Family Ties: Home, Church, and Community

“Traction Tracks” are specific training/resourcing/coaching/implementation components developed within West Ohio’s Missional Church Consultation Initiative (MCCI), now available in individual short courses for churches of any size and setting.

Family Ties: Home, Church, and Community

Family Ties teaches churches how to rethink and intentionally change their current approach to reach and disciple children, youth, and families at home, in church and within your local community.

In Biblical times and throughout our Christian history, ministry with families has been a central part of spiritual growth and development. Faith was passed on from generation to generation. This Family Ties Traction Track is based upon the scripture of Ecclesiastes 4:12. This scripture reads, “Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.” As a church creates a family ministry movement of intentional discipleship, it must acknowledge its responsibility to empower *parents to live into their primary role as faith teachers of their children. The church is called to provide synchronized opportunities that intentionally support, train, and resource families while focusing on the home as the primary vehicle through which we impress faith to the next generation. It is through these two strong ties, home and church, that a church can then develop strategic partnerships within the community and a local school through authentic and mutual relationships. A home, church, and community must be intentionally tied or braided together for unbreakable strength and spiritual transformation.

This four-session Traction Track focuses on developing leadership skills and teaching best ministry practices while leading churches, pastors, staff and unpaid leaders in the most important and proven strategies in creating and transitioning into an Family-driven/Church-empowering ministry. By embracing this family ministry model, leadership teams will develop strategic partnerships, design ministries for families, built by families and discover faith learning that disciples our next generation. Effective family ministry intentionally realigns a church’s declaration and ministry practices so that *parents are acknowledged, trained and held accountable for the discipleship of their children.
*Parents refers to individual(s) each child views as the leader of their home.

A Family-driven/Church-empowering ministry is based on teachings from Deuteronomy 6:6-9. "These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates." Deuteronomy 6:6-9 (NIV)

Each church team will receive leadership assignments that must be completed that reinforce the implementation of the session learnings and will participate in individualized coaching through conference video calls between sessions. Connect anew with the next generation!

Requirements for Participation

• Pastor plus a minimum of two leaders are required to attend all FOUR Sessions as a team
• Each church must complete an introductory self study prior to participation and each church’s team will complete specific ministry assignments with the team that reflect the learning during the four sessions.

Cost: $50 per person, includes lunch and training materials

Family Ties Overview

Session 1: Family-driven/Church-empowering

• Gain intentional leadership skills
• Learn about family structures and the importance of knowing who lives in our communities
• Study what the Bible teaches about the role of families and who is called to be a child’s primary faith teacher
• Examine family ministry models
• Implement a prayer initiative

Session 2: Home

• Examine why local churches must rethink current ministry approaches to reach and disciple families
• Discover why the first mission field must be a leader’s own family
• Learn how to create or transition to a Family-driven/Church-empowering Ministry
• Acquire discipleship tools that involve, train, and equip families

Session 3: Church

• Explore the specific roles of senior pastors and church leaders in implementation and transitions to a Family-driven/Church-empowering ministry
• Discover how to tie home and church together
• Learn best ministry practices: Art of Invitation and Ministry of Multiplication

Session 4: Community

• Discover the importance of community engagement through intentional mutual relationships and assets mapping
• Learn how to build a partnership with a local school and understand why this strategic partner is vital for community health and vitality
• Learn best ministry practices: Revitalizing and Building a Team and Bold Strategic Planning

Family Ties Instructors and Coaches

Michelle Shiparski, Family Ties Lead Consultant and Director of Children's Discipleship at Church of the Savior UMC, Cincinnati

Family Ties Churches (Spring 2019)

Central Trinity United Methodist Church, Zanesville (Foothills)

Bellpoint United Methodist Church, Delaware (Capitol Area North)

Mt Cory United Methodist Church, Mt Cory (Northwest Plains)

Wesley United Methodist Church, Bryan (Northwest Plains)

Bainbridge United Methodist Church, Bainbridge (Shawnee Valley)

Family Ties Churches (2018)

Casstown United Methodist Church (Miami Valley)
Clough United Methodist Church, Cincinnati (Ohio River Valley)
Coburn United Methodist Church, Zanesville (Foothills)
Cridersville United Methodist Church (Northwest Plains)
Derby United Methodist Church (Capitol Area South)
First United Methodist Church, Ada (Northwest Plains)
First United Methodist Church, Bowling Green (Maumee Watershed)
Five Points United Methodist Church, Mt. Sterling (Capitol Area South)
Maple Grove United Methodist Church, Columbus (Capitol Area North)
New Hope United Methodist Church, Sidney (Miami Valley)
Shalom United Methodist Church, Carroll (Capital Area South)
Summit Station United Methodist Church, Pataskala (Capitol Area South)
Trinity United Methodist Church, Defiance (Northwest Plains)
Urbana United Methodist Church (Miami Valley)

Family Ties Churches (2019)

First United Methodist Church, Greenfield (Shawnee Valley)

Eastview United Methodist Church, Whitehall (Capitol Area South)

High Street United Methodist Church, Springfield (Miami Valley)