Strengthening Family Discipleship (Household)

(Note: This relational dynamic is not actually a developmental part of church planning, but the spiritual needs of families need to still be pirmarily considered, especially as relates to the discipleship of children.  This relational dynamic is one I just added in my Philosophy of Ministry and sill am unpacking these Biblical principles to see if it is an actual different Relational level.  We desire to support the parents responsibility in training their children, but also believe that there is a place for Children and Youth Discipleship ministries where the churdh body comes along side the parents to help teach and disciple groups of children and/or youth.)

1. Familial Relationships must be supported in the families (the only group that comes to the church), as the basic group of making disciples (other groups are developed as part of ministry infrastructure), so that strong families can be built. 

2. It is important to have different groups that ministry to the life situation of the family as a whole as well as to the life situation of the individuals in each family.                  

3. There should be within the infrastructure of the church groups that includes the family as a whole (Dad, Mom, and Children), so that spiritual relationships can be developed (which many times are missing in families), biblical leadership of the Fathers can be modeled, spiritual/moral life can be nurtured and trained, and conflicts can be handled.  Ministries should encourage time for family devotions where the parents play the primary part of discipling their children.                

4.  Singles come to the church as a family of one.  They are just as important and valuable in God’s kingdom and must be adopted into other families for the purpose of loving relationships necessary for disciplemaking.