Our family attends a family integrated church. I wanted to share a bit about family integrated churches because I strongly support them and believe many people would be blessed by them if they only knew such churches existed. What is a family integrated church you ask? It is a church that worships together as a family (no childrens school or youth groups), but is so much more than that. This is a place where there is sound doctrine and a family can find like minded fellowship with other families who are committed to raising their children for the Lord and fathers are encouraged and discipled to be leaders of their homes and lead in such a way to bring glory to God.
Most of the family integrated churches I have visited are predominantly homeschoolers but do have members who aren't. I have found their fellowship to be sweet and intimate, something harder to find in a mega church. I have seen fathers exhorted to lead and encouraged from the pulpit in a myriad of ways. Women are encouraged to love the Lord, their husbands and children instead of heading up the latest woman's ministry. At this church having a big family is the norm, welcomed and considered a blessing from God---you will not get gawking, mean stares or rude comments because you have more than the average 2.5 children. (This happens to many moms and unfortunately right in church!)
At a FIC you can find ministries designed to support the family. For example, they will host events that promote relationships such as father/son events or mother/daughter tea or like the Maidens of Virtue/Men of Valor group I have written about in the past or homeschool events. They will host family events or serve in a way that help promote families to become a stronger unit. Just yesterday for church we had a gathering afterwards at a dear friends home and her husband taught on the subject of "How to do Ministry as a Family', which was absolutely excellent and encouraging!
There are different denominations that can be found within the FIC and they can be found all over the United States. One well known pastor who has an FIC church that you may know of is Voddie Baucham of Grace Family Baptist Church.
Many families have asked us where they could find like minded fellowship, churches, friends that share their same values because they feel they are living a bit differently than what is considered mainstream Christianity. They have read things here on my blog and wondered where those families existed because they did not see anything like that at the churches they were attending. Well, here is where our family has found families who share our strong faith and family values---at the family integrated church. We have visited four so far and were blessed at all of them. Here is the official website that I wanted to share with you that contains more information on the FIC and an easy-to-use clickable map to find one in your area:
The National Center of Family Integrated Churches
Most of the family integrated churches I have visited are predominantly homeschoolers but do have members who aren't. I have found their fellowship to be sweet and intimate, something harder to find in a mega church. I have seen fathers exhorted to lead and encouraged from the pulpit in a myriad of ways. Women are encouraged to love the Lord, their husbands and children instead of heading up the latest woman's ministry. At this church having a big family is the norm, welcomed and considered a blessing from God---you will not get gawking, mean stares or rude comments because you have more than the average 2.5 children. (This happens to many moms and unfortunately right in church!)
At a FIC you can find ministries designed to support the family. For example, they will host events that promote relationships such as father/son events or mother/daughter tea or like the Maidens of Virtue/Men of Valor group I have written about in the past or homeschool events. They will host family events or serve in a way that help promote families to become a stronger unit. Just yesterday for church we had a gathering afterwards at a dear friends home and her husband taught on the subject of "How to do Ministry as a Family', which was absolutely excellent and encouraging!
There are different denominations that can be found within the FIC and they can be found all over the United States. One well known pastor who has an FIC church that you may know of is Voddie Baucham of Grace Family Baptist Church.
Many families have asked us where they could find like minded fellowship, churches, friends that share their same values because they feel they are living a bit differently than what is considered mainstream Christianity. They have read things here on my blog and wondered where those families existed because they did not see anything like that at the churches they were attending. Well, here is where our family has found families who share our strong faith and family values---at the family integrated church. We have visited four so far and were blessed at all of them. Here is the official website that I wanted to share with you that contains more information on the FIC and an easy-to-use clickable map to find one in your area:
The National Center of Family Integrated Churches
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