For Churches
‘Working with You’ Plan
In the 21st century, families come in all sizes, shapes and colours. They are blended, broken, Dad only, Mum only, foster, step, and traditional. Successful ministry to such families demands that we take into account their diversity and poses a daunting assortment of new challenges. Marriage and family is arguably the largest unmet need for evangelism in this country; almost 1 million couples living together unmarried, third of Australia’s children being born outside the context of marriage.
No pastor or congregation alone can offer all that the present family crisis demands. Here at FamilyLife, we believe in the potential of the local church; recognising the church as a critical change agent, FamilyLife desires to work with you to help you rebuild the family. The job requires co-operation and pooling of ministry resources.
In our surveys of pastors and church leaders….we observed that many leaders are uncertain about what family ministry should be and should attempt to accomplish. There is no single best way for the church to do family ministry…God accomplishes his objectives in infinitely creative ways”. You can do plenty by “intelligent tweaking” of existing ministry initiatives, so church complements family. Not competes.
But churches will need ‘Working with you plans’, not quick fixes and make the shift from the crisis paradigm to the prevention paradigm. Our observation has been that many leaders in Church make the assumption that “no news is good news”. But this just isn’t the case, so many couples relationships are floundering and are timid to discuss this out in the open. We can’t expect to rescue the family quickly. It took decades to decline, may take same to restore.
As a leader in marriage conferences in Australia for over a decade with thousands of marriages being strengthened and thousands of houses becoming Godly homes, what excites us even more, is seeing our events become spring boards for church leaders to develop ongoing marriage & family ministry in their church & neighbourhood. We have many resources, tools and ideas that can help propel your church into your own distinctive, vibrant marriage and family ministry.
FamilyLife’s BIG IDEAS for Family Ministry:
BIG IDEA 1 MINISTER TO THE FIRST FAMILY FIRST
Do I? As you lead and love at home, so will others follow.
BIG IDEA 2 RECLAIM THE COVENANT OF MARRIAGE
Do I? Preach and promote God’s great plan that works.
BIG IDEA 3 REMARKET THE DESIGNER’S DREAM
Do I? Teach men and women the Bible’s answer to the battle of the sexes.
BIG IDEA 4 MAKE YOUR CHURCH A MARRIAGE AND FAMILY EQUIPPING CENTRE
Do I? Take the lead in understanding and meeting practical family needs.
BIG IDEA 5 CREATE A CHURCH WIDE WEB
Do I? Refer and respond to needs via Internet (eg www.familylifeaustralia.com)
BIG IDEA 6 MAXIMISE MENTORS
Do I? Recruit and match mentor couples to younger couples.
BIG IDEA 7 EMPOWER PARENTS AS FAITH TRAINERS
Do I? Believe the home is the best place for faith formation.
Believe the church’s role is to equip parents, not replace them?
BIG IDEA 8 FOLLOW THE LIFE CYCLE FOR EFFECTIVE FAMILY MINISTRY
Do I? Know and meet the couple’s needs at every stage of their life cycle.
“Any church – large or small – can design its family ministry using the navigational aids provided by the FamilyLife Cycle model.”
Imagine your community of Christian couples modelling healthy, purposeful, fun and God-honouring marriages to the world? As Dennis Rainey, founder of FamilyLife put it poignantly, “Picture the glory of God radiating into dark neighbourhoods from healthy families that look beyond their own needs to the needs of others.”
Please feel free to contact us to discuss some Next Steps with your church
- e-mail us: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
- Write us: FamilyLife, P.O. Box 565, Mulgrave, VIC 3170
Look forward to hearing from you....