“What resources would you recommend to help our church move toward a Family-Equipping Ministry Model?”

I’ve lost count of the number of times that I’ve been asked that question–and I’m always glad to answer it! I’m glad to answer it because it typically means that a minister or other church leader wants to equip parents to become primary disciple-makers in their children’s lives.

For those of you who haven’t asked me that question (or, for those of you who lost the Starbucks napkin on which I wrote the list) here it is:

Recommended Books

Steve Wright with Chris Graves. ApParent Privilege. Raleigh, North Carolina: InQuest, 2008. $14.99. Buy it here.

First, purchase this book for the staff members in your church. Then, once they have taken the message to heart, lead every parent in your congregation through the book, using this Leader’s Guide (available here). ApParent Privilege is the best tool available (outside of Holy Scripture and the Holy Spirit) when it comes to changing the ethos of your congregation. I also recommend using it as part of your new members’ curriculum, and perhaps even in classes for new parents and in premarital counseling.

Brian Haynes. Shift. Loveland, Colorado: Group, 2009. $14.99. Buy it here.

Again, take your staff through this book first; then, lead a study in which you introduce your entire congregation to these crucial concepts. Together, ApParent Privilege and Shift will help the parents in your church to view themselves as primary disciple-makers in their children’s lives. Specifically, Shift will equip parents and church leaders to establish “milestones,” rites of passage that help to move children and youth toward Christ-centered maturity.

Wayne Grudem and Dennis Rainey. Pastoral Leadership for Manhood and Womanhood. Wheaton, Illinois: Crossway, 2002. $15.99. Buy it here.

This text is a bit more academic; as such, work through it with your staff only-but do work through it with them! The value and purpose of this text is to make certain your church leaders are thinking theologically about family ministry rather than pragmatically. Your church’s staff especially needs to read the chapters on the pastor’s personal life.

Timothy Paul Jones, ed., Perspectives on Family Ministry. Nashville, Tennessee: B&H Academic, 2009. $19.99. Buy it here.

Once you’ve worked to change the ethos of your church and developed theological foundations for what you’re doing, it’s time to consider what may need to happen to change the church’s organizational structure. This book outlines three models of family ministry and provides guidance for transitioning to family ministry.

Voddie Baucham. Family-Driven Faith. Wheaton, Illinois: Crossway, 2007. $19.99. Buy it here.

Voddie presses for family-integrated churches, while I believe that the Family-Equipping Ministry Model is better suited for the vast majority of churches. Nevertheless, Voddie presents a clear and convincing call for parents to engage actively in discipling their children. Even if you find yourself disagreeing with the family-integrated perspective, this book is well worth your time.

Steve Wright with Chris Graves. reThink. Raleigh, North Carolina: InQuest, 2007. $13.99.
Buy it here.

In reThink, Steve Wright provides practical guidance for youth ministers who want to move toward the Family-Equipping Ministry Model. This is the book I wish I could have read before I became a youth minister.

Recommended Websites

http://www.legacymilestones.com
Kingsland Baptist Church has developed an outstanding array of resources to establish “milestones” in your congregation. Use this website alongside Brian Haynes’ book Shift.

http://www.homepointe.org/
Use these attractively-designed and professionally-produced resources from Lake Pointe Church to supplement your church’s family ministry emphases.

http://www.familyministrytoday.com
Well, obviously, I’m biased–but I do believe that this is where you’ll consistently find the best family ministry resources!