Mark comes to us from a Family ministry philosophy in regards to methodology.  He believes, teaches and writes mostly about faith at home.  His website is http://www.faithbeginsathome.com check it out to find out more about him.

He started off his conversation with the Deuteronomy 6 text that we have all used to support the need for the family to play a significant role in the faith development of their own children.  Pointing out that we are to do these things as we spend time without children, while we are at the dinner table.  All leading to us being home enough to teach our children as we walk alongside them on a daily basis.  He shared some staggering statistics that we all have seen many times before but definitely play a part in the way we should be approaching ministry.

Significant Religious Influence Survey

Influence                                                                           male              female

mom                                                                                   81%                 74%

dad                                                                                      61%                 50%

pastor                                                                                 57%                 44%

grandparent                                                                      30%                29%

Sunday School                                                                  26%                26%

Youth Group                                                                     24%               25%

Church Camp                                                                   20%                28%

Retreats                                                                             11%                 17%

While these stats are something that we are used to seeing, I still believe we have no taken them into account as we develop and create our ministries.  Mark went on to share two basic approaches to incorporating the family into your ministry.  First, was simply adding family ministry to either the student or children’s pastor.  This is a disaster waiting to happen.  Second, was to weave it into the whole of the church and make it a part of everything that you are doing ministry wise.  Much in the same way that we have evangelism weaved through every part of the church.

Overall, I think that what he is saying has great value and is something that we should be looking into.  I will say though that I think there is a fine line that has to be walked in the way we do this and the incorporating of these principles will take a lot of time to really make happen well.