September 30, 2002
TOGETHER:
Build up Christ-centered homes
___By God's design, we are all family members. Family life is an integral part of the Christian life.
___Diana Garland, dean of Baylor University's School of Social Work, has rightly pointed out that God achieves his purposes through family relationships largely by the discipling that takes place within them. More than anywhere else, family life has the potential for teaching what it means to love in ways that disciple us in the ways of Christ.
___Many spiritual disciplines are personal. But we demonstrate the fruits of the Spirit only through relationship with others. There is no place of greater challenge for love, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, joyfulness, peacefulness, patience and self-control than in family relationships.
___Beyond our biological family, the church can become our extended family. One of the great ways we learn about God's love is through the love of God's people. I want to encourage all our Texas Baptist churches to make family ministry a priority.
CHARLES WADE
Executive Director
BGCT Executive Board
___Family ministry in a church is a way of being--a lifestyle, not a program or event. Relevant family ministry is one of the biggest challenges for 21st century churches. With family situations like divorces, cohabitation, single-parent homes, absent fathers, stepfamilies, adult children moving back home, incarcerated family members and grandparents raising grandchildren, important foundational assumptions about family have shifted. The church must meet the needs of today's families.
___As God's people, we must increasingly find ways to strengthen families and individuals. We need to encourage building up faith within families, not only for our church members, but also for our communities. When a church's vision of being God's people focuses on opportunities to show Christ's love and grace, it will never run out of ideas for nurturing, loving and ministering to families.
___The Texas Baptist family is dedicated to making a difference in people's lives in the name of Jesus. Our churches, medical centers, hospitals, chaplains, educational institutions, family- and child-care institutions, retirement centers, aging-care institutions and associational missions extend themselves daily to families in need of help, healing, encouragement and blessing.
___Several BGCT ministries can assist your church in expanding its vision for family ministry.
___The Hope for Home initiative, led by our Christian Life Commission, helps church leaders develop strategies for strengthening family relationships. The Christian Life Commission also offers assistance to church leaders in the area of substance-abuse education and prevention.
___The Center for Community Ministries and Mission Service Corps provide churches and families with community mission project ideas as entry points into a missions lifestyle.
___Counseling and Psychological Services provides pastoral-care training and counseling support to our ministers and their families. And Institutional Ministries can provide referrals to local Texas Baptist family resources for family crisis situations.
___The Contemporary English Version of the Bible offers a valuable insight in the way it translates Psalm 127:1. It says, "Without the help of the Lord, it is useless to build a home." May the Lord grant our families wisdom as we seek to build Christ-centered, God-honoring homes.
___We are loved.
The Baptist Standard
News of religion, faith, missions, Bible study and Christian ministry among Texas Baptist churches, in the BGCT, the Southern Baptist Convention ( SBC ) and around the world.
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