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Archive for December, 2009
The American Family
Wednesday, December 23rd, 2009
Which home do you think represents the American Family?
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Reach for the children, BUT resource the family
Wednesday, December 23rd, 2009There is a battle raging in “heavenly places” over the heart and soul of today’s family. The lasting effects of fractured, dysfunctional, and broken homes are visible in every school, neighborhood, and church in America.
According to research analyst, George Barna, 50% of all children raised in evangelical homes will leave the church and not return. This statistic is consistent for all ministries, regardless of size or denomination. Today’s youth are leaving the church in unprecedented numbers. How is this possible? Over the past two decades, the level of excellence in church programming has raised considerably. Local churches such as Willow Creek Community Church and Saddleback Community Church have become synonymous with fun engaging programs; yet, they too fall prey to the 50% statistic. Churches across America have seen successful marriages decline, divorce rates go up, and children not embracing the faith as they enter adulthood.According to the Center for Strong Families, ministries like this have discovered that although they have spent an incredible amount of resources on creating fun inviting environments and creative worship experiences, their efforts have not made a lasting connection on the lives of today’s youth.
Fortunately, this minimal impact is not because of the ineffectiveness of this style of ministry.
Instead the impact is minimized because as these children leave church, they return to Christian or non-Christian homes that do not live out the same values being taught at church. In short, the church has invested its resources in growing the children specifically instead of growing the family as a whole. I believe the church not only offers hope, but also is the greatest hope for families today. Over the past couple of years, there has been a growing interest in local churches to engage this problem. So, what does it look like when the local church chooses to be proactive with its call to restore, renew, and resource the family?
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Family Regeneration, a philosophy of family ministry.
Wednesday, December 23rd, 2009
Churches that are growing stronger are filled with families that are growing stronger. One primary reason the church exists today is to enable families to love God and others in real ways, learn more about God and His word, and live lives that are owned by God. I purposely use the word “enable” instead of equip or train. To equip or to train could suggest that parents do not possess the tools that are needed to successfully raise their children. However, I believe they do. True discipleship occurs when parents live lives that are owned by God and model this lifestyle to their children.
The church can accomplish this task of enabling families by focusing their efforts in three primary avenues: restoring, renewing, and resourcing families. First, when a church focuses its attention on restoring broken homes to wholeness through wise counsel and mentors, they can help rebuild a foundation on which the family can stand. Secondly, when a church offers times that renew and refresh both struggling families, as well as healthy families, it offers nutrients that help nurture and build strong homes. Finally, when the church resources families with God’s word and practical tools, it also offers support and encouragement on their journey in building strong families that love and live for the Lord.
So what how does a family ministry differ from the current “programs” offered in churches today that minister to families. Family ministry is a holistic approach to reaching the family as a unit. It is not just providing programs at age appropriate levels with in the church. Family ministry should not be considered a growth engine for the church. Although it is true that families are drawn to churches that have dynamic children and youth program, family ministry should not be viewed as another growth engine for the church. Instead the church should be concerned with building healthy families within the church by providing strong ministries that come alongside parents and offer tools and resources. Churches that are growing stronger are filled with families that are growing stronger.
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From silos to integration… practical application of family ministry in the local church
Wednesday, December 23rd, 2009
Most local churches in America measure success by the number people attending their weekend services. Most churches spend their time and resources on building strong children and student programs that will attract families to their church. All of these churches have one thing in common, silos. Silos are formed when a church places targets around each individual ministry department. On the other hand, family ministries choose to draw the target around the family unit as a whole, thus breaking down these silos. Local churches that are proactively targeting families do so in three primary areas: restoring broken homes and relationships, renewing families that are striving to grow together both physically as well as spiritually, and resourcing families with the support and strategies that help parents grow personally and enable them to disciple their children.
How does this look practically in the local church?
Restoring the Family
Counseling and mentoring relationships
Support Groups
Personally connecting with families
Renewing the Family
Marriage and family retreats
Marriage and family conferences
Yearly sermon series
Church-wide family equipping times
Parenting classes
Resourcing the Family
Dynamic Children Ministries and Student ministries
Engaging college students, adults, and senior adults
Family recreation ministries
Family services
Books
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