The purpose of this paper is to set forth a very brief theology of the family and the church along with the biblical basis and general principles for a strong, integrated, family-focused ministry that is intended to impact the scope and direction of every aspect of life at Clovis Evangelical Free Church.

Introduction
In His wisdom and grace, God has chosen to work through imperfect human beings to build His kingdom. The two primary institutions through which God works for such purpose are the church and the family. Both must function together in order to accomplish Christ’s Great Commission of Matthew 28:19-20.

The leaders of Clovis Evangelical Free Church are convinced that God has placed this body of believers here at this time to be a true disciple-making church, presenting the gospel in a meaningful and uncompromising fashion so as to see people brought to new life in Jesus Christ, then growing them to maturity, discovering their giftedness and providing them opportunities for service and ministry. We recognize that God has called us together as a covenant community and that we are responsible to build and encourage one another. One primary way that will be accomplished is through godly families with parents who are equipped and encouraged to be the primary spiritual teachers and influencers in the lives of their children. However, as a community of believers, every single member of our church body, regardless of family or marital status, has responsibility for every child, in fact, for every other member, that they would grow up in the love and knowledge of Jesus Christ, empowered by His Holy Spirit to reach out in a manner that reflects the glory of God to a lost and dying world.

The Roles of the Family and the Church
The fact that God established the family at the very beginning of creation is an indicator of its importance in God’s plan. God made man, gave him the gift of the woman and then instructed them to procreate and fill the earth with other humans who bore the very image of God (Genesis 1-2). The family provides a beautiful picture of God, the gospel and the church. The relationship between parents and their children is a small but meaningful illustration of the loving relationship that the Father has for the Son. Parent-child relationships teach us by analogy something of the incredible privilege we have in our relationship with God. He is our Heavenly Father who has adopted us and made us His sons and daughters (Ephesians 1:5). The church is called the “family of God” (1 Peter 4:17) or “God’s household” (1 Timothy 3:15). Just as our relationships with our siblings are unbreakable, in a similar manner we are bound to one another as fellow believers because of our union with Christ.

The church is made of believers whom God has called out of the world and into His family. He has designed the church to be a unified body and a spiritual house built with living stones (1 Corinthians 12:27; 1 Peter 2:4-5). Christians are intimately connected by our mutual union with Christ (John 15:1-10; Ephesians 2:20-22). We are committed to one another in covenant relationship, made possible by the blood of Christ (1 Corinthians 1:2; Ephesians 2:19; Luke 22:20). Each of us is equipped by God with gifts that are designed to build up the body (Romans 12:4-8). The leaders of the church are specifically charged with preparing and equipping the saints for works of service so that the whole body will be built up and matured, resulting in a wonderful unity of the faith (Ephesians 4:11-13).

Biblical Case for Family-Focused Ministry
God has instituted the family to be the primary means by which children are brought up in the training and instruction of the Lord (Ephesians 6:4). In Deuteronomy 6:1-9, Moses instructs the Israelite parents to teach God’s commands to their children, to talk about their faith and to make it a natural and central part of family life. Psalm 78:1-7 memorably provides parents with the purpose for such ministry:

O my people, hear my teaching; listen to the words of my mouth. I will open my mouth in parables, I will utter hidden things, things from of old – what we have heard and known, what our fathers have told us. We will not hide them from their children; we will tell the next generation the praiseworthy deeds of the Lord, his power and the wonders he has done. He decreed statutes for Jacob and established the law in Israel, which he commanded our forefathers to teach their children so the next generation would know them, even the children yet to be born, and they in turn would tell their children. Then they would put their trust in God and would not forget His deeds but would keep His commands.

The importance of family spiritual instruction is not limited to the Old Testament. Paul commands fathers to train and instruct their children in the ways of God (Ephesians 6:4). Parents are commended for providing the biblical and theological instruction that will serve as the foundation for their children for their entire lives (2 Timothy 3:14-15). But such training is not limited to families, and certainly not the standard nuclear family of two parents and their children. The church is made up of gifted people in all phases and stations of life, single, widowed, divorced, single-parents, spouses and children of unbelievers; the list could go on. Each is gifted and necessary for the effective functioning of the body (1 Corinthians 12:12-31). Further, God has provided wise and mature men and women who are specifically called to teach younger and less mature believers (Titus 2:1-8). In summary, the church and family units are called to work together to teach our children to love God with their whole being and to love His church. We have a responsibility to love and care for one another. That love must be gracious enough to accept people where they are, but at the same time, challenging enough not to leave them stagnant in their Christian walk.

Summary
The leadership of Clovis Evangelical Free Church declares its commitment to a coordinated approach to ministry that will strengthen our families and grow mature and committed disciples of Jesus Christ. Every aspect of ministry will be impacted by this vision. We will seek to lead in such a way that our members recognize their covenant commitment to one another. Our ministries will be designed to equip parents to effectively teach their children and empower more mature believers to disciple and mentor younger Christians. We want to worship, learn and serve together in such a way that our faith is increased, our love is strengthened and our witness is pleasing to God. Such an integrated and holistic approach to ministry will equip every member of our body, not only to be a growing disciple of Jesus Christ, but a disciple-maker as well. May God receive all praise and glory!

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