Written by Michelle Dobberstein

Modeling a godly family is an important aspect of every called worker’s ministry, whether they have been blessed with a spouse and children or not. Knowingly or not, called workers are examples to the families they serve. Just as sports figures and celebrities use their fame to promote their agenda, called workers can and should leverage their positions to support parents and caregivers. In this way, they fulfill their installation directive “to be an example to others in godliness and Christian living.”

God’s Directives
God directs parents to make use of every opportunity to talk with their children about him. “These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates. (Deuteronomy 6:6-9)

The Lord gives specific examples of how parents should center the lives of themselves and their children in him. Yet parents often fail to carry out these principles, and many may not even know they exist.

Called Workers’ Opportunities
Called workers’ partnerships with parents present many opportunities to teach the commandments of God, to model spiritually focused lives, and to encourage spiritually focused families. Called workers have relationships already established with the parents. They have gained the parents’ trust. God willing, by watching called workers, parents will “catch” how to keep the Lord at the center of their family’s life.

This does not need to be another task for called workers. They can simply live their lives as public figures and then be open with their parents. The relationship is a two-way street that allows both the parents and the called workers to be vulnerable, to have real discussions about what works and what does not in their individual settings.

Family Devotions
Called workers and parents might discuss how family devotions can take place while driving to or from school or a sporting event rather than around the dinner table. There’s more than one right way to have family devotions.

Serving Together
Called workers can model how families can serve together in worship—ushering, greeting, etc. They can make other families feel welcome and not too “noisy” or “messy.” Called workers can also model how families can serve in building maintenance, snow removal, lawn care, sporting events, coaching, volunteering, and the list goes on.

Focusing on the Lord
Called workers’ cheerful, transparent lives and their sharing of God’s Word can pull the parents and families into the Lord.

• • As the Lord commanded, “Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road.” Called workers can use their language to incorporate the Lord into the enjoyment of an amazing sunset, the Lord’s winter “painting” of snow white, or the beauty in their children!
  • “When you lie down and when you get up.” Called workers can offer prayers for bedtime, mealtime, or drive time in newsletters, handouts, and casual conversation.
  • “Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates.” Called workers can demonstrate how to decorate with favorite Bible passages, include those passages in their email signatures or taglines, and use them to fix their children’s eyes on Jesus. The passages do no good if they are not looked at, read, and referred to.

There are so many ways to keep families focused on the Lord and his great love. Each family can choose what works best for them. Some families love the youth group at church, for example, while others love having their families at home to share the love of the Lord with one another. Each is good! Family ministry looks different for each family, just as education is different for each student.

Partners Fostering the Next Generation in Jesus
Modeling family ministry is an encouragement to called workers to live their best Christian life and be open with their families. This should not be a burden, where you are constantly trying to do everything right! It is an encouragement to build those relationships with the parents so that it is comfortable enough for you to share, even when you struggle, make a mistake, or need help yourself.

A true partnership will allow the parents into the called workers’ lives as much as called workers are involved in the families’ lives. What a blessing to work as partners to build the next generation in Jesus!

Michelle Dobberstein (MLC ’01, ’20 MS Ed Admin—Early Childhood Director) is the early childhood director for Emanuel Lutheran School in New London, Wisconsin.