How does the local congregation minister to families? As churches seek to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ with families, the approach taken has varied across a broad spectrum. This book assembles practitioners from three major approaches to present how they pursue healthy family ministry. It then offers space for the others to respond to each one’s approach. The result is an effective resource for biblical evaluation to apply discernment for serving families in your congregational context.

Why is “family ministry” getting attention in the current Christian conversation? A number of reasons contribute to the rise in family ministry considerations in the local congregation. The first four chapters of the book allow for some reflection on the trends in American families and the local church as well as the place of youth ministry. The editor and authors acknowledge that a healthy approach to family ministry is not another program. With a biblical foundation for congregational life and the family established, the text turns in the last six chapters to explore what family ministry looks like.

What does a person mean when referencing “family ministry”? Each of the three practitioners individually develop their portion of the spectrum as Family-Based, Family-Equipping, and Family-Integrated. The responses of the other two to each one’s description enable the reader to get a sense of these applications, including the areas of overlap. The strength of the text is its ability to let the reader prayerfully think through scriptural convictions and immediate congregational context. For those that value a conclusion or an epilogue to a book, you will find it ending abruptly without one, like the book of Jonah. The missing end serves as an invitation to our start in seeking to sharpen our Gospel ministry with families.

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