Preachers: Ten Family Involvement Tips

Posted by Chris Gallagher on May 17, 2012 in Family, Preaching | 1 comment

Preachers have amazing family support. Their families are strong support pillars for the church. Below are ten tips to involve your family in ministry. Some believe that families should be kept away from ministry life, but I believe involving my family in the aspects of ministry so they may experience the greatens of working for God.

• Take your family with you when you make visits – When visiting members of the congregation take your family with you and let them get to know the members like you do. This makes a great impression on children as they see what goes on behind the scenes, but they also get to know the members. Note: Be aware of sickness, etc. when visiting with your children.
• Have your children fold the bulletin – If you are in charge of the bulletin, have your children fold the bulletin. For some reason, my oldest daughter likes to fold the bulletin while watching TV. It might be the fact she gets to watch TV, but still she is actively involved.
• Involve your children in lesson preparation – I have found my children love to help me with my PowerPoint. On a variety of occasions, my daughter has done my sermon PowerPoint for me and I help her tweak it a little. What is interesting is she reads and grabs the points of the sermon better than just listening.
• Bake cookies for the shut-ins – Schedule some time for your family to bake cookies for the shut-ins or others in the congregation. When you go visiting, take those cookies packages with you. It is always helpful to include a note from your children.
• Sign a card – If you send cards to visitors and members, have your family sign them. Often the preacher is expected to sign them, but having your family sign them sends a greater view of hospitality. Also, people will comment more about your family signing them than when you sign them alone.
• Spend time praying for your work – Pray with your family for your work in the congregation. Also, ask your children to pray for the ministry. They will pray and they will see the power of God working.
• Teach your children to lead a class discussion – Over the past year, my oldest daughter (age 11) has taught four children’s classes. The teacher was present as my daughter taught and she was blown away with my daughter’s preparation. (One of the greatest parts – I never helped her, she did it her own.) My daughter has a delight for teaching more than ever. She sees what it takes and enjoys it.
• Have members over to your home– Open your home to the members and let them enjoy time at your home. Have an open house around the holidays, a cookout in the summer, etc. Allow members into your home and let them get to know your family.
• Encourage your children to bring their friends – Ask your children to bring their friends and do what it takes to get them there.  We will transport our children’s friends to Chuck E. Cheese or sporting events, now encourage your children to bring others to services.
• Spend time outside of ministry together – As preachers it is easy to becoming involved in ministry as much as we can, but remember to set back and relax with your family. Allow them to see that they are a priority in your life.

Just my thoughts,

Letters to my Children–The Church

Posted by Chris Gallagher on Apr 24, 2012 in Christian Living, Church, Personal | 0 comments

To my children,

All I really want is to see you in heaven. I want you to be success in this life, but so much more in the life to come. Success in this life is determine by human standards, but success in the life to come is determined by your life with Christ now.

The church is changing; some good and some bad – but always remember, the God side of the church is perfect, it is the human side that is the problem. As humans, we have desires to see changes we want instead of changes we need. I desire that you be the change we need!

Stand firm on your convictions and stand with evidence in the Bible; not on the words of man. Believe nothing you read or hear until you following the Berean example (Acts 17.11). Check the Bible for the truth (John 17.17). Believe not the philosophies of man, but the words of an eternal God (Isaiah 55.8-9). Man’s ways will only take you to the ends of this Earth; God’s words take you to the unending life.

Strengthen the church. Be the strengthening factor in the church. While some will seek to separate the church from Christ, realize it cannot be done. When you separate the head from the body (Ephesians 1.22, 23), the body dies. The church cannot live without Christ. We need Him and the church needs you to tell others about Him and His church.

Looking at you now, I see the desire you have to follow God. You are readers, hearers and doers of the word even when the world challenges you the other way. Continue reading, listening, studying, and living the life you know is the life to live. Let not the world determine your choices. Let your knowledge of the Creator of the universe be your guide. Let the word speak today as it spoke in years past – it changed souls then and it will change lives today (2 Timothy 3.16-17).

