Discipleship

What was once called the “nuclear family” in North America has morphed into several new, non-traditional, types of families, fragmented families, single-parent families, blended families and beyond. The television shows: Ozzie and Harriet, Father Knows, and Leave It To Beaver have been altered into American Family, Modern Family and the New Normal. The reality is that there is no perfect family. There never has been, nor will there ever be, a perfect family. But we don’t have to be pessimistic about the future. God’s Word can provide a map for every type of family.

God provides for every kind of family the ability and insight to make wise and discerning choices to succeed in this broken world. It is important for all families not to become discouraged and lose heart. There is this encouraging promise; “we must not get tired of doing good, for we will reap at the proper time if we don’t give up. Therefore, as we have opportunity, we must work for the good of all, especially for those who belong to the household of faith.” (Galatians 6:9-10).

Families are waiting to be led. In this culture of chaos our parents are looking for solutions and our kids are looking for direction. Families see the problems and are searching for answers. The task of discipling our children is too significant to hire someone else to do it. The home has had the greatest impact on young lives; with few exceptions, if we fail to impact the home, we will never make a lasting impact on students.

New Beginnings Church, will realize the following – God inspired – vision.

• We dream of becoming a church that develops, sustains, and integrates a discipleship strategy that combines the relationships and influences of both the church and the home.
• We dream of becoming a church that is fully devoted to reframing the family into a healthy, growing, safe, and gospel centered family unit.
• We dream of becoming a church which equips families to lift up one another as fully devoted disciples of Jesus Christ.
• We dream of becoming a church that understands and invests in biblical discipleship!
• We dream of becoming a church that effectively passes our faith in Christ to the next generation so they can reach the nations with the gospel.

New Beginnings Church cannot contribute to the fragmentation of families. Rather, we will promote family unity where:

• Our families are drawn together,
• Our dads are equipped to lead their families,
• Our children’s hearts are turned toward their fathers and mothers (Malachi 4:6),
• Our mother’s and father’s hearts are turned toward their children (Malachi 4:6; Luke 1:17), Our Family Ministry’s Mission is to make a place for our single parents and our blended families, our families in crisis or distress, and children’s and teenager’s whose parents are not yet invested.

Family Ministry churches retain some age-organized ministries that restructure the congregation to partner with parents at every level of ministry so that parents are acknowledged, equipped, and held accountable for the discipleship of their children.

“BE” before you “DO!”

Discipleship is not a series of specific steps to “DO,” it is a lifestyle that is gospel centered. Discipleship is who you are becoming - “BE.” Family ministry begins in the homes of the parents, the leaders, and the volunteers in NBFamilies ministry. Leaders know they can't lead a family ministry with any degree of integrity unless they become family disciple makers in their own household.

Family ministry cannot merely be a series of activities that a congregation does. Th Gospel must flow from the Holy Spirit through the families (parents and children) and the church (leaders and volunteers) day by day.

Every Christian household can become an experience where the gospel is consistently observed and where parents and children alike confess their failures to one another, forgive one another, and learn to turn Jesus together.