supported by healthy marriages, lays the groundwork not only for thriving children but also for vibrant churches and communities.
Gen Z Is Ditching Dating Apps — and the Church Was Built for This
College students are quitting dating apps for real-life connection, and even Tinder is going in-person. Here’s why it’s the local church’s moment.
America’s Demoralized Young Men: The Crisis Is Real — and the Local Church Holds a Proven Answer
New IFS research shows young men are lonely, isolated, and demoralized. The same data reveals the strongest protection: marriage, church, and community. Here’s how churches respond.
America Has a Housing Crisis. It Also Has a Marriage Crisis. They’re the Same Problem.
Communio’s J.P. De Gance published a new Townhall op-ed arguing that America’s housing crisis and its marriage crisis are connected — and that the solution requires more than policy. Here’s the argument every pastor needs to hear.