Hi, I'm Martha. I lead Dinner School alongside our founder, Peter Kupisz. Before I get into today's topic, I want to tell you a little bit about why I care so deeply about this.
I'm Persian, originally from Iran. When I was a child, my parents were nominally Muslim, but after we left Iran and were living in Turkey, they made the life-changing decision to follow Jesus. I spent my most formative years in a Christian household, and in 2019, we moved to Tbilisi, Georgia.
By the time I was a teenager, I was watching the adults in our church closely. I saw hypocrisy that bothered me deeply, and by the time I was fifteen, I wasn't just asking questions — I was angry at God. I dove into philosophy and atheism, convinced I was done with religion for good. Thank God, I eventually came back. But the journey there was long and painful, and looking back, there was a lot my parents didn't see coming.
That's what I want to write about today. Because the truth is, the season when your teen still seems "fine" is the most important season to prepare them. And most parents miss it.
At thirteen, I seemed completely fine. My parents felt no urgency because, on the surface, everything looked perfect. But there is a massive difference between a teenager who is "fine" and a teenager who is prepared.
When I was sixteen and had already walked away, my heart was hardened. There was almost nothing my parents could have said to get me to engage with faith. I would have refused to listen because I had already made up my mind. The window was shut.
But at thirteen? I was still open. I was still curious and connected. That version of me existed for a short time, and my parents didn't realize how quickly it would vanish.Most parents wait for a crisis before they start looking for tools.
But the best time to use a tool like Dinner School is right now — while your teenager is still at the table, still talking, and still open to thinking about faith.My parents didn't know something like Dinner School existed.
I often wonder how my story might have changed if they had made it a priority when I was thirteen — before the doubts turned into distance.
Don't assume the window is wide open just because things seem "fine" today.
If this resonates with you, you can take a look at our Welcome Series at dinnerschool.org — it's a free starting place for these conversations.
— Martha
