Parents in need of advice on how to raise their children can now turn to two local churches.

Crawl Gospel Hall and St. Patrick's recently developed programmes to help adults rear their offspring.

Crawl Gospel Hall on North Shore Road, Hamilton Parish began their programme to assist families in their community earlier in the summer.

Programme director and former Chief Education officer Dean Furbert told The Royal Gazette that the seminars were an extension of their Sunday School.

Mr. Furbert said the programme began with invitations being sent to families to have dinner with Sunday School teachers and other Church members.

After the meal, the children watched a video while parents to one of Brian Tracy and Bettie Youngs' tapes on "How to Raise Happy, Healthy, Self-confident Children''.

The National Drug Commission provided the tapes to all the churches in Bermuda.

After listening to the tapes, Mr. Furbert recalled, the parents discussed what they heard.

The format was so effective and the evening was such a success that the get-togethers were continued.

Mr. Furbert said the sessions are called VIP (standing for Victory in Partnership) Supper Seminars and are held on Thursdays from 6 p.m. to 7.30 p.m.

During the months of May and June, four sessions were held and parents who attended those seminars requested that they be reactivated after the summer holidays.

"The response to this new activity has been very encouraging in terms of consistent, interest and participation of parents,'' Mr. Furbert wrote in a letter to the NDC regarding their tapes. "The tapes are very informative, relevant and captivating and cover a wide range of relevant topics.'' The first session of the fall was held on Thursday and saw more than a dozen people participant.

The Royal Gazette attended the meeting and observed as participants, sitting in a circle in the small church, absorbed parenting tips.

While enjoying desert, the group discussed the importance of values in rearing children under Mr. Furbert's watchful eye.

Mr. Furbert said he has received many positive comments from parents about the VIP Supper Seminars.

"The VIP meetings offer you the opportunity to meet, socialise and discuss topics that affect the lives of parents and families today,'' one mother said.

"The VIP meetings gives an introspective look at how we interact with our children, what we do and what we could or should be doing and how we can change our behaviour towards our children.'' Another couple who participated in the meetings said they gave them the chance to share positive parenting tips.

"The tapes and discussions gave us the opportunity to share positive parenting tips,'' the couple said. "They allowed us to feel that we are not alone as we try to raise our children. Many people experienced the same problems and it was helpful to hear other's solutions.

"It was also helpful in allowing us to meet new people and renew old acquaintances.'' The next meeting will be on October 16 and the parents will be catering the dinner. Anyone interested in attending should call Mr. Furbert at 293-0035.

The Hamilton Parish Church is not the only Church attempting to unite families and help parents raise their children.

St. Patrick's Church in Smith's Parish last week launched their weekly `Be Not Afraid Family Hour' programme.

According to a Church spokesperson, the nine-week programme will provide quality family time and foster family prayer.

Each week a different topic will be covered by a one-hour video programme featuring "some of the best teachers the Catholic Church has to offer'' including Pope John Paul II and the late Mother Teresa.

The family Rosary will be prayed each week and there will be babysitting services for children one-and-a-half to four-years-old.

The `Be Not Afraid Family Hour' runs every Monday at 7 p.m. for the next nine weeks.

TEACHING PARENTING SKILLS -- Former Chief Education Officer Dean Furbert (standing) discusses the importance that values play in raising children during an evening parenting workshop at Crawl Gospel Hall on Thursday. The next seminar will be held on October 16.