The Family is in Danger!

Like swimming in a lake near a nest of poisonous water moccasins, the Christian family is in danger and they may not even be aware of the threat. Like Adam and Eve, there is a snake in the garden and the hazard is not recognizable.

New churches, with good intentions, plan effective strategies to appeal to the younger, increasingly dwindling, crowd. Consequently, younger families go to younger churches and older adults remain at the church with their older friends.

David Roozen is the author of the report called, “A Decade of Change in American Congregations, 2000-2010.” His research indicates the most churches are seeing fewer and older people attending.

• At least one-third of members in more than half of mainline Protestant congregations are 65 or older.
• One in five congregations that started since 2000 began in new suburbs.
• The number of megachurches has almost doubled over the decade,
• However, megachurches (those with 2,000 or more weekly attendees) make up just 0.5 percent of all congregations.

Roozen said, “There are more megachurches, but, in fact, they’re getting an increasing piece of an overall shrinking pie.”

Rather than healing the ruptured connection between generations, significant numbers of churches unintentionally welcomed, and perhaps even widened, the chasm between parents and children – between grandparents and grandchildren.

Well-meaning churches competing for the vanishing numbers of young families unknowingly perpetuate the fragmentation of the family unit.

What is needed is a theological and structural reorientation which spawns a new church culture that draws families together instead of pulling them apart.

New Beginnings Church is intentionally seeking a solution to this threat. NBFamilies, or Family Equipping Ministry is the answer!

More seminary classes, children’s programs, camps, conferences, technology, books, and trained leaders are not the solution. The bible offers us a solution. New Beginnings Church partnering with families is the solution! = NBFamilies

• The church is a family (Matthew 12:50).
• Jesus followers have received the “Spirit of adoption” (Romans 8:15).
• God is our heavenly Father (Matthew 6:9).
• Our heavenly Father disciplines us like His children (Hebrews 12:5-11).

New Beginnings Church will not contribute to the fragmentation of families. Rather, we will discover, develop, and deploy a biblical solution!

Dr. Phil Sallee, Pastor
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