Families on Mission

I am really excited about several aspects of the new direction our church is taking with family ministry. Close to the top of the list is the fact that we are making a concerted effort to provide more opportunities for families to serve on mission trips together. I have had the privilege of going on several mission trips with my daughters when they were in the youth department and once Sherron and I assisted on the same trip. I know from experience what a positive impact that had on each of us as we served and evangelized together. I do regret never having the opportunity for my entire family to go together.

The Georgia Family Mission Trip has been a great success the last couple of years. This coming November families with youth will be going to New York City to work with the homeless over the Thanksgiving holiday. This is just the beginning because I hope, in the not too distant future, we can schedule an international family trip.

There are multiple reasons why this is exciting from my perspective. First, we are breaking the trend of almost always segregating families when it comes to church related activities. Second, it allows the church and home to lock arms together to fulfill the Great Commission that our Savior has left for us accomplish. Third, in the context of family, missions is more likely to become a lifestyle rather than an event. And fourth, it allows parents to model a servant spirit, kingdom mindset, and evangelistic zeal in front of their own children.

In the past, our youth pastors and ministry leaders along with a few adult chaperones filled the position of modeling missions before our youth. While I would not hesitate pointing to these folks as role models, they should never take the place of the primary role models – the parents. What a great opportunity for parents to live out in front of their children the life that Christ has called each of us to live for His glory!

Ask any group of teenagers, churched or unchurched, who has the most influence on their spiritual development and the #1 and #2 answers will overwhelmingly be mom and dad. It is estimated that parents have three times more influence on their children than any other source. The question is this, is that influence recognized and purposefully implemented in the home? When a godly parent seeks to teach through both word and example, their children will be effected in a positive way.

I hope that many of our church families will take advantage of the opportunities ahead to do missions work together. There is no substitute for parental influence in the life of our children and our children’s children.

Psalm 78:5-7
“For He established a testimony in Jacob
And appointed a law in Israel,
Which He commanded our fathers
That they should teach them to their children,
That the generation to come might know, even the children yet to be born,
That they may arise and tell them to their children,
That they should put their confidence in God
And not forget the works of God,
But keep His commandments.”

David