What is Family Integration?
Family Integration is the biblically-based belief that the family unit is the primary learning environment for the development of believers in discipleship and ministry. It is founded on the concept that God has created and ordained the family to be the most significant and foundational organization for mankind. History has demonstrated that when families break down, so do cultures and nations. From a Christian perspective, when families break down, so does the faith. Family Integration strives to create a church whose ordinances and practices strengthen families, thus, strengthening the faith.
Deuteronomy 6 and Ephesians 6
“Now this is the commandment, the statues and the rules that the LORD you God commanded me to teach you, that you may do them in the land to which you are going over, to possess it, that you may fear the LORD you God, you and your son and your son’s son, by keeping all his statues and his commandments, which I command you,…” – Deut. 6:1-2 ESV
“And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise.” – Deut. 6:6-7 ESV
“Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.” –Ephesians 6:4 ESV
In Deuteronomy 6 and Ephesians 6 God outlines His discipleship principles. In these Scriptures He commands parents, particularly fathers, to diligently teach their children about Him at home. He tells fathers to teach their children who He is and what He requires of them, especially to love Him with all of their hearts. God warns that to fail in this would produce a generation(s) who forgets God! To succeed in this would result in multi-generational faithfulness.