The Changing American Family

A lot of the programming I do is geared toward “family” audiences. Of course the American family isn’t what it used to be. I just read an interesting article on the family. Less than one quarter of American families are “traditional families” with a married mother and father with kids.

In the church, we often complain about the state of the family, and what it means for our society. While that may be valid, to a point, I think there is something more important. Whether or not we like what is happening to families, we have to meet people where they are. Our churches have to meet the needs of the family as it is, not as we might like it to be.

Are our churches doing a good job or reaching out to single moms, unwed couples, divorced and blended families, and so forth? Do they feel welcome in our churches? Are their needs being met? For that matter, what should family ministry look like in the modern church? I don’t know what the answers are, but these are definitely questions worth serious consideration.