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Family Friendly Small Groups
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Is the Church Driving a Wedge In Our Families?
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Back in the 60s, Billy Graham asserted that the eleven o'clock hour on Sunday is the most segregated hour of the week. Of course, he was talking about racial and ethnic issues, but there is another segregation that has been going on in church for many years: the segregation of our households. Today in many, if not most, of our church's worship services, our kids stay with their parents until _________. In some churches, that blank is just after the children's chat. In others, it is until mom or dad walks the tot to the nursery or Kid's Church in another part of the building. Today's church is sadly notorious for adding to the fragmentation of the family. Why not? Fragmentation is part-and-parcel of our Western society.
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Family Friendly Small Groups
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Isaiah 41:4 says, "Who has prepared and done this, calling forth and guiding the destinies of the generations from the beginning? I, the Lord - the first and with the last - I am He" (Amplified Bible). As the generations were created by the Almighty God, "what God has joined together, let no man put asunder"!
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The Many Ways to Include Children in Your Community Life
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The greatest issue for small groups that want to bring younger families together is how to include children or to provide childcare. Lorna Jenkins says: “In churches where small groups are the basic growing units for the adult congregation, the children need the same context for growth, a place to find peer acceptance within their spiritual family…A group of children who are walking together in the Christian way have a profound effect upon each other.” – Lorna Jenkins, Children’s Cell Groups
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Family Group Covenants for the Family in Need
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“Are we serving the most troubled families in Atlanta?” A study said “No,” and a follow-up study recommended “How” we could meet these needs. New Hope Ministries was born as a demonstration/research project that served 120 multi-problem families with high-risk children. The ministry showed that families with multiple problems make significant gains using practical goals and caring, prayerful support. It is much like viewing the family as a small group that agrees to a group covenant.
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