In a world of church culture that has so many broken families, our churches have become broken; broken families produce broken churches. This state of the church has not gone unnoticed in the last five or so years and many pastors and leaders have tried to come up with solutions to pick back up the pieces of the church and put her back together again. But in some regards we have tried to do it backwards. We have addressed the church corporately, trying to heal and restore ourselves from the outside rather than addressing the root of the issues lying within the people, the families that are the church. Just as much as healing and restoration in individuals must start from the inside out, the healing of our church must start the same way. At the core of every church is the family. The family was the first entity God created (way before the church herself), the one He chooses to multiply His kingdom through, and the one who Satan Himself is after. I believe the paradigm of family ministry I divinely "fell" into and now pursue and run after, is a significant answer to the broken families of our church. The work of the Lord within families has a rippling effect, touching every aspect of the church herself. The paradigm of presence-driven family ministry I am about to share with you is not meant to replace your children's ministry or certainly not adult ministry. It is meant to be its own separate arm of children's ministry where the focus is completely centered around family. It is to be an intentional effort to host regular family gatherings or services that engage both kids and parents into the presence of God, the deep word of God, and gifts of God through a unique paradigm and blueprint. In the recent years family ministry has become a "buzz" word within the children's ministry community in response to the understanding that the family must be addressed in the church. However, although there is nothing wrong with family fun nights, bowling parties, and movie nights, this is not what our family ministry is about. Although fun in its own right, presence-driven family ministry addresses the spiritual aspects of the family according to the blueprint and heart of God set be-fore us in His word. In this book you will find God's heart for the generations, how the family entity fits into God's Kingdom plan, vision casting as to why presence-driven family ministry is so important and desperately needed in the body, the benefits and fruit of this type of ministry, and a step by step blueprint on how to start and pursue presence-driven family ministry in your church. If you are willing to come along on this journey with me, I promise your families, your children's ministry, and your church, will never be the same!

Every church is called to some form of family ministry, but this calling requires far more than adding another program to an already-packed schedule. The most effective family ministries refocus every church process to engage parents in discipling their children and to draw family members together instead of pulling them apart. In this second edition, Jones expands the definition of family ministry, and broadens the book's focus to address urban perspectives and family ministry in diverse settings.

This is a book about the primacy and centrality of God and his unsurpassable presence, and what this means for the Church. The presence of God is the core, the sine qua non, of mere Christianity. Gods presence is what is needed to win the day over the present powers of darkness. This book shows what it means for a church to be presence-driven, and what leadership looks like in the presence-driven church.

A practical resource for developing congregational stability, this updated book guides your church toward being capable of encouraging and sustaining healthy family life.

"Family-iD is the best tool I know to empower churches to help families make a difference for the Kingdom of God." ---Craig Groeschel, Lifechurch.tv "Family-iD is the best thing I have come across in my ministry, and that's 47 years!" ---Pastor Joe Grizzle, CrossPointe Church. "Family-iD reminded us that there is a ministry that is supposed to happen at home first." ---Kyle and Gina, Standley Systems "To think that we can influence what our family looks like five generations from now is inspiring!" ---Eric and Brandy Thornhill, Beacon Fine Homes If you are like most people, you want and expect great things to happen at work and in ministry. You do your work and ministry on purpose. You have a plans and goals. For some reason you have no plans and goals for your family. If you are like 99% of the parents in this country, whatever YOUR children and grandchildren turn out to be, WILL be totally by accident! In this book Greg C. Gunn gives you insights on how to make your family attractive to your children and how to pass your values on to the coming generations.

Now revised and updated throughout, Diana Garland's core text for ministers and others in the helping professions provides a comprehensive look at the Christian purpose of family and the complex world our families inhabit.

Publisher's description: Presence-Centered Youth Ministry shows how classic disciplines, symbols and practices that have sustained the church over the centuries can shape the worldviews, virtues and habits of young people today. Come explore the deeper terrain of an ancient faith; your students are sure to follow.