In Part 1 of this discussion on family ministry, we saw how Scripture instructs parents and the home to take the lead in the evangelism and discipleship process with the younger generation. God established the institution of the family with the purpose of passing down the knowledge and understanding of who God is and what He did for us through His son Jesus to the next generation. So if God has placed the family at the forefront of this endeavor, what is the role of the church? We concluded earlier that the church is to be a partner in this process. It is to lock arms with the parents in their effort to evangelize and disciple. It is to be a support, a guide, and help. So how does the church do this?

Over the last 40-50 years or more, the church has taken on a model of ministry that doesn’t line up with this mindset. Let me be clear though, my goal is not to bash what the church has been doing. I have seen so many good things come from the ministry of the local church. My life stands as an example of the influence of the church, its programs, and the people who invested in my life. The reality is that it makes sense that the church went the direction that it took.

Back in the 1940’s and 1950’s culture went through a transition where youth became a financially viable market that was intentionally the target of marketing for the first time. Youth were now sectioned out in a way that was different than ever before. As this was taking place, it led to para-church organizations (Young Life, Youth for Christ, etc.) developing and focusing specifically on this age demographic. Churches began to follow this trend by hiring professional youth ministers. This was the beginning of the youth ministries that we are accustomed to today.

This is simply an approach to ministry. There are a lot of different approaches, but traditionally there have been three basic approaches to ministry in relation to the younger generation:

This is an approach that values equipping parents to function as primary disciple-makers in their children’s lives. This is done by partnering with parents and by providing resources and training in their households. This approach mainly came about in the 20th century to reestablish the household as the primary context for the Christian training of children. Early in the century it looked like ministers riding from home to home by horseback to visit church members, providing curriculum and equipping parents to engage in family worship and the teaching of Bible stories. It later developed into a literature distribution program. Today this approach looks far different but holds to the same foundation.

This approach engages ministry to families through a separate and specific program for each member of the family. This champions an approach of professionalization; it is up to the youth minister to attract and retain adolescents as well as provide what they need spiritually. In this approach, ministries tend to silo or operate very separately within the local church from other ministries.

With this approach, we see the establishment of ambulance programs to assist families in crisis and guardrail programs to strengthen healthy families. Local churches using this strategy create and implement a number of counseling programs and preventative training.

Over the last 40-50 years we have seen mostly a Segmented-Programmatic Approach in our churches. At Berean we have transitioned to a Comprehensive-Coordinative Approach. There are a lot of really good things that have come out of these other approaches, but we have a strong conviction toward this shift. We feel like it can lead to more effective results in the faith lives of kids and students and aligns us best with the structure we find in Scripture.

Within the Comprehensive-Coordinate Approach, there are three different models that have begun to be utilized in the local church:

Those practicing this model contend that the modern American practice of age segregation goes beyond the biblical mandate and may even obstruct parents’ obedience in discipling their children. Churches with this mindset tend to abandon all age-organized classes and events, including youth group, children’s’ church, and even age-graded Sunday school classes. The idea is that all generations learn and worship together.

Churches following this model maintain separate, age-segmented ministry structures. In doing so they seek to merge a Comprehensive-Coordinative vision for parents with the Segmented-Programmatic perspective. The goal is to empower parents to participate in the discipleship of their children. In other words, the church takes the lead and then invites parents into the process. Age-segmented ministries continue with minimal change, but the congregation constantly creates opportunities to involve parents and other adults.

This model is a middle route between its Family-Integrated and Family-Based counterparts. Here we see semblances of age-organized ministry remaining intact. Children’s and youth ministers are employed to serve and minister to kids, students, and families. Where it stands apart is that every practice, at every level of ministry is reworked to champion the place of parents as primary disciple-makers in their children’s lives. Every activity for kids and youth must resource, train or directly involve parents in some way. The idea is to create a culture in the church where parents are encouraged, challenged, equipped and held accountable as the primary faith trainers in their children’s lives.

At Berean, we are engaging in our version of a Family-Equipping Model. Practically we want to partner with parents to encourage, challenge, and equip. In Part 3 we will look at how Berean’s Family Ministry is practically trying to do these things.