LifeTree Community

A few weeks ago the families of LifeTree met together and had a meal and played! (The kids played the adults watched). We enjoyed meeting the Perry’s neighbors as well. Here is a picture of all the fun - the Perry’s have an awesome hill to slide cardboard on.

Please remember that little Julianne was born this week. Pray for Kent and Jessica as they are now parents and have started a family. If you want to see some pics go here

Blessings!

The Staff of LifeTree Church

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Check my blog, http://rednecktheologian.blogspot.com/, for some thoughts on mentoring. I’d like to start a discussion on how to accomplish mentoring adults.

Check out our “Blueprint” for LifeTree Church. You can read about the startup aspects online using the Blueprint link from the main site or you can download the PDF file.

Please join us at Algood Elementary for a preview weekend beginning in December and going through February until our official launch date in March 2008.

Brooke Farmer was baptized during our initial meeting. We are overjoyed for her decision.

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Here is the whole family…

Starting from left to right:

The Farmers: Jeff and Karen then Brooke and Paige (front)

The Bridges: Karen and Brian then Joni and Holly (front)

The Perrys: Steven and Missi then Isabel (being held) and Caleb (front)

Lets discuss the Family Integrated Church model…here is what Voddie Bauchum wrote about this unique way of “doing” Church.

Distinctives of a Family Integrated Church

 Family Integrated Churches come in all shapes, sizes and varieties. There are FICs in virtually every denominational and theological tradition, and in most sections of the country. While no two FICs are exactly alike, they do have certain dis­tinctives in common.

In the broadest sense, Family Integrated Churches emphasize the biblical role of parents in the evangelism, discipleship, education and equipping of their children. This happens in a variety of ways depending on the tradition, theo­logical perspective, and strategy of the individual congregation. However, the core message is the same. God gave us the home as the hub of both society and the church.

This is not to say that singles are inferior. On the contrary, the Bible says there are those for whom the single life is a calling from God. However, even singles are members of families. The FIC is a church movement designed to carry out the Great Commission with a multi-generational vi­sion. More and more churches are recognizing the need for stronger and more comprehensive ministry to families. We know that what we have done for the last several decades has borne very little lasting fruit. I believe the Family Integrated Church represents a stirring of the church and a movement back to biblical methodology.

Families Worship Together

If you’ve ever walked into a FIC during a worship gathering, perhaps the first thing that struck you was the fact that there were so many babies and small children in the service. We have grown accustomed to the presence of children in the service, and the children grow accustomed to being a part of the worship experience. In fact, we have evidence of children being included in the both Old and New Testament worship gath­erings

No Systematic Age Segregation

One of the biggest distinctions of a FIC is the absence of age-graded ministries. We do not have segregated ministries for youth, children, young adults, old adults, or any other constituency. First, these ministries are not part of the biblical church model. The Bible is clear on whose job it is to disci­ple children… parents. Second, these ministries can (and often do) work against the biblical mode. Parents who are relieved of their discipleship duties tend to become dependent on those who have taken over the job.

Finally, these ministries have failed. We are losing 75-88% of Evangelical teens by the end of their freshman year in college. And as Dr. Alvin Reid has noted, “The largest rise of youth professionals in history has been accompanied by a decline in youth evangelism effectiveness.” What we’ve been doing simply does not work.

Evangelism/Discipleship Through Homes

We teach parents to evangelize and disciple their children and their neighbors. We emphasize the ministry of hospitality (Acts 2:46; 5:42), family worship, catechism, and family discipleship. Thus, instead of placing the burden on paid professionals to do the work of the ministry, the FIC prefers to equip the saints to do it themselves (Ephesians 4:12).

Education as a Key Component of Discipleship

Jesus said, “A pupil is not above his teacher, but everyone, after he has been fully trained, will be like his teacher” (Luke 6:40). Whoever educates a child is discipling that child. FIC’s try to help parents see the importance of Christian education, and make biblical choices as it relates to this part of their children’s dis­cipleship (Deuteronomy 6:6,7; Psalm 1:1-3; Proverbs 1:7; 22:6; Luke 6:40; Romans 12:2;2 Corinthians 10:5; Ephesians 6:1-4; Colossians 2:8; 1 Timothy 6:20-21;) .

Rethinking Leadership Requirements

There are numerous character qualities required of those who would serve as pastor/ elder (1 Timothy 3:1-7; Titus 2:5-9; 1 Peter 5:1-4). However, there are only two ‘skills’ a man must demonstrate to hold the sacred of­fice. He must be able to teach (1 Timothy 3:2; Titus 1:9), and he must manage his household well (1 Timothy 3:4-5; Titus 1:6). These re­quirements are not negotiable.

 The pastor is not a CEO whose home life is irrelevant to his job; he is a servant leader, and an ‘example to the flock’ (1 Peter 5:3) whose home life is his training and proving ground. The nature of the FIC places a great deal of emphasis on a man’s discipleship of his family as a prerequisite for leadership in the church. It is difficult to elevate men to leadership posi­tions in a church that expects family worship, catechism, evangelism and discipleship in the home if they have not performed admirably in these areas.