Each day, reach for the prize ahead (Philippians 3.12-14) and put aside those things which are slowing down your spiritual life (Hebrews 12.1). Run the race so you may receive a prize, but let that prize be given to you by God and not by man (1 Corinthians 9.24; 2 Timothy 4.7-8).

Live your life in such a way you will see Jesus and we will see each other in the end.

Your proud father,

Family Matters – How to Raise a Happy Child

Posted by Chris Gallagher on Nov 22, 2011 in Family | 0 comments

While researching for an upcoming lesson, I ran across this short story I wanted to pass along to you. Take a moment, give it a read and let it settle in your mind, then use the information today.

How to Raise a Happy Child

 When John and Peter were growing up, other kids felt sorry for them. Their parents always had them doing chores: weeding the garden, running errands, carrying out the trash. When they grew older, they delivered newspapers or mowed lawns. Sometimes other parents shook their heads and remarked that all work and no play made a dull boy.

 But when the boys reached adulthood, they were better off than their childhood playmates who had been less industrious. They earned more money and had more job satisfaction. They had better marriages and closer relationships with their children. They were healthier and lived longer. Most of all, they were happier. Far happier.

 These are the remarkable findings of a 40-year study that began in the 1940s—a study that may help you raise happier children today. Started in an effort to understand juvenile delinquency, the study followed the lives of 456 teenage boys from inner-city Boston, many from impoverished or broken homes. When they were compared at middle age, one fact stood out: regardless of intelligence, family income, ethnic background or amount of education, those who had worked as boys, even at simple household chores, enjoyed happier and more productive lives than those who had not.

  (Source: Nelson’s Complete Book Of Stories, Illustrations, & Quotes by Robert J. Morgan)

Have a powerful day of achievement!

Just some thoughts,

Family Matters – Your Actions Matter

Posted by Chris Gallagher on Nov 17, 2011 in Family | 0 comments

If you have children, you already know what can come from a child’s mouth. Their words will make you laugh, cry, even amaze you and occasionally stun you. Your thoughts and your words change once you see the way your children pick up speech and begin speaking. ! Over the past five years, he has become a small auctioneer with all the words he can produce in the small times he has learned them. His vocabulary is truly amazing.

Just today, he was watching Cars, his favorite movie of all time that he has seen so many times that one DVD actually was worn out. As he watched the movie he began to quote 50% of the words and even jumped ahead a time or two. It was amazing. He has picked up on words and phrases quicker than both of my girls at the same age.

While looking through some material, I ran across a YouTube video which expresses the influence a parent has over a child. I have posted this video before and thought I would share it again. Each action the parent demonstrates, become ingrained in your child’s mind. Many of those actions will be duplicated later. I must warn you, this video might shock you, but it will cause you to think.

Here is the video – >

Today’s Family Matters Question – “What are we teaching our children through our actions?” Let’s let them see the greatness we possess!

Just some thoughts,

10 Ways to be a Great Parent

Posted by Chris Gallagher on Nov 10, 2011 in Family | 0 comments

None of us wants to stink as parents, but some of us just might be getting there. We want a positive future for our children and we want to see them succeed in every way.

Our future is determined by our actions in the present, not the past. Today is the day to begin living for the future. Parenting has future rewards that are beyond our imagination.  These ten ways are not guarantees, but they are a start. Enjoy!

1. Live the example of how you want your children to grow.
2. Stop being your child’s friend and be their guide.
3. Hug your children.
4. Give your children responsibilities and make them fulfill them.
5. Let your children be children; stop expecting adult reactions from them.
6. Stop yelling at your children.
7. Spend time playing with your children. (Video games do not count)
8. Read with your children.
9. Discipline your children, they will appreciate you later.
10. Teach them respect of others.

What would you add to the list?

Just some thoughts,