Building a Family Centered Ministry at Your Church

I have spent most of the day reading and working on my message to a bunch of fathers and their daughters to whom I will be speaking this Friday night at our annual Father/Daughter Banquet. As a father of an almost 5 year old daughter and an almost 2 year old son, I am learning that parenting them both requires two different sets of skills. Without using all my material for Friday I want to note just a few distinctions.

1. Sons require physical and sometimes rough play. Daughters enjoy this in limited form, but most need a dad with gentle words and a soft hand.

2. Sons respond best to yes/no directives. Daughters do best with exaggerated explanations.

3. Sons look for creative ways to get over the pool fence. Daughters just want you to open the fence for them.

4. Sons will eat almost any type of food (no matter how old) off the floor. Daughters want a new spoon if they drop it on the floor (and dad wiping it off with a napkin is not sufficient).

5. Sons need to be trained to be godly husbands, fathers, and leaders. Daughters need to be trained to be godly wives, mothers, and influencers in the home and community.

I am again reminded that each day is a brick that I am laying in the lives and legacies of these two that God has entrusted me with. What type of foundation am I laying?

The root of discipleship is in the home. How are churches impacting the family? How are we as parents making and building disciples in our own homes? How can churches help parents to do this more effectively? Should we (the church) compliment or compete for a families time? How are we equipping fathers to lead? just a few questions to think on as you pray about a family ministry for your church.