The Top 3 Family Ministry Models to Use at Church

Get the inside scoop on the top 3 family ministry models — and discover which one is right for your church.

You’re sure of it: It’s time to get into the family ministry game. But where to start? Countless ministry models abound, and each one claims it’ll reunite families and combat a host of ills you didn’t even know you had. You need the savvy to see past the hype and choose a model that fits your church to empower families to become faith-incubators. Here’s your smart shopper’s guide.

Family Ministry Model #1: Family-Integration

The Family-Integration Model advocates that it was no accident that at the same time the American church perfected age-segmented children’s and youth ministry models, the emerging generations began dropping out of church as soon as they left home. These pastors observed parents abdicating their personal investment in their children’s spiritual development. It was just too easy to hand off their children to the ministry “specialists.”

As a result, family-integrated churches operate free of any age-and-stage divisions. You won’t see nurseries, children’s or youth classrooms, singles or college groups. The church is a “family of families.” As such, they worship together. Many of these churches host weekly community meals immediately after worship. These meals are learning labs where children contribute to the meal and glean wisdom by listening to the adult conversation.

These churches place a premium on strong male leadership in the church and family. Fathers receive extra discipleship, reading lists, and instruction so they learn how to provide spiritual leadership for the home.

The Pros

This model offers simplicity. Equip the family to be the family, and skip the complexities of operating children’s and youth ministries. Census data reveals absentee fathers blight our culture; so engaged fathers lack models on how to lead their families. A training program can offer these men direction. Two-parent families and homeschooling families will find a supportive community with like-minded people.

The Cons

Non-traditional families will have a hard time finding a place in churches that adopt this model. Single moms might feel different in a church whose ministry strategy is built on two-parent families. Children or youth with unchurched parents must be taken in by a member family to find a place at church. Census data reveals disparity on ethnic and economic lines as to whether children are being raised in single or two-parent homes, so this model has little hope of gaining traction in urban settings.

This model also depends on theological assumptions that aren’t universally accepted: namely, a patriarchal view of family leadership and a conviction that today’s churches may only organize themselves using the biblical examples found in the New Testament. For the churches using this model, a children’s ministry is unbiblical, and therefore harmful.

Final Assessment

Einstein said that an idea should be made as simple as it can be and then no more. This model crosses the line from being simple to being simplistic. A quick reading of Genesis reveals that the same God who defined family also collected dysfunctional families and gave them key roles. Family ministers must live with the tension of upholding the biblical standard and providing loving triage for families who don’t fit the mold. This model doesn’t embody this tension enough to be effective.

Family Ministry Model #2: Family-Friendly Departmental Model

The family integrationists make one strong point: When a church offers high-powered children’s and youth ministries with bells and whistles, it’s hard for parents not to view these departments as their children’s spiritual growth specialists. Many parents make the assumption that if they get their children to church, these programs will bear the weight of their child’s spiritual development. Parents are time-starved and stressed, so the myth that placing their child in the “God-box” for an hour a week to get the job done has strong appeal.

Children’s and youth leaders see this trend and many have adapted by making their departments family-friendly. These ministers view parents as the primary faith influencers of children and are working to help families see children’s and youth ministries as a helping hand.

These ministries don’t scale back their age-specific programs. Instead, they seek to multiply the value of parents’ current efforts. Take-home pages accompany the curriculum. Special events connect parents and their children. Occasional parent training classes provide help with discipline and communication.

The Pros

This model has the potential to connect with many families. Single moms might find an adult Sunday school class with exactly what they’re looking for. Unchurched children can arrive at church and find a place designed just for them. Age-segmentation allows for a learner-based approach. After all, the developmental needs of a 3-year-old are radically different from those of a 10-year-old, which are, in turn, radically different from those of a 40-year-old. Churches committed to family-friendly departments can have it both ways. Church can be a compelling and inviting place for children, and parents can find help to spiritually nourish their kids.

The Cons

This model takes steps to keep parents from a “drop-off” approach to their child’s spiritual development. However, there could be some weak spots in the model. It’s still entirely possible for parents to treat the children’s ministry as a drop-off. Even though this model may provide resources for giving parents options for engaging their children, these options are invitations that can be accepted or declined.

Providing parents with a vision for Christian parenting becomes a hard task. It’s possible that a parent could hear one parenting philosophy from the children’s pastor, a second from the youth pastor, and two others from the preaching pastor and the leader running the parenting class. There’s no structure to ensure parents will receive a single parenting strategy that’s grounded in biblical wisdom and able to span from birth to graduation.

This lack of alignment creates an opportunity for a decidedly family-unfriendly situation: over-programming. Without a “central nervous system” coordinating events and programs, it’s possible for churches to keep families too busy. Multiple events can clog a parent’s calendar, especially when that parent has children spread out over departments.

Final Assessment

Even with its limitations, this model can fit into most churches. Formally aligning several ministries around a common goal is a large task for a new staff person or one who hasn’t been at a church very long. If you’re in this position, this model allows you to make advances in your own area without having to win over your senior pastor or other staff. Over time, you’ll create a model of ministry to families that other departments in your church might choose to copy.

Family Ministry Model #3: Family-Equipping Model

The Family-Equipping Model has every feature of the Family-Friendly Model with two important changes.

First, the church puts all ministries that impact families on a single team. This team works to make sure all areas communicate a single parenting strategy to all the families of the church. The team also works to guarantee they aren’t exhausting families with too many programs.

Second, the church presents a single and simple parenting strategy to all families across all departments and through multiple communication channels.

The Pros

This model empowers families to own the spiritual leadership of their children. At the same time, it accommodates families who “don’t fit the mold.”

The Cons

This model requires a high amount of ministry alignment between all departments. If your church has separate departments that stand alone, your first task isn’t building your family ministry. It’s building a team.

Final Assessment

The Family-Integration Model stresses the family as the sole faith influencer of children. The Family-Equipping Model strikes a balance: Parents are chosen by God as the primary champion for developing vibrant faith in their children, and the church is a co-champion.

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Armed with this guide to the various family ministry models, you’re ready to figure out what’ll work best in your church. Begin by studying your church’s culture, and watch as you assist families in their spiritual growth. You’ll be helping families grow in faith in no time.

The author Larry Shallenberger is a prolific author and ministry leader.

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