“Ohana means family. Family means no one gets left behind or forgotten.” Ever since I first heard those words spoken by an adorable, animated, Hawaiian girl, they’ve resonated with me. “No one gets left behind or forgotten.”
When I was asked to participate in the Family Ministry blog tour, these words echoed through my mind. Family Ministry is Ohana Ministry. Family ministry means no one gets left behind or forgotten. Too many times, our definition of family ministry is too narrow, far too narrow.
Most often, family ministry is either a renamed children’s ministry or an integrated children’s and youth ministry. Because we immediately assume a family has 2.5 kids and a dog, this is how we’ve chosen to define family ministry. But that definition is far too narrow because it leaves out a number of families and makes many families feel uncomfortable. Being honest, when I imagine the proverbial family in family ministry, I immediately imagine a family with a mom, dad, and two or three kids happily smiling. I never imagine a big sister raising her baby sister while navigating a rocky relationship with a fire twirler and having to take care of an alien dog-creature. In today’s world, the second is probably more common.
In order for family ministry to really stick around, in order for it to be something more than a passing fad, it has to be ministering to all people. In a rare opportunity, I was once able to have lunch in a small group with Reggie Joiner after he spoke at my college. I asked him how we do family ministry without alienating older folks in the church. His response was short, everyone has or needs a family. Our families look different, but we all have a family. It’s true, even those with no blood relatives find something to belong to and that becomes a family, because the need for family is built into us.
In my heart, the best “family pastor” a church can have is a senior pastor with a vision and a passion to minister to all generations. In my church, I have a pastor who truly cares for people from all walks of life and all age groups. It’s amazing to see him interact with the elderly and the preschoolers almost seamlessly. Where he lacks, he has asked me to help, but as an extension of what he is doing and not as my own thing. In the end, family ministry is not a department, it’s an all-encompassing part of how we minister to people. No one gets left behind or forgotten.
This post is part of the Family Ministry blog tour. To read how others answer the question, “What is family ministry?” check out the full list of participants.
Jared, thanks for sharing this. I LOVE the idea of Ohana Ministry. Even if this is not a term that we end up using in my ministry it is an idea that I WILL be sharing with my team. It is powerful to think of NO ONE gets left behind or forgotten. I can think of many children and families that have gotten left behind or forgotten in my time as children’s pastor. I have often blamed this on my status as Volunteer Children’s Pastor, but that just doesn’t fly.
Thanks for all you do for the Kingdom. You continually are an inspiration to me.
Matt N.
I will also share this with my team. Good thoughts, both of you.
Jared, thanks for sharing this. I LOVE the idea of Ohana Ministry. Even if this is not a term that we end up using in my ministry it is an idea that I WILL be sharing with my team. It is powerful to think of NO ONE gets left behind or forgotten. I can think of many children and families that have gotten left behind or forgotten in my time as children’s pastor. I have often blamed this on my status as Volunteer Children’s Pastor, but that just doesn’t fly.
Thanks for all you do for the Kingdom. You continually are an inspiration to me.
Matt N.
I will also share this with my team. Good thoughts, both of you.
Wonderful points brother. And so true; both about the need to expand the definition of Family Ministry beyond the stereotypical American-family definition and the need for a Lead Pastor to have primary vision/passion for the ministry. As a Family Life Pastor, I can not tell you how important and critical it is to have a lead pastor that not only supports but encourages the need to minister to ALL generations- no matter the definition. Here was his blog for the #fammintour-> Thanks for sharing buddy!
Wonderful points brother. And so true; both about the need to expand the definition of Family Ministry beyond the stereotypical American-family definition and the need for a Lead Pastor to have primary vision/passion for the ministry. As a Family Life Pastor, I can not tell you how important and critical it is to have a lead pastor that not only supports but encourages the need to minister to ALL generations- no matter the definition. Here was his blog for the #fammintour-> Thanks for sharing buddy!