Book Review

Perspectives on Family Ministry is a book worth reading because it addresses the question of why every church is called to family ministry and presents 3 approaches to family ministry in a church.  It is edited by author and professor, Timothy Paul Jones and includes contributions of practitioners from the 3 approaches to family ministry.  The book is structured in a way that each approach is clearly outlined by the practitioner of that model with examples of what it looks like in an actual ministry setting.  It is followed by critiques from the other 2 practitioners and a follow up response as to why it works. The book includes a helpful chart of the various approaches in terms of what it would look like in the local church and current, well-known ministries that fall within each of the models.

This is a must-read book for any ministry leadership team to read that needs to understand why family ministry is necessary and to determine the best approach to implement.     Most churches would agree that family ministry is important but I wonder how many have thoughtfully discerned an appropriate strategy for their context?  It is not just about adding another program but rather rethinking the entire approach to ministry in order to effectively transition to family ministry.  This book is very useful for doing just that.

This book will help your ministry team to think through the advantages and challenges of each approach and discern the model that best reflects where you sense God is leading your faith community.  It is very easy to read and contains a lot of practical ideas that will spark good discussion for any ministry team looking for ways to strengthen the way they approach family ministry.

For a brief overview of the 3 approaches presented in the book, watch this 10 Minute Training.

I’d love to hear from you!  What books, resources or ideas are you finding helpful as you develop family ministry in your church?