Are you looking for resources and tools to strengthen and disciple your family?
Discipleship is best lived out through the family and the church (Deuteronomy 6:4-7, Matthew 28:18-20)
Abundant Life Family Ministry wants to equip parents for family discipleship and provide resources so they can lead powerful spiritual conversations with the next generation.
We want to see you WIN at discipleship with your family!
Walk the path
Families in every stage of life Walk the Path for discipleship guided by ten Mile Markers (see below).
Initiate weekly conversations
Parents Initiate Weekly Conversations by intentionally setting aside regular time to read God’s Word and worship together.
Never miss a God moment
Never Miss a God Moment by seizing opportunities to intentionally connect spiritual truths to everyday life.
The 10 Mile Markers for Families
Each Mile Marker gives parents and adults a clear direction to be equipped for lifelong discipleship through biblical training and practical resources, with some special events of celebration along the way.
Each Mile Marker on the path features three key ways for you to be equipped to WIN at discipleship:
- The Parenting Conference features sessions for each Mile Marker with biblical training to shepherd your family along the path of discipleship, with opportunities to connect and build relationships with other families in the same season of life.
- Events are recommended activities for you to create as a family or special celebrations hosted by Abundant Life, all focused on marking significant life events or celebrations.
- Resources are recommended books and training materials we recommend to equip you as you intentionally guide your family along the path.
The 10 Mile Markers for Families
The first Mile Marker is child dedication. This is a ceremony that normally occurs for parents who have children between birth and one year of age. You will learn how to become primary faith trainers for your children and accept the responsibility. Resources and learning opportunities are provided for new parents desiring to dedicate their children to the Lord. During the ceremony, the church body commits to partner with the parents in the faith development of the child for the duration of the journey.
Event: Child Dedication
- Video training about Child Dedication’s purpose
- Special dedication on a Sunday morning during service with prayer on stage
- Families receive a certificate and The Beginner Bible
Resources:
The Vision for Family Ministry
We want to connect the Great Commission to the Great Commandment by equipping parents to teach, train, and disciple their children to become fully devoted followers of Christ.
“Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. 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.”--Deuteronomy 6:4-7
We want to help you have “wins” for your family! Through Family Ministry, our heart is to equip you to…
- Have a family faith talk every week–Setting aside time each week to have faith conversations as a family builds a strong foundation for the next generation
- Capture God moments on the go–Talking with your kids about what God is doing in the day-to-day helps them develop a biblical worldview
- Celebrate mile markers as a church family–Celebrating child dedications, baptisms, and other mile markers together unifies families and give children a community where they can grow
Establish community–Having a community gives parents and children support and helps them through stages of life
Sign Up and Connect!
Strengthen your family.
Sign up for emails, register for a class, and connect with us on social media!
Homeschool Ministry
Do you homeschool online, in person, or through your local co-op and seek support, connections, and opportunities? The Abundant Life Homeschool Ministry wants to come alongside you to provide what you need and to celebrate big milestone events along the way!
Sign up for our email list and get updates on activities and events.
Foster/Adopt Family Support
Is God speaking to your heart about the possibility of foster care or adoption? Choosing to adopt or foster is not an easy decision. But it is a calling and we want to support foster, adoptive, and birth families. We see you and we see the difference that you are making. If you want to learn more or be a part of this growing ministry, sign up below and plan to attend the interest meeting.
Foster and Adoptive Parents Celebration
Friday, January 13, 6:30 pm
Lee's Summit Campus, Main Building
Special Needs Ministry
We feel that it is important to engage children and adults with special needs in a setting that is conducive to them and their needs. On Sundays, we provide opportunities for adults and children at all of our campuses.
Children (up to age 12) meet during service in the Abundant Life Kids Area, and we have a youth/adults (age 12+) only class that meets at 11:15 am at the Blue Springs and Lee’s Summit Campus.
To better prepare for your arrival, please contact the church office at 816-554-8181 with any questions (Monday-Thursday).
Get more information about the Special Needs Ministry here.
Merge
Want to have a healthy marriage before you say “I do”? Merge is a pre-marital discipleship ministry designed for engaged and seriously dating couples. These classes provide a way for you to seek wisdom and receive biblical counsel about marriage in a fun, safe, and authentic environment. You can enroll in a weekend workshop and/or a 9-week course.
9-Week Course Spring 2023
March 1 – April 26, 6:30-8:30 PM
BUTTON: Register for the 2023 Spring Course
*Note there is cost to this class to cover the materials used.
*Merge is a class that requires a sign up for attendance. It is closed group, meaning everyone who signs up attends the entire session and new members aren’t allowed in until the next session starts.
Happening at Family Ministry...
Foster and Adoption Parent Celebration Dinner
It's a time to pause, relax & connect! All Foster and Adoption Families are invited. Enjoy dinner, inspiration, games, dancing, prizes, and so much more! Children are welcome – they'll have their own kind of party
Special Needs Respite (Blue Springs Campus)
Families and caregivers of special needs often find it difficult to step away and recharge. With Respite events, an evening of crafts, games and fun are offered for participants ages 3 years and older with disabilities and their siblings ages 5-12 and allow for families to recharge!
Special Needs Respite (Independence Campus)
Families and caregivers of special needs often find it difficult to step away and recharge. With Respite events, an evening of crafts, games and fun are offered for participants ages 3 years and older with disabilities and their siblings ages 5-12 and allow for families to recharge!
Special Needs Respite (Lee's Summit Campus)
Families and caregivers of special needs often find it difficult to step away and recharge. With Respite events, an evening of crafts, games and fun are offered for participants ages 3 years and older with disabilities and their siblings ages 5-12 and allow for families to recharge!
Merge Pre-Marital Class
Merge is a 9-week premarital discipleship ministry designed for engaged and seriously dating couples. It’s a chance to seek wisdom and receive counsel about marriage in a safe, fun, and authentic environment.
Child Dedication
Want to publicly dedicate your child to God and commit to training, leading, and growing them spiritually? Sign up for one of our child dedication Sundays!
Child dedication is a time for parents to publicly declare their commitment to live with God’s Word in their hearts and accept the responsibility as the primary faith trainer of their child. It’s a moment for parents to acknowledge their child belongs to God and is given to them to steward, grow, and develop according to His Word. It is also an opportunity for the Body of Christ and parents to come together and pray over the child.
Your child is never too old for you to make the public commitment to be the parents God calls you to be and to acknowledge your child belongs to God. Whether they are newborns or newly graduated, all are welcome to dedicate their children.
What Child Dedication Is Not
Child dedication is not baptism, nor does it impart salvation. Salvation happens when a child is old enough to make a decision on his or her own, and the child chooses to receive Christ. From there, the child makes a decision to publicly declare their decision to follow Christ through baptism.
