March 01, 2012 by Rick Wood

God’s Plan Is to Reach Families

Prepare yourself for a paradigm shift in your thinking about what it means to do missions. Evangeli- cals from the West are so accustomed to thinking about reaching people with the gospel as distinct individuals--one at a time. Much of our theology and evangelistic practices are centered upon this individualistic approach apart from any connection people have with their family or community. Have we missed God’s prime strategy for world evangelization with this exclusive focus on individuals?

Tags: family, parenting

March 01, 2012 by T. and B. Lewis

As for Me and My House

The Family in the Purposes of God

Take a biblical look at how God purposes to establish His Kingdom and pass His blessings through families. What does God mean by ‘family’? What does this means for you, your family and your ministry?

Tags: blessing, family

March 01, 2012 by Dick Scoggins

Multigenerational Family Communities

"The very foundation of the kingdom of God--the family--was so damaged that the concept was unusable. So how do we build the kingdom of God (Kingdom Communities) when the foundation is so damaged?" Dick Scoggins discusses building Kingdom Communities in this age when the family is in crisis.

Tags: community, family, multi-generational

March 01, 2012 by Alex G. Smith

Evangelizing Whole Families

The Value of Families in the 21st Century

Modern societies face growing dilemmas of enormous moral declension and ethical challenges. These complexities demand that the church return to stress the family in its involvement with local communities, rather than remaining apart in insular isolation. The more the church is involved locally with the families of its surrounding society, the more effective and valued it will become. This conclusion primarily offers advice to Christians; it suggests some vital principles to apply to reaching families; and finally it recommends a key simple model to win families.

Tags: evangelism, family

March 01, 2012 by Donald McGavran

One Man With a Passion to Reach His Family Transforms a People

A moving story of one "untouchable" in India who started a movement towards Christ.

Tags: family, hindu, india, movement

March 01, 2012 by Gene Daniels

Planting Indigenous Churches

Missionary Money Muzzles Movement

By the middle of the 1990's there were movements to Christ among several Muslim unreached people groups. Notice the word "was". Today there are still Muslim-background believers, and a few churches are still growing, but for the most part the promising movements across the region have ground to a standstill. Why?

Tags: church planting, money, movement, muslim

March 01, 2012 by Rob Rienow

The Essential Role of the Family in World Evangelization

These are exciting times for followers of Jesus Christ! The Holy Spirit is moving all over the world bringing people to repentance and faith in our risen and reigning Savior. The Spirit is working in places of abundance and in places of persecution. We rejoice when we hear the news of revivals around the world, and we pray for them to spread. But large numbers of conversions and church plants are only the beginning of the spread of the gospel in a nation. For faith to remain in a land it must be driven not only by Bible-driven churches but also through the multi-generational ministry of the Christian family.

Tags: evangelism, family

March 01, 2012 by Ying Kai

From My Perspective

The Heavenly Father’s Heart

God loves you, chooses you, and works through you to save your whole family. This is your heavenly Father’s heart. If you know His heart, then you will not give up asking Him for what is in His heart. The responsibility is yours to witness to your own. As you pray and witness to your oikos (household), don’t give up on them. Keep loving them and sharing with them. Be persistent.

Tags: evangelism, family

March 01, 2012 by Nancy Tichy

Resourcing the Missional Family

The North American family is faced with many challenges. Children move away from parents, not only geographically, but morally and spiritually as well. The typical church deals with this by further fragmenting family life. In many cases, it manages families within its membership by offering help along age and gender lines, rather than along avenues provided by God for generational faithfulness. How often do parents develop intentional strategies and best practices to deliver a godly lifestyle to their children in ways that the pattern continues on with succeeding generations?

Tags: family, missional, resource

March 01, 2012 by Greg Parsons

Further Reflections

Joy and Grief

Sometimes it just doesn’t seem like we are getting that far, and unfortunately, it is often differences between Christians that causes a great deal of the trouble and delay.

Tags: controversy, disagreement, unity