I know that most moms, especially ones of young children, are in a continually harried state of mind, most of the time, just trying to juggle meal planning, child-training, and laundry, but there is also a most important addition to that usual to-do list…family ministry!
Since husbands and fathers are scripturally the head of the household and spiritual leader of the home, the job of leading their family in spiritual matters falls squarely on their shoulders. This is not something that you should ideally be in charge of, as a wife and helpmeet, so if your husband is willing to head a ministry that you and your children can also take part in, support him all the way! It is important for you to back your husband in every vision and endeavor he has visualized and support him through your attitude and actions, as long as it does not go against the Word of God. It is equally as important to not go against his direct commands and wishes. Keep these things in mind in all matters.
If you do not have a husband who is a believer, or if you do not have a husband who is sufficiently interested in such spiritual matters, do not lose heart. First, pray for his salvation or spiritual growth. Do not give up in praying for these things, even if it takes years. During this time of praying for his heart to be softened, be a witness through your attitude and actions, not through your lectures and nagging. Harassing your husband through those latter actions will only further drive him farther from where He needs to be spiritually. You are not his Holy Spirit.
If you feel as though you can lead your children in a ministry without overstepping your bounds or going against his wishes, without taking over his leadership role, and without offending your husband or usurping his authority, then pray and seek counsel regarding what God would have you to do. Also, make sure that your ministry does not interfere with your normal tasks and in taking care of your house and husband, as this might deter him from making a positive decision for Christ in the future.
Prioritize your ministries, and make sure that your number one ministry is your husband and children, ahead of any outside venture.
If you and your husband have decided to minister to others as a family unit, ask you church what outreach would be most interested in having your family work with them – children included. If you hit a dead end there, do not accept a closed door because some assume children to be a “hazard” instead of a help! Instead, consider helping a homeless shelter, adopting an elderly neighbor and helping with their needs, opening your home to traveling preachers or missionaries, sidewalk counseling at an abortion clinic, or making meals for church members who are sick or have just lost a family member, among a host of other opportunities. Be open to God’s calling in this. The possibilities are endless with a little determination and research.
“Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity.” 1 Timothy 4:12-13
You might be wondering why I am focusing so much on family ministry, rather than a ministry that you and your husband could do without the “encumbrance” of children. Well, I believe that far too few parents are demonstrating to their children what true Christianity really entails. These parents are failing to pass on the torch to the next generation by raising them up in the ways of the Lord in every area of life. They are not living out the Biblical worldview of which they have verbally communicated to their children, but instead they have shown through inaction that the children are too young to do real good for God. They are failing to allow their children to set an example for believers in their youth (1 Timothy 4:12, 13).
I would venture to say that these same parents most likely back one or more missionary families overseas and thus communicate through their inaction that God sees mission work as worthless on home soil. The reality is that God has called all Christian families to minister, show hospitality and carry out the Great Commission. The early church in Acts was known by their servant-hood and hospitality…their family ministries!
Generally speaking, the Biblically inaccurate picture that parents are painting by not engaging their families in God’s work – mission work right here at home – is producing a new generation that will not carry on the torch for Jesus as they should.
In our family, we have taken up the family ministry of praying, ministering, and sidewalk counseling at abortion clinics. Through this ministry, we have been able to save many mothers and babies from the terrors of abortion. We have also been able to be true missionaries, battling spiritual darkness like most Christians will never see within the realms of a church building.
I am pleased to say that my children, even the littlest ones, have learned to recognize the spiritual darkness that we encounter by simply showing up at the clinics. When they are confronted or asked why they are there, they respond with Biblically-grounded answers, as well as simple facts (out of the mouths of babes). We are proud of them.
We are finding that our children, being exposed to such darkness while learning to expose that darkness to the LIGHT (while under my care and supervision), are even now far more spiritually mature than some Christians we know. We have no hesitations about our ministry and only one regret…..we should have continued on in this ministry, which I myself did as a child with my parents, over the last 12 years.
“Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.” Galatians 6:9
Biblical ministry can and should be done on some level as a family unit! It takes preparation, sacrifice, and dedication. No, ministry is never an easy or convenient road, but it is so vital in bringing up children for the Lord in the best way possible.
“We don’t aim to hold on to our arrows all the way to the target. They’re not push-pins, they’re meant to fly. Our job is to shape and prepare the arrows so when they are released, they fly straight and true on their own. The time is coming when they will leave our quiver and depart on their life’s mission, as we have to prepare then – and ourselves – for that launch.” ~ Raising Real Men
Blessings as you teach your children about missions through ACTION! Sharpen those arrows now, through hands-on experience, while under your protection!
this post is so timely… time to do some family ministry…
I agree. It is important that we teach our children to be mission minded. We pray for and support Voice of the Martyrs and we also have a pastor and his family in Kenya that we send boxes to. We have helped start up a Christian library for the surrounding churches in this small Kenyan town and met their needs in some practical ways like food and clothing. We are now in contact with a mother who has 10 orphans that she is trying to feed and care for. So my children are sending clothes and toys to them. It is a blessing to see them giving their stuff away to help our Kenyan friends.
