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“Family Discipleship (FD) Facilitator” Basic Information:
Family Discipleship, as defined by Concordia Center for the Family, is “Christ’s gifts nurturing faith in God’s children through the partnership of home and congregation.” Family Discipleship requires both homes and congregations to work together to nurture Christian faith in Jesus’ disciples from birth to entry into paradise with Jesus. That’s why our mission at CCF is uniting homes and congregations in making lifelong disciples of Jesus.
CCF has undertaken an effort, in partnership with several other entities of the LCMS, to promote Family Discipleship in the homes and congregations of our LCMS. This united effort is called the CCF “Family Discipleship Initiative” or FDI.
Target Audience:
CCF’s primary objective is to train LCMS Church Leaders, especially pastors, family discipleship leaders and Lutheran school leaders, to implement the CCF Family Discipleship Initiative in our LCMS congregations and schools. The goal is to strengthen the marriages and families served by our LCMS congregations and schools so that faith in Jesus Christ will be passed by parents, grandparents and other caregivers to coming generations for life. Secondarily, CCF seeks to impact the whole earth as families practicing Christian Family Discipleship will be bold witnesses for Christ to everyone they encounter every day, leading many more to receive the blessings of life in Christ.
Key Training “Take-aways”:
Understanding of CCF and what we seek to provide.
Understanding of the biblical foundation for Family Discipleship.
Understanding of Family Discipleship centered in homes in partnership with the local congregation, District, Synod and Concordia University System.
Understanding how Family Discipleship is an integral focus of ALL activity in the congregation.
Simple tools to implement the FDI in homes and congregations with immediate impact for all homes.
An approach and resources for homes from diverse ethnic backgrounds and of varied configurations.
Basic understanding of CCF’s extensive resources to guide families through the spiritual growth stages of the entire life cycle.
Introduction to all of CCF’s online Resources, featuring many vetted Family Discipleship resources for free or purchase (and how FD Facilitators will be able to contribute new material).
Receiving many free resources for personal and congregational use.
Self-assessment to determine current strengths and growth areas for Family Discipleship.
Introduction to the CCF Faith & Life Survey tool for in-depth congregational assessment in the realm of Family Discipleship.
Basic understanding of Ben Freudenburg’s Family Friendly Church Curriculum (FFCC) as a means to reshape a congregation’s entire ministry to focus on the CCF FDI.
Introduction to Family Discipleship resources currently available and being created by partner entities within our LCMS including our seminaries and the Board for National Missions.
Networking with other church workers who are implementing the CCF FDI in a similar context.
Ongoing support from CCF for implementation of the CCF FDI.
A plan to immediately implement the CCF FDI in home and congregation upon return home.
Certification as a CCF FD Facilitator who is ready to implement his/her personally designed CCF FDI action plan in his/her home and congregation and to influence others.
Spiritual growth, renewed vigor for ministry and optimism for the growth of the Kingdom of God on earth as homes and congregations partner in Family Discipleship.
Expectations of CCF’s FD Facilitators:
To live, personally, as a faithful disciple of Jesus Christ in line with the beliefs and practices of the LCMS.
To be passionate for the family and its God-given role in faith and life development.
To have, ideally, prior leadership experience in an LCMS congregation/school.
To fully engage in a foundational training event.*
To preserve the integrity of the CCF FDI training materials, only using them with appropriate attribution and not for personal gain.
To put CCF Family Discipleship principles into practice personally and in your own home.
To implement and promote CCF Family Discipleship principles in your own congregation.
To influence, by example, resource sharing, instruction and invitation, other church leaders and congregations to join the CCF FDI.
To encourage other church leaders to become FD Facilitators through training events to be offered annually.
To meet regularly in person or virtually with CCF leaders and/or other FD Facilitators.
To gather and provide feedback to CCF for improvement and expansion of the CCF FDI program and materials.
To support the ongoing ministry of CCF with prayer and other resources as God enables.
Other Information:
Funding support should be sought from your congregation and may also be available from your local LCMS district and CCF.
By registering, you agree to the terms expressed in this “CCF FD Facilitator Training Information.”
TO ASK QUESTIONS about the FD FACILITATOR TRAINING, please contact CCF Executive Director Rev. Dr. Todd Biermann at toddbiermann@concordiafamily.org or Cell 810-771-8837.