Adapted from the book Perspectives on Family Ministry

To envision the family-equipping model in action, imagine a river with large stones jutting through the surface of the water. The river represents children’s growth and development. One riverbank signifies the church, and the other riverbank connotes the family. Both banks are necessary for the river to flow forward with focus and power. Unless both riverbanks support the child’s development, you are likely to end up with the destructive power of a deluge instead of the constructive possibilities of a river. The stones that guide and redirect the river currents represent milestones or rites of passage that mark the passing of key thresholds in the child’s life-points of development that the church and families celebrate together. (For more information on “milestones,” I highly recommend the website http://www.legacymilestones.com.)

In your church, which riverbank is stronger? How can parents and church partner together to bolster both banks? How about “milestones” or “rites of passage”? How can your congregation help parents to guide their children toward Christ-centered adulthood?