I heard a comment recently that’s had me thinking about the relationship between family and ministry. The remark was made by a frustrated mother bemoaning her lack of time for ministry because she was so busy ‘with the children’. But is there necessarily a distinction? Isn’t caring for one’s children and raising them to know Jesus a type of ministry? Aren’t there plenty of opportunities for ministry in family life?

ministry to family
It’s one of God’s great mercies that he works in spite of our failings. It’s one of his great blessings that he uses us to share the gospel with others.

The Apostle Paul’s mention of Lois and Eunice (2 Tim 1:5) – Timothy’s grandmother and mother – point to the significance of parents and grandparents in instructing and nurturing Christian faith.

As a clergy kid I was raised in an atmosphere of overt ‘external’ ministry. My father was the minister at the church I attended and from childhood I observed him in the proclamation of the gospel, the pastoring of individuals and the leadership of the church.

My mother’s ministry was no less explicit. Our home was rarely empty of visitors and guests. A gifted listener, she was frequently involved in counselling and consoling parishioners. She minded children, cooked, cleaned and showed hospitality. But for my mother this ‘external’ ministry was fitted in around the needs and demands of raising four children.

It was my mother who led me to a Christian commitment. I was seven years old and my dentist – a family friend – had recently died. The notion of eternity and the possibility of being alone for all time was chilling in its enormity.

I had been immersed in Bible stories and gospel truth from a young age. I prayed, I read my Bible, but I hadn’t said ‘yes’ to God. Yet.

Initially my decision was based on fear. I was afraid of being where God wasn’t and afraid of being where my parents weren’t. I knew my parents were heaven-bound and I trusted their judgement. I put my faith in Christ because of their ministry to me.

More than 20 years have passed since that day. I am now a parent myself, but my own parents’ ministry to me shows no sign of ceasing.

ministry through family
When I was a teenager, my mum drove me to church every Sunday night. When I wanted a school friend to come with me and hear the gospel, my mum offered to pick her up and bring her home. She lived about 30 minutes away.  It soon became a regular Sunday event, and after a few months of this driving and listening ministry my friend became a Christian. She is now a mother herself and is raising her two children to know and love God.

Christian families aren’t discrete units removed from the broader community. The ministry of parents to their children has far-reaching consequences for friends, the church and extended family.

Often exhausting and personally costly, ministry to one’s family can be heartbreaking. Some parents see all their children accept Christ while others pray to their last breath as their children continue to reject their faith.

Rather than see children as a barrier to ministry, we should recognise them as our primary ministry. One that will last our whole lives.