Perspectives on Family Ministry: Three Views

by Timothy Paul Jones, Randy Stinson, Paul Renfro, Brandon Shields, Jay Strother

Overview

In Perspectives on Family Ministry, Timothy Paul Jones makes the case that every church is called to some form of family ministry—but what he means by "family ministry" isn’t simply one more program to add to an already-packed schedule! According to Jones, the most effective family ministries involve refocusing every church process to engage parents in the process of discipling their children and to draw family members together instead of pulling them apart.

Jones sets the stage with introductory chapters on the historical contexts and foundations of family ministry. Then, three effective practitioners show clearly how your church can make the transition to family ministry. Paul Renfro (pastor of discipleship at Grace Family Baptist Church in Spring, Texas) writes in favor of Family-Integrated Ministry, where the emphasis is on intergenerational discipleship. Brandon Shields (minister to high school students at Highview Baptist Church, a multi-site megachurch in Kentucky and Indiana) supports Family-Based Ministry—ministry that organizes programs according to ages and interests but also develops intentional activities and training events to bring families together. Jay Strother (minister to emerging generations at Brentwood Baptist Church in Tennessee) prefers Family-Equipping Ministry, maintaining age-organized ministry while reorganizing the congregation to call parents to become active partners in the discipleship of their children.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780805448450
Publisher:	B&H Publishing Group
Publication date:	10/01/2009
Series:	Perspectives
Pages:	208
Product dimensions:	5.50(w) x 8.50(h) x 0.70(d)

About the Author

Timothy Paul Jones is assistant professor of Leadership and Church Ministry at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky. His previous books include Misquoting Truth and The Da Vinci Codebreaker. His research has also earned the Baker Book House Award for theological studies.

Table of Contents

Contributors 
Acknowledgments 
Foreword 

Part 1: Foundations for Family Ministry 

Chapter 1: Confessions of a Well-Meaning Youth Minister
Chapter 2: The Task Too Significant to Hire Someone Else to Do 
Chapter 3: Historical Contexts for Family Ministry 
Chapter 4: Defining Family Ministry 

Part 2: The Practice of Family Ministry

Chapter 5: Family-Integrated Ministry: Family-Driven Faith
Chapter 6: Responses to Paul Renfro 
Chapter 7: Family-Based Ministry: Separated Contexts, Shared Focus 
Chapter 8: Responses to Brandon Shields 
Chapter 9: Family-Equipping Ministry: Church and Home as Co-Champions 
Chapter 10: Responses to Jay Strother 

Conclusion: Pursuing and Practicing the Discipline of Diversity 

Name Index 
Subject Index
Scripture Index