Family Ministry

The Bible’s grand story has a thread of generational family ministry from start to finish. From Adam and Eve and their children, to God’s choice of world perseveration through Noah and his family, the legacy of Abraham, the lineage of Jesus from King David and ultimately, the church — the family of God — family is a key component of God’s plan for His creation.

Deuteronomy 6 lays out God’s plan for generational discipleship as parents are mandated to repeat God’s words to their children as they spend time at home, travel and do life from sunrise to sunset. Equipping parents for this discipleship should be a priority for your church. Listed below are recommended resources for this important task. For more information contact [email protected].

Recommended Resources

MARRIAGE

Visionary Marriage: Capture a God-Sized Vision for Your Marriage, Rob & Amy Rienow, Randall House, 2010

Love & Respect: The Love She Most Desires; The Respect He Desperately Needs, Emerson Eggerichs, Thomas Nelson, 2004

Starting Your Marriage Right: What You Need to Know in the Early Years to Make It Last a Lifetime. Dennis & Barbara Rainey, Thomas Nelson, 2006.

PARENTS

Relief for Hurting Parents: How to Fight for the Lives of Teenagers: How to Prepare Younger Children for Less Dangerous Journeys Through Teenage Years, Buddy Scott, Independently Published, 2020

Full Circle Parenting, A Guide for Crucial Conversations, Jimmy and Kristin Scroggins, B&H Publishing, 2021

Intentional Parenting, Autopilot is for Planes. Sissy Goff, David Thomas and Melissa Trevathan. Thomas Nelson, 2013.

The Tech-Wise Family, Everyday Steps for Putting Technology in Its Proper Place, Andy Crouch, Baker Books, 2017

The Faith of a Child, A Step-by-Step Guide to Salvation for Your Child. Art Murphy, Moody Publishers, 2000

Family Worship. Donald Whitney. Crossway, 2016.

Parental Guidance Suggested, a 25-Day Journey to Becoming the Disciple-Maker in Your Home. Mark Smith, L’Edge Press, 2012.

Disciple Making at Home

LEADERS

Connecting Church & Home, Dr. Tim Kimmel, Randall House, 2013

Attract Families to Your Church and Keep Them Coming Back, Linda Ranson Jacobs, Abingdon Press, 2014

The DNA of D6, Building Blocks of Generational Discipleship. Ron Hunter, Jr. Randall House, 2015.

All About Family Ministry. Keith Ferrin. Keith Ferrin Productions, 2018.

MILESTONES

Cheryl Markland serves as the children and family ministries strategist with the Ministry Strategies group. She has been on staff at the Baptist state convention since October 2012.

Previously, Cheryl served as a children’s minister for a total of 17 years at Eastern Hills Baptist in Charlotte and First Baptist Church in Matthews. She received her bachelor’s degree in 1978, and a master’s degree in Christian education in 1998 from Pfeiffer University.

Cheryl’s favorite part of ministry is seeing a child’s eyes light up as they discover a new truth about the greatness of God. She enjoys watching children’s leaders more fully understand the importance of their role as a disciple-maker in the life of a child.

She has been married to Curtis since 1981. They have two adult children and two grandchildren. Curt and Cheryl are members of First Baptist Church Garner.