family focused or family friendly?

Having grown up in traditional churches and after spending the past twenty-plus years in "vocational church work" Terrie and I have come to the same conclusion: most churches are not family focused. We've visited hundreds of churches that were family-friendly, but most are not family focused.

Family focused churches are hard to find because family focused churches are hard to create.

Family friendly churches offer programs and events for different age groups: family focused churches offer an environment where families can come together.

Family friendly churches tend to age-segregate families: family focused churches attempt to bring generations together. Family focused churches may offer programs for various ages, but the end view is always the strengthening of families.

Family friendly churches often view reaching families as the byproduct of reaching individuals; family focused churches view reaching individuals as the byproduct of ministering to families. Family focused churches see families as the core of God's design. God may have created plants, animals and individuals, but "family" was the first way He used His creation: He created man and woman to be a family. The family is God's ultimate illustration of His love for all of creation.

Our vision for ChurchForFamily is a truly family focused, Christ centered church.

what will it look like?

What will a family focused church ultimately look like? Well, we're not absolutely sure. In many ways we are "building the bridge while we walk across". We are allowing God to shape our church and our ministries as He gathers families into our Fellowship.

• We see a church that, no matter how large it grows, feels more like a family than a traditional, formalistic church.
• We see a church were events are encouraging, uplifting, practical, useful.


• We see a church that opens its heart and ministries to individuals of all ages, races, and backgrounds: single, married, or divorced. Where people accept you for who you are, yet love you enough to challenge you to become all that God designed you to become.


• We see a church environment that brings families together; a church that empowers young and old to share together in learning God's purposes for their lives.


• We see a family focused church that is centered on Jesus Christ and His message of love, acceptance, forgive and eternal purpose.


• We see a church that fits your family, a genuine ChurchForFamily.

Most of all, we see God creating a miracle in the Pass Area of Riverside-San Bernardino, California. We see families strengthened and individuals coming into relationship with Jesus Christ.

If you would like to talk to us directly about the vision of Church For Famly and a family focused, Christ centered church please contact us!