Family Theme...

What is a Family Integrated Church?

To be honest...about 8 months ago I was not sure either what this meant. Karen and I were more accustomed to a more "traditional" model of church where there are "ministries" for each age group which includes children, youth, adults and then each may have sub-minsitries also.

Well, a church based on a "family" model is typically called a "Family Integrated Church". One of the major aspects of a FIC is that you will not find any "age segregated" ministries. Some FIC's you might find will typically lean towards a "primitive baptist" background (with others mixed in) and a majority will not use music as a part of the worship service (they will sing hymns, etc...).

However, other churches (like us) use modern musical instruments in a more "typical" worship service - except that children will be in the service (families with little babies have the option of going to a feeding room during the service). The sermons will also be created and preached with children and families in mind. Preaching will be expository by book mainly (verse by verse) but there will be some themed sermons. Moreover, another important focus of a FIC is that all discipleship is done through the family and mainly we would place this responsibility on the family leader. This would typically be a father but we are sure there will be other families that have, for example, only mothers leading the home spiritually - this was not uncommon in biblical times either. (1)

So, this might help you in understanding where LifeTree is headed in being a Family Integrated Church. Now, we have a lot of documents that our lead planter has created with complex theological aspects that you are more than welcome to read - but this is just a simple overview of our heart towards the importance of "family" in the Church and moreover the whole idea of discipling one another through the family (mentoring, wives helping wives, men helping men, married men teaching single men, etc...).

Thanks for visiting...blessings!

Brian

(1) Lydia in Acts 16:13-15 was the leader of her household and one of the first churches planted was through her family being saved.

What do I do now?

Reflecting back on the 1st Century Church - do we struggle to understand what the "Church" is apart from Sunday and Wednesday services like they struggled with what a Church was outside the temple building?

I think the answer is YES!

I believe programs become the identity of the church and thus it doesn't portray the real Church or body of Christ. Some have called the Church "a shallow place of sound-bite greetings"..."where pride separates us from the real issue of confessing and weeping over the sin in our lives."(1)

Discipleship is a life-engrossing process not just something that happens Sunday at 10:00 and Wednesday at 7:00. I can offer to you that this is what Karen and I long for at LifeTree. We don't want the life-changing message of the Gospel to be reduced to some hypocrisy because others don't see us the same way - because we won't "walk the talk".

A few weeks ago we had a staff and family meeting at the home of Steve and Missy Perry (part of the core group and staff). We had a great time eating, rolling down Steven's awesome front lawn (the kids mainly did this - see picture above), but also had a great time meeting the neighbors. The purpose of LifeTree is not to segregate ourselves from our children in fellowship but to integrate them and others whether they are single, divorced, or whatever. We will not have age segregated activities - the family will be the basis for everything we do - teaching, learning scripture, and most of all discipleship. Sounds strange huh?

Well, I plan to write more on this subject as the time draws near to our launch date on Easter of 2008. Please continue to pray for us, the core group, and the community of Paulding County, GA.

Blessings,
Brian





(1) Uniting Church and Home, Eric Wallace