As I was reading this most beautifully written and Biblically accurate article, I was wondering if the author was my friend Lisa and sure enough it was! Thanks Lisa for another great article.
LOL…Yup, it’s me! Thanks, Jamie!
[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Audrey Brown, Gather At the Well. Gather At the Well said: Are you involving your children in your ministry opportunities or have they become encumbrances? http://fb.me/DtxyktxH [...]
Hi Lisa…love your posts and blog! As a mom of five young children, ages 7 1/2 and under, how do you explain abortion to them? Telling them that women kill their babies seems like such a harsh reality for them to take in at such a young age. I was wondering what you tell your children and how do you answer the hard questions that may arise? Thanks!!
Hi Lisa…love your posts and blog. As a mom of five young children, ages 7 1/2 and under, I was wondering about how to tell them about abortion. Telling them that a mother kills her baby seems like such a harsh reality for their young minds to comprehend and take in at their ages. Would you mind sharing what you tell your children? Thanks!
Darcy,
Yours is a great question that we are asked about quite often. Because of how often this is asked, I decided to blog about it recently. Here is our post on why we believe our children should be involved in this ministry. http://www.a2ndgenerationofhomeschooling.com/2010/07/chldren-in-pro-life-ministy-is-it.html
Let me know if there are any other unanswered questions concerning this! I’d be glad to answer them!
Blessings,
Lisa
Thanks Lisa. That’s a great article. I guess what I’d also like to know is WHAT exactly you tell them? That moms are killing their babies? Do you tell them how? What are some of the difficult questions they have asked and how have you answered them? I know you are busy and feel badly for taking so much of your time. I have not been so sure about telling my children about abortion and am looking for some solid advice from someone who has! Thank you!
Well, we are just honest with them on all accounts. When we read passages of the Bible, we do not omit anything. We answer all questions as they arise (if they even arise). Our church read through parts of the Old Testament 2 years ago and they heard some pretty graphic accounts of what God wanted us to know about the battles and such. However, just as Joshua read that Book of the Law to all people…young, old, and even nursing infants, so we too must read God’s Word and be open to what God wants to show each of us.
Because we read the Biblical accounts of sin and sinners, our children are already aware of how sinful we are, as humans. They know that we are all desperately wicked (Jeremiah 17:9) and that we all need Jesus! Because of their simple, child-like understanding of sin vs. holiness, they are much more capable of grasping the evil that is in our world.
Yes, we simply tell them that mothers are in different situations and feel as though they are unable to parent their child in their tummy. We tell them that they have been told that the child within them is not human, so they are not always aware that what they are doing is wrong. We tell them that the moms and dads need to hear the truth about their baby and know that we are there to help them in any way they need help. We are there to show them the truth about their baby and (if we get to talk to them) their need for Jesus. They do know that babies do die at the mill each day and they also pray that the moms, as they exit (looking maimed and half-drunk on meds), will listen to our post-abortive counseling and will be able to be led to Jesus.
They know who the abortionist is, as he addresses us when he enters, confronting the children as to why they are there instead of playing (their responses are gentle, but oh so truthful!). They know that he is an evil man who knows what he’s doing and does it anyway. Through this they have learned about how hearts become hardened and proceed in sin. They know, “but for the grace of God go I” and that he is not beyond Jesus’ saving touch. We pray for him and all the clinic employees as a family.
We do leave out some of the details of the procedures until we are asked and we know that they are able to handle that much information. We are always there to answer any questions that might arise, although they really haven’t asked about anything we haven’t covered. So, to sum it all up….they know the basics, and as their age allows, they know more and more. Their knowledge of the Bible really prepared and continues to teach them all that anyone needs to know about sin and the sinners that are in our world today.
There are so many valuable life lessons that our children learn while involved in this ministry. They have learned to be “wise as serpents, gentle as doves” (Matthew 10). They are so much more spiritually mature in so many, many ways than most adult Christians are. I am so grateful for the opportunity to show my children first-hand that people need Jesus and need us to show Jesus to them in love. Our world truly is a sad and unholy place, but we can’t place our children in boxes, keeping them from knowing (to some extent) how evil and in need of Jesus this world really is. The truth of sin and the knowledge that all of us need Jesus to be saved from eternal damnation is what causes children to be sincere about telling people about Jesus. It lights a fire under them to act on what they have seen; to stop injustices and to preach the Gospel before it’s too late.
Hope that answers that! If not, let me know!
Lisa
Thanks Lisa! That was wonderful and very insightful. I remember some months ago my husband was reading something from the Bible and afterwards I asked him if the kids were old enough to hear that and his response was pretty much the same as yours…it’s in the Bible, of course they should hear it!
Also, congrats on your pregnancy! I had looked you up on Facebook as I was going to send all this on a private message and saw on your wall you are expecting again! What a wonderful blessing! Have a great day and thanks for taking the time to answer my questions!
No problem! And thanks…we are so excited about our little one and are praying for a safe pregnancy for baby and mom!!!!
Lisa, I just love this article. I also love your comment. You are a breath of fresh air, sister. May Jesus allow us to meet & minister side-by-side the next time we come to Charlotte.