Welcome To The Faith At Home Leadership Summit! Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New International version®. Copyright© 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing. All rights reserved.

There are over 28 forms of family identified. Session 1: What Are We Accomplishing? What is a family? Single person Couple with no children Couple with children Single parent with children Empty nester There are over 28 forms of family identified. When we say family we mean all of them.

Dr. Peter Benson, Search Institute “As the family goes so goes the future of the church. Religious life in the home is more influential than the church.” Dr. Peter Benson, Search Institute

Session 1: What Are We Accomplishing? How are families in our church and community going today? (strengths, weaknesses?) If this is the future of the church, what does that mean for our church? Do you agree that religious life in the home is more influential than the church?

Significant Religious Influences Survey Male Female Mother 81% 74% Father 61% 50% Pastor 57% 44% Grandparent 30% 29% Sunday School 26% 26% Youth Group 24% 25% Church Camp 20% 28% Retreats 11% 17%

Significant Religious Influences Survey Mother and father are two to three times more influential than any church program! How is religious life in the home today?

Today’s Reality What percentage of teenagers have a regular dialog with their mother on faith/life issues? What percentage of teens have a regular dialog with their father on faith/life issues? What percentage of teenagers have experienced regular reading of the Bible and devotions in the home? What percentage of youth have experienced a service-oriented event with a parent as an action of faith? 12% 5% 9%

George Barna -Transforming Children Into Spiritual Champions “We discovered that in a typical week, fewer than 10 percent of parents who regularly attend church with their kids read the Bible together, pray together (other than at meal times) or participate in an act of service as a family unit. Even fewer families—1 out of 20—have any type of worship experience together with their kids, other than while they are at church during the typical month.”

What Others Are Saying… “For all their specialized training, church professionals realize that if a child is not receiving basic Christian nurture in the home, even the best teachers and curriculum will have minimal impact. Once-a-week exposure simply cannot compete with daily experience where personal formation is concerned.” Marjorie Thompson, Family, The Forming Center

What Others Are Saying… “When a church—intentionally or not—assumes a family’s responsibilities in the arena of spiritually nurturing children, it fosters an unhealthy dependence upon the church to relieve the family of its biblical responsibility.” George Barna Transforming Children Into Spiritual Champions

What Others Are Saying… “Most certainly father and mother are apostles, bishops, and priests to their children, for it is they who make then acquainted with the gospel.” Martin Luther, “The Estate of Marriage, 1522”

What Others Are Saying… “Most teenagers and their parents may not realize it, but a lot of research in the sociology of religion suggest that the most important social influence in shaping young people’s religious lives is the religious life modeled and taught to them by their parents.” Christian Smith, Soul Searching

What Others Are Saying… “What we ought to do is let the kids drop their parents off at church, train the parents and send them back into their mission field, their home, to grow Christians!” Dr. Roland Martinson, Luther Seminary

What Does The Bible Have To Say? Deuteronomy 6:1-12 Joshua 24:14-16 Psalm 78 Faith At Home Is A Biblical Mandate!

Reviewing What We Have Discovered Religious life in the home is more influential than the church. Mom and Dad are two to three times more influential than any church program YET faith talk, devotions, Bible reading, prayer and service are not happening in the home. Faith at home is Biblically mandated and what God intended.

Mark Holmen, Faith Begins At Home I believe one of the greatest existing challenges facing the Christian church today is trying to figure out HOW we can equip the home to once again be the primary place where faith is nurtured THROUGH our existing ministry structures. Mark Holmen, Faith Begins At Home

George Barna, Transforming Children Into Spiritual Champions Session 2: Becoming A Valuable Partner “The local church should be an intimate and valuable partner in the effort to raise the coming generation of Christ followers and church leaders, but it is the parents whom God will hold primarily accountable for the spiritual maturation of their children.” George Barna, Transforming Children Into Spiritual Champions Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New International version®. Copyright© 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing. All rights reserved.

George Barna, Transforming Children Into Spiritual Champions Session 2: Becoming A Valuable Partner Is our church a valuable partner in bringing Christ and Christlike living into the home? Do unchurched people recognize our church as a valuable partner for them as parents or a program center for kids? Does our church have the following symptoms? Increasing number of drop off parents Decreasing number of students attending Increasing number of young adults who abandon their faith George Barna, Transforming Children Into Spiritual Champions

Family Ministry Model #1 “Adding-A-Silo” Nursery Sunday School Youth Ministry Adult Ministry Family Ministry

A Church “OF” Family Ministry Nursery Sunday School Youth Ministry Adult Ministry Family Ministry

Becoming A Church “Of” Family Ministry The Faith At Home Initiative Becoming A Church “Of” Family Ministry Key #1 – A Long-Term Commitment Key #2 – Commitment of the Senior Pastor Key #3 – A Part of the Mission, Vision and Strategy of the Church Key #4 – Commit the Resources Necessary Key #5 – Involve All the Ministries

Becoming A Church “Of” Family Ministry “Christian families taught the ways of God in their homes every day. Parents were expected to model a Spirit-led lifestyle for their children, and families were to make their home a sanctuary for God. In a very real sense, the home was the early church—supplemented by larger gatherings in the Temple and elsewhere, but never replaced by what took place in the homes of believers.” George Barna, Revolution

Take It Home Events 1. Baby Dedication or Infant Baptism (Newborns) 8. My Bible (3rd Graders) 9. Money and Me (4th/ 5th Graders) 2. Family Blessings (2 Year Olds) 10. Computer Boundaries (Teenagers) 3. Family Devotions (3 Year Olds) 4. My Church (Preschoolers/ 4 Year Olds) 11. Faith Mentoring - Establishing Another Voice (Teenagers) 5. Family Prayer (Kindergartners/ 5 Year Olds) 12. Talking About Dating, Kissing, Sex & Stuff (Teenagers) 6. Family Service Projects (1st Graders) 7. Family Worship (2nd Graders) 13. Looking into the Future - Spiritual Gifts (Teenagers)

Group Planning Time How can we contribute to becoming a church “of” family ministry? How can we partner with our people to bring Christ and Christ-like living back into the home? What Take It Home event(s) could we initiate or help make happen? Is there another ministry we should partner with to help make this happen?

Thank You For Participating In The Faith At Home Leadership Summit See you next year!