Honest Answers:
Exploring God Questions with Your Tween
by Janelle Alberts and Dr. Ingrid Faro
Understanding Honest Answers and Its Significance
For parents, pastors, and people-helpers, guiding tweens through faith questions can be both rewarding and challenging. Honest Answers: Exploring God Questions with Your Tween, co-authored by Janelle Alberts and Dr. Ingrid Faro, provides a much-needed resource for those navigating conversations about God, Scripture, and belief with young minds.
As tweens begin to think critically about their faith, they often ask deep and sometimes difficult questions. How do we know God exists? Why does God allow suffering? What happens when faith and doubt collide? Honest Answers does not shy away from these questions but instead provides a thoughtful, engaging, and biblically grounded approach to discussing them.
Dr. Ingrid Faro, mentioned in Safe to Hope (Season 6), brings a scholarly yet accessible perspective, making this book a valuable tool for leaders, counselors, and parents who want to help tweens develop a resilient and informed faith.
God’s Precepts and Strategies in Guiding Tweens
A core strength of Honest Answers is its focus on open, honest dialogue rather than rigid, pre-packaged responses. Alberts and Faro emphasize that faith should not be about memorizing the “right” answers but about fostering curiosity and trust in God’s Word.
The book models an approach that encourages tweens to wrestle with their faith while still grounding them in biblical truth. It provides parents and mentors with strategies to:
- Engage in faith conversations with humility, honesty, and grace
- Allow space for tweens to express doubts without fear of judgment
- Point tweens to Scripture while recognizing that their faith journey will be unique
By taking this approach, Honest Answers reinforces the biblical principle that seeking God with an open heart leads to deeper understanding and personal faith formation.
Key Takeaways for Parents, Leaders, and Counselors
For those in leadership, counseling, or mentoring roles, Honest Answers provides critical insights into how to nurture faith in children while avoiding common pitfalls, such as dismissing hard questions or providing overly simplistic responses. Some of the key takeaways for those guiding tweens include:
- The importance of modeling an authentic, growing faith rather than presenting a rigid or superficial one
- How to create an environment where kids feel safe asking difficult questions
- Practical techniques for balancing truth with grace in faith discussions
- Acknowledging that faith development is a process and not about having all the answers immediately
By equipping leaders, parents, and counselors with these tools, Honest Answers fosters stronger connections between adults and the tweens in their care, helping them build a lasting and meaningful faith.
Impact on Families and Young Believers
For families, this book is a game-changer. Many parents feel unequipped when faced with their child’s deep theological questions. Honest Answers reassures them that they don’t have to be Bible scholars to guide their children in faith. Instead, the book encourages parents to walk alongside their kids, learning and growing together.
For tweens, having a space where their questions are heard and respected can be life-changing. The book helps young readers feel seen and valued in their faith journey, reinforcing the idea that seeking God is not about having all the answers but about being in relationship with Him.
By empowering both parents and tweens to engage in meaningful faith discussions, Honest Answers supports healthy spiritual growth and equips young believers with a faith that can withstand challenges.
Conclusion
Dr. Ingrid Faro’s theological expertise, combined with Janelle Alberts’ relatable and conversational style, makes Honest Answers a unique and invaluable resource. Their combined voices create a balanced, biblically grounded, and engaging guide for those raising the next generation of believers.
For parents, pastors, and counselors looking for a resource to help navigate tough faith conversations with tweens, this book provides both practical guidance and theological depth. It reassures parents that they don’t have to fear difficult questions and helps tweens see that faith is about seeking God, not about having perfect answers.
If you want to strengthen the faith journey of a child in your life, Honest Answers is a must-read.
Purchase via website: https://www.ingridfaro.com/. (Not available amazon.)
