Family Ministries
For the Christian a marriage commitment is to God as well as to the spouse, and should be entered into only between partners who share a
common faith. Marriage was divinely established in Eden and affirmed by Jesus to be a lifelong union between a man and a woman in loving companionship.
Mutual love, honour, respect, and responsibility are the fabric of this relationship, which is to reflect the love, sanctity, closeness, and permanence
of the relationship between Christ and His church. Although some family relationships may fall short of the ideal, marriage partners who fully commit
themselves to each other in Christ may achieve loving unity through the guidance of the Spirit and the nurture of the church. God blesses the family
and intends that its members shall assist each other toward complete maturity. Parents are to bring up their children to love and obey the Lord.
By their example and their words they are to teach them that Christ is a loving disciplinarian, ever tender and caring, who wants them to become
members of His body, the family of God. Increasing family closeness is one of the earmarks of the final gospel message. Regarding divorce,
Jesus taught that the person who divorces a spouse, except for fornication, and marries another, commits adultery.
(Gen. 2:18-25; Matt. 19:3-9; John 2:1-11; 2 Cor. 6:14; Eph. 5:21-33; Matt. 5:31, 32; Mark 10:11, 12; Luke 16:18; 1 Cor. 7:10, 11; Ex. 20:12; Eph. 6:1-4; Deut. 6:5-9; Prov. 22:6; Mal. 4:5, 6.)
(source-text:Fundamental-beliefs N0.23/GCSDA 2005)..
The Horley Church ministry to families includes: premarital
guidance available to all couples before marriage; marriage strengthening opportunities; parent education, with attention given
to the special needs of single parents and step families; instruction in family to family evangelism; and support ministries to help families with special needs.
(source-text:Church Manual 2005).
The Ministries reinforces and encourages wholesome families.
It helps individuals build and maintain strong family relationships because it recognizes that healthy Christian families make
strong members for the kingdom of God and present a winsome witness to the community around them. Family Ministries promotes
understanding, acceptance, and love within the family and in the larger family of God and fosters the reconciliation and
healing between the generations promised in the Elijah message of Malachi 4:5, 6. It extends hope and support to those
who have been injured and hurt by abuse, family dysfunction, and broken relationships and fosters competence in a variety
of interpersonal skills needed in relationships.
It provides growth opportunities through family life education and enrichment. It encourages individuals, married couples,
and families to avail themselves of professional counseling when necessary (source-text:Church Manual 2005).
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