Family Ministries 101
by Rev. Kayln Wiley
You may have noticed a new ministry name floating around -
Family Ministries. This may have you wondering - what does
that even mean? Why not just continue to call it “children’s
ministry”?
Family Ministries at Mills River UMC represents a new
understanding of the importance of equipping, supporting, and
connecting families of the community with one another and with
God. From activities that take place in a children’s Sunday
School class to Sunday night youth to young adult outings, our
hope is to connect the families of our congregations in deeper
ways and eliminate some of the silos that have existed within
our programming A congregation that
engages in programming with a focus on family ministries
emphasizes the importance of the family serving as the primary
source of spiritual guidance for children and youth.
As the body of Christ, we are called to empower and walk
alongside the parents and caretakers of our church family as
they seek to provide spiritual formation to their children and
youth. When we do so, we are responding to the baptismal
covenant that we all speak aloud when each child is baptized –
promising to nurture them and help them in their faith journeys
for their entire lives.
As we move forward into the school year, I encourage
everyone, not just those with children and youth, to take a
look at the upcoming Family Ministries events here at Mills
River UMC! I truly believe the Holy Spirit is at work in new ways,
revealing to us great ways to connect deeper to God and each
other!