Family Ministries

About the department

Family Ministries recognises that families are the foundation of the church, community, and society. We believe God created families to nurture meaningful, loving relationships and to teach what it means to love and be loved. Within families, children develop the values, beliefs, and attitudes that shape their futures, as well as the future of their communities.

In line with the world church theme "I Will Go," the department’s primary role is to partner with leaders at all levels of the church structure to support and strengthen families, both in the church and in their local communities, by:

Recognising the diversity of modern families, including singles.
Educating and supporting leaders to ensure both homes and churches are safe environments, especially for children.
Training and equipping family life leaders.

We seek your prayers as we work together to ask God to transform our families for His honour and glory. The Family Ministries Department aims to strengthen families through seminars and resources, enabling them to grow spiritually and emotionally while becoming better equipped to evangelise in their communities. Our goal is to bring restoration through relationships and foster love and unity amidst diversity, promoting the principles of 1 John 4:7-8:

"Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. He who does not love does not know God, for God is love."

Pastor John Francis

Director

jfrancis@necadventist.org.uk

Director's role

The Director of the Family Ministries Department, operating on a 75% budget, plays a key role in promoting healthy relationships and supporting families within the church. Their responsibilities include:

Supervising the work of the Family Ministries Department and the Counselling Service.
Providing resources and training to Family Life Leaders in local churches.
Organising and conducting events, such as Family Camp, to strengthen family bonds and foster healthy relationships.

Counselling Service

The Counselling Service is available to all members of the North England Conference, regardless of age, who seek support with their mental health. Sessions are offered in-person, online, or by telephone to provide flexible and accessible care.

Family Ministries resource book

In John 17:20-23, the beloved disciple records one of Jesus' final prayers, that His followers would be known for their love and unity, reflecting the harmony He shares with His Father.

“I am praying not only for these disciples but also for all who will ever believe in me through their message. I pray that they will all be one, just as you and I are one—as you are in me, Father, and I am in you... May they experience such perfect unity that the world will know that you sent me and that you love them as much as you love me.” (John 17:20-23, NLT)

In this prayer, Jesus looked ahead to future believers, including us, with His main concern being the unity of His followers, modelled on His relationship with the Father. Along with love, unity is vital for believers, as it showcases the reconciling power of Jesus’ ministry to the world.

The Great Commission calls for “making disciples of all nations” (Matt. 28:19), yet with diversity comes the challenge of misunderstandings. As disciples, we are called to represent Jesus, and what truly represents Him is our “love for one another” (John 13:34-35). This love is best modeled in families, particularly those living by the fruit of the Spirit (Gal. 5:22-23).

In our diverse congregations—married, single, widowed, younger, older, disabled, neurodivergent, and more—there is potential for tension, but “with God all things are possible” (Matt. 19:26). We trust Him to help us “be holy as He is holy” (1 Peter 1:15-16).

Our prayer is that the 2024 Adventist Family Ministries Resource Book, Understanding Diverse Families, will be a valuable tool for pastors, Family Ministries leaders, and disciple-makers as they support families in navigating differences with the heart of Jesus, fulfilling His prayer for unity and love.

Download Understanding Diverse Families