Most of us have witnessed a divorce within our congregations; many of us have seen it up close and personal in our own families. It doesn’t matter how big or small the church is, divorce goes well beyond affecting just the parents and children involved. It affects their extended family, it affects all the people they are serving with, and it affects the people they may be … [Read more...]
Blended families: 4 considerations for pastors
Sunday morning after service, you’re chatting with a set of parents in your congregation. In passing, they mention that their oldest daughter, fourteen-year-old Anna, has gotten more disrespectful and disobedient lately. She ignores her father’s instructions and shows little, if any, affection. Consideration 1: The reality of “insiders” and “outsiders” On day one in a … [Read more...]
Helping stepfamilies when things go wrong
In a previous article, we introduced licensed marriage and family therapist Ron Deal, director of FamilyLife Blended™, a resource website for blended families and the churches who serve them (FamilyLife.com/blended). We interviewed him about the unique needs of stepfamilies and how churches can reach out to them. Here he explains how pastors can help stepfamilies deal with … [Read more...]
Understanding the unique needs of stepfamilies
We interviewed licensed marriage and family therapist Ron Deal, director of FamilyLife Blended™ (a division of FamilyLife®), about the unique needs of stepfamilies, which are often overlooked in the church. He explains why stepfamilies present a ministry challenge for pastors, and what pastors and churches can do to reach out to them. Why is it important for churches to … [Read more...]