LIVING MISSIONALLY: Family
In order to make this document imminently practical, we gathered the wisdom of Kim Allen, Dr. Case Thorp, and Rev. Tanner Fox to address the specifics of missional living in FAMILY, VOCATION, and NEIGHBORHOOD. These lists are not exhaustive but will give you plenty to think on as you continue to shelter at home.
Family: Kim Allen
*We are not encouraging anyone to break the social distancing and isolation guidelines given to us by state officials!!!! We cannot stress this enough!
Set realistic expectations--for yourself and your children. Think of a merry-go-round at the park: when you’re going really fast, it’s fun. But when you step off the ride, you still feel like you’re going in circles and it takes a few minutes to not feel like you’re still spinning. The same will be true with this season of forced rest. Give yourself time to stop spinning before setting up a new routine; otherwise, you may be overwhelmed with the transition and give up before you even begin.
Don’t just eat. Share meals together. Let everyone help, including the prep and clean-up.
Establish a daily liturgy of 5-minute prayer, three times a day. Morning (pray for your family), afternoon - join FPCO for noon time prayer (pray for your neighbors/people you know) and evening (pray for specific people groups: elderly, homeless, medical professionals and caregivers, etc.).
Play together: card games, board games, puzzles, pool fun and other family-friendly activities. Take a virtual field trip. Share your winning options with other parents on your social media feed to encourage them!
This one will be hard but you need to limit screen time. Pick a time frame (2 hours before dinner or one hour in the morning and one in the afternoon, etc.) and stick to it.
Instead of unlimited screens, make a daily schedule for everyone. Children THRIVE on routine and schedule. We’ve included a sample on this page to get your creativity flowing.
Read books aloud to your family or listen to audiobooks together. Narnia, anyone?
RightNow Media is an expansive online library of Christian programming and reading material. With resources for kids, teens, and adults, this app will become your new go-to. Contact Rachel Rich for your FREE personal link to register.
Write encouraging notes or thank you notes to neighbors, friends, family members, or even Jesus! This is a great time to teach your children the long lost art of handwritten notes!
Redemptive Movie Watching - Even if a film or show is not produced or written by a Christian, there is often much to learn from the characters, plot, and resolution. Consider watching movies with your family and spending time processing the movie after it is over.
Which character did you like the most? Why?
Which character did you like the least? Why?
Which character was most like Jesus? In what ways?
What did this movie want to teach you?
What did this movie tell you to love?
Helpful movie reviews from a biblical perspective
Review the day - What was one thing that brought joy today(Consolation)? Celebrate that moment with them! What is one thing that was sad or hard today(Desolation)? Remind them that it is okay to be sad about things. It’s good to have a rhythm of celebration and mourning.
Another helpful article for families to consider.
