Rebuilt Families Blended Families has the connotation of destruction, and step families have the negative connotation of evil stepparents in all sorts of fairytales. Rebuilt gives the idea of potential for strength, stability, and grow. Very similar to the connection to us being grafted and rebuilt into the family of God. We are adopted into a unique family situation with an all-knowing God who can rebuild into something better with the backdrop of potential negativity. This PowerPoint is mostly going to be used to educate those working with individuals in rebuilt families. We need to be aware of the downfalls and potential cliffs that they need to overcome. We need to be educated to speak truth and hope into these new unions of God and work to make something better and stronger, not something set up for failure.

Rebuilt Families Step-Mom Step-Dad Step-Children Step-Grandparents Step-Siblings Who knows someone affected by these issues? So what makes a rebuilt family? What do we need to look for? What insight do we have from looking out from a rebuilt family or in to a rebuilt family?

Alternative Rebuilt Families or the New Rebuilt Families Homosexual Step-Dad Homosexual Step-Mom Polygamy Gender Reassignment Cohabitation/ Step Dating Partners Children/Adult Relations (NAMBLA) Other new families? Why knows someone affected by these issues? We live in a “brave new world.” With these adaptions, we must be forward thinking. Not only worrying about today’s problems but looking forward to tomorrows. If we only develop for the present, we will constantly be outdated. What are some other new family dynamics? How do you look out or inward to these movements?

Christian vs. Post-Christian Worldview How do we view these rebuilt families as Christians? How does the post-Christian world view rebuilt families? Do we affect the progression and how? Our world whether we like it or not has stepped into a post-Christians mindset. We either are not thinking about Christ anymore or the Christ that we think about is one of our own making. So how should we view these rebuilt families as Christians? How does the world view them? How do we connect these ideas and help them? How will this progression more towards the future and how do we stem the tide?

Rebuilt Realities in the U.S. (Step Mom & Step Dad) Nearly everyone in the US gets married (a) US has highest remarriage rate in the world. ½ of all marriages! (b) The majority of divorced men or women remarry other divorced people (c) Redivorce is more likely after rebuilt family (d) 1/3 of rebuilt marriages last (e) How will this effect Marriage Education in our field? How do we adapt? (Ganong, Lawrence H, and Coleman, 2004, 3) (Steward, 2007) (Ganong, et al, 2004, 61) (Engel & Margorie, 2013) (Lofas, 2013) Marriage is still part of the equation, which gives the power. The problem is that, it’s a serious mess. We need to see the realism of it and make progressions forward. How does this affect us? How do we have to adapt in church?

Step-Children 1/3 of children will live in a rebuilt home (a) Rebuilt homes provide less support for kids (b) Myth- “What is best for us is best for the children.” This creates stress on children (c) Children fare more poorly in rebuilt families(d) How do we aid these children? (Ganong, et al, 2004, 5) (Ganong, et al, 2004, 27) (Ganong, et al, 2004, 70) (Ganong, et al, 2004, 146) Rebuilt families are naturally a mess. Selfishness abounds, and love and support don’t seem to be there. How do we aid these students beyond the typical? What are the “new” students that we are dealing with?

Step-Grandparents Rebuilt Grandparents have ambivalent feelings regarding rebuilt members (a) The Blood that binds is absent (b) What has been your experience? (Ganong, et al, 2004, 181) B. (Lofas, 2013) Story about Grandmother- disconnect, lack of love, selfish. This is an extreme, but a good example about the lack of important genetic love. What have you stories been?

Rebuild and Reeducated What can we do? Be a futurist- see future problems before they come. Look ahead for the new rebuilt families Make it a full church priority (sermons, support groups, etc.) Provide non-confrontational opportunities- online- videos, text, private group discussions. How do we help these families start the process of being rebuilt? Idea time from group? Ideas from speakers?

Sources: Deal, R. (n.d.). Marriage, Family, & Stepfamily Statistics | Smart Stepfamilies. Smart Stepfamilies. Retrieved January 17, 2013, from http://www.smartstepfamilies.com/view/statistics Engel, M., MBA., & PhD. (n.d.). National Stepfamily Resource Center | Key Advocacy Issues. National Stepfamily Resource Center . Retrieved January 17, 2013, from http://www.stepfamilies.info/ Ganong, Lawrence H., and Marilyn Coleman. Stepfamily relationships: development, dynamics, and interventions. New York: Kluwer Academic/Plenum Publishers, 2004. Print. Lofas, J., Ph.D.., & LCSW. (n.d.). The Stepfamily Foundation Inc. - We provide stepfamily counseling and certification seminars. The Stepfamily Foundation Inc. - We provide stepfamily counseling and certification seminars. Retrieved January 17, 2013, from http://www.stepfamily.org/ Stepfamily Statistics. (n.d.). The Stepfamily Foundation Inc. - We provide stepfamily counseling and certification seminars. Retrieved January 17, 2013, from http://www.stepfamily.org/statistics.html (Ganong, Lawrence H, and Coleman, 2004, 3)