week 7 4mat

LIBERTY UNIVERSITY BAPTIST THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY

4MAT BOOK REVIEW: FAMILY TO FAMILY

Submitted to Professor Wheeler,

in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the completion of

EVAN 525 – B02

Contemporary Evangelism

by

Rhonda C. Mustafaa

July 1, 2016

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Abstract

Meaningful family time is something that is highly desirable for many families across

the globe. According to the book, “Family to Family: Families Making a Difference” by Jerry

Pipes and Victor Lee, physical, mental and spiritual growth is at times stagnate for children

especially those of parents who do not provide their children with significant time. The text is

insightful to enhance prominent families by providing ways in which parents can reflect their

parenting for the purposes having a healthy life with the family structure. The text serves as a

family guide to all Christian families.

Pipes and Lee have summarized the importance of quality family time and ideal family

bonding/structure in six chapters. Chapter one is all about the health of a family, and the

authors facilitate families with central ideas pertaining activities that are desirable to God or

what Lee and Pipes term as “event driven merry go round”1. Some African families are

perceived as having members with cognitive problems and lacking togetherness within the

family structure2. In chapter one, Pipes and Lee shed light on American households with the

intention of helping them to live by the standards ascribed as God’s and not the American

culture. The chapter goes to the extent of providing perspectives of realities, on how people

experience their purposes as God’s subjects

Chapter two is concerned with the mission statement that families go through to

achieve what they want in life3. According to the authors, this chapter explicitly explains the

particulars towards desirable mission statement; families need a goal, purpose, and mission to

1. Jerry Pipes and Victor Lee. Family to Family: Families Making a Difference.

Alpharetta, GA: North American Mission Board of the Southern Baptist Convention, 1999. 1

2. Pipes, 5. 3. Pipes, 25.

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excel in life. “The heartbeat of the family is with the parent” is a phrase implying that fathers

and mothers initiate the family mission4.

Chapter three separates the roles of the church and those of parents. The authors

explicitly explain that parents are preachers and discipline givers to their children, and not the

church. In chapter four, the writers’ intention is to make their readers understand faith is not

only for the family but also for any individuals involved with family members. The authors

continue their discussion by sharing Oscar Thomson’s developments, the concentric circles of

concern models. In chapter five, Lee and Pipes explain the ways in which families can draw

people closer to God and the relationship between families and churches.

Concrete Response

The issue of family is critical because everything else depends on it. Churches are

made up of families and broken families contribute to broken churches. Unfortunately broken

churches leave a broken impact on our society. Sociologists tell us that the breakdown of the

family is the most critical issue facing our nation today, and that the devastating headlines

and news reports that we are seeing every day in our newspapers and on our television

screens can ultimately be traced back to broken homes. Teachers in schools are finding out

that they have to do more than teach. They often become surrogate parents to kids who find

academics difficult because of the burdens and problems in their homes. The police

department has to act as the ultimate disciplinarian for a generation of undisciplined young

people, especially teenagers, because of the absence of discipline at home.

4. Jerry Pipes and Victor Lee. Family to Family: Families Making a Difference.

Alpharetta, GA: North American Mission Board of the Southern Baptist Convention, 1999. 26

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There is no way around this issue, and there is no topic more relevant to church today

than the issue of family. The church does not exist solely for programs, projects, preaching

and buildings, but rather it exists as the primary vehicle for preparing believers to display

GOD’s glory, impacting the culture, restoring lives and advancing the kingdom.

Reflection

How can one effectively prepare believers to display GOD’s glory if their primary

responsibility is neglected? The answer is one cannot; it is impossible. This text has given us

some insight into how we as family members can practically apply the knowledge to our

daily lives. One example that stands out are “Merry go round” activities. These practical

activities coupled with God’s ways are the narrowed down options that family men and

women have according to Pipes and Lee5. Basically, these activities can aid in the support of

living a healthy life according to God’s plan. Families need to identify goals and mission to

get to where they desire6. Family to Family offer a thought that cements the Christian faith

not only in America but the world. Accordingly, fathers and mothers as family leaders to

their children, and should be aware of their actions that inevitably shape their children’s faith

and beliefs. Ultimately, this book reinforces the family structure, and it illustrates the role of

the parents in up bring their children, thus making the book relevant even to non-Christians.

Action

There are three specific actions that I plan to take to ensure that my family is focused

and prepared to deal with life. These improvements will be implemented in the following

areas quality time, communication, and spiritual development.

5. Pipes, 1. 6. Pipes, 25.

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Due to my family’s schedule, we rarely get an opportunity to spend

uninterrupted quality time together all at once. Yes, sure, we have a few (intermittent)

moments with each other (e.g. mother/daughter, father/son), but not all together unless it is on

Sunday and this is usually at Church. I would like to incorporate a designated time to come

together and meet to talk about our day. I would like to caveat this time designation with a no

electronic device rule. In other words, no distractions. I really want our family to understand

the importance of spending quality time relating to one another from a human connection. I

think this is a lost art. People should relate to others in way that promotes healthy

communication, which brings me to my second point- establishing lines of communication.

Currently, my family and I communicate like most families, via some sort of

electronic format; however, I don’t like this method nor am I very comfortable with it. I’ve

found that emails/text can be ambiguous and serve as an interim solution for real dialogue.

Oftentimes, schedules prevent us from using any other forms and by the time we all come

together as one, it’s already late in the evening and most are tired. My goal is to incorporate

family prayer time. Of course, we all pray individually, but I think it is equally important to

pray as a family. I want my children and husband to know that I value their spiritual growth

as much as I value all other components of human development. I believe the implementation

of such action will not only bring us closer as a family but it would also provide a “safe”

place for open dialogue. This is important and one of the major changes that I plan to initiate.

Also, I think it is equally important to read a family devotional together. This will force us to

schedule our time accordingly. It is my sincere desire and hope that things changes will aid to

both the closeness and spiritual growth for my family. I don’t want to lose my family to the

world. I’ve prayed for them and given them to the LORD for his Divine Care and Protection.

I am confident that if we begin these actions, HE (the LORD) will bless our family. HE will

keep us.

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Bibliography

Pipes Jerry, and Victor Lee. Family to Family: Families Making a Difference. Alpharetta, GA: North American Mission Board of the Southern Baptist Convention, 1999.