As Crossbridge moves toward an Orange strategy for our family ministry, it is important to have an idea where we are headed.  With this in mind, let me share some of Crossbridge’s goals for our family ministry.

Our hope for the family is this:

• Parents take ownership of their child’s spiritual development
• Parents value the role of church in a child’s life
• Parents seek partnerships with other adults in raising their own kids
• Parents routinely (daily and intentionally) talk to their kids about God
• Families live missionally (living out the Great Commission throughout the week)

Our hope for our children and students is this:

• By the end of fifth grade:
  • Children understand they are made by and for God
  • They know God gives them value, and they see their relationship with other people through the lens of their relationship with Jesus
  • They know what it means to live missionally
• By the end of twelfth grade:
  • Students strive to lead a life honoring to God
  • Students see Jesus as their #1 priority and the lens through which the world is viewed
  • They live a life that reflects greatest commandment (Matthew 22:34-40)
  • Students seem themselves as the church and live as missional people

With this is mind, we want to be a church that provides:

• Role models of influence  who model and teach authentic relationship with Jesus Christ
• Opportunities to connect other adults in child’s life
• Connections for children and students in small groups at every age level
• Resources and programs to Equip parents to lead their children toward a life honoring to God
• Environments (outside of “church”) where students and families of Crossbridge can connect with other students and families

This is the end we are working toward.  This is the direction we are headed.  As we plan our programs . . . as we develop and deploy leaders . . . as we decide where to spend our energy and resources . . . as we determine what lessons to teach our kids . . . this is what it is all about.

We are thinking with the end in mind.

Several weeks ago during a Family Sunday at Crossbridge, we introduced the philosophy that Crossbridge is adopting for our family ministry.  We are adopting an orange philosophy inspired by the wisdom and leadership of the reThink Group.

The idea is this–If the church is yellow . . . if the family is red . . . when you mix yellow and red . . . when you mix church and family, you get orange.   When the church partners together with the family, the church and the family combined do more than the two working individually.

I like this.

As a parent of three young kids–desiring to lead my children to live a life that is honoring to God, I am excited about where we are headed.  Parenting in itself seems an overwhelming task . . . not only do I want to parent, but I want to give my best.  I am excited about a partnership between my family and my church.  I look forward to connecting with parents who are doing the same things I am doing.  I am excited that I am not on this journey by myself.  I am excited about being more orange.

Crossbridge is months away from being orange . . . but we are taking good steps.  This is what we are doing now:

• Children’s Ministry and Student Ministry leaders are meeting together to strategize our family ministry.
• As I write this blog Elizabeth, our children’s ministry leader, is preparing for our first ever “orange team” meeting.  Parents are coming together to brainstorm and dream about what an orange Crossbridge might look like.
• Crossbridge is making our best effort to let parents know what kids are learning on Sunday mornings so that parents can continue the conversations at home.
• Families have more opportunities to get together and connect with other families.
• We are putting more energy into making our Family Sundays a special time for Crossbridge families.

There is more to come.

If you want to learn more:

• Check out this website–www.whatisorange.org
• Check out the message we presented on the Family Sunday when Crossbridge introduced this orange philosophy
• Parents read Parenting Beyond your Capacity
• Church leaders read Think Orange

My hope for the families at Crossbridge is that they never feel alone in the responsibility of parenting.  My hope for our church is that we stand by ready to support our families in every way we can.  I believe the church and the family have been brought together for a reason and my hope is that we see the full potential of this relationship.