Faith at Home focus in every ministry
N.C. BAPTIST PODCASTThis podcast was recorded at the Disciple-Making Conference breakout session training and focuses on growing as Christian parents and grandparents to disciple children in the home. Mark Smith of Family at Home Ministry asks, “What is the most important influence in your parenting?” In answering that question, he elaborates on how Faith at Home works alongside pastors and church leaders to develop a holistic family disciple-making strategy based on Deuteronomy 4:9 and 6:7. As churches then focus on equipping families, those parents and grandparents discover new ways to make disciples of their children and grandchildren in the natural rhythms of daily life.
Here is an excerpt from this podcast:
I’ve got a question for you. What is the most important influence in your parenting? Has there been a person who’s been an influential person in your life? Where do you look for parenting advice? [In a recent survey,] the Bible is 46 percent and what’s even lower is the church. Why is that? Does the Bible address this from the standpoint of what the church should be about? I think it does. Ephesians 4:12, Paul teaches us that He Himself, Christ, gave some to be apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, teachers, to do what? Equip the saints to do the work of ministry. There’s lots of ministry out there, lots of things to do in and through the church. But when it comes to parenting, what’s the greatest ministry? At my house, it was the two people who ate my food. It’s our job as the church to tap on our parents’ shoulders and say, “I know you’re getting all these other influences, but we have something we can truly offer.” And I think our parents don’t really see that, they don’t understand that. Can we take a step back and think, “How can we change that?” Because the body of church is to be equippers, not come and just pour information into you and off you go until the next time you come back. Let us put something in your mind, in your heart, so you can take it home and pour it into the very people God’s entrusted you with.
by Mark Smith / Family Evangelism and Discipleship / Baptist State Convention of North Carolina
