Family Life Ministry

Just as we want our families to fly, we want our teens to elevate. What does that mean? It means we want our teens to rise above the world-culture that surrounds them, learning to live and think in distinctively Christian ways. We want to lift them out of egocentric and selfish living, helping them center their lives on the cross of Christ. We want their lives to elevate God before their friends and peers as they worship Him and serve others.

FAMILY MINISTRY IS BIBLE BASED
The church of Christ follows the Biblical example in Worship, Salvation, and Christian living. A successful life in Christ coincides with a successful family life.
West Olive has spent much time in prayerful consideration and study formulating strategies for the success of our families. We have adopted the “Family Ministry” mindset to accomplish this.

MEASURING A SUCCESSFUL FAMILY
Families living and exemplifying God’s will in their own personal conduct are better prepared for success. As time passes children grow and someday leave home. They form their own family and home and their Faith should remain with them. To achieve this goal each generation within the family, as well as the church family, needs to work together; “an Intergenerational Ministry” is the result. It’s more than a simple program but is rather the central ideal we’ve adopted for our church family. West Olive is committed to the Family Ministry approach utilizing the entire church family to nurture our youth and each other.
“These commandments that I give you today are to be upon 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

BIBLE CLASSES
The study of God’s word is paramount to the success of God’s people. Children must be “brought up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord” Ephesians 6:4
“Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it.” Proverbs 22:6
Bible classes with experienced teachers are provided for all ages using Bible-based curriculum. Classes are available on Sundays and Wednesdays with additional adult classes on Tuesdays. Parents are encouraged to have daily Bible studies as a family, as well.

DAILY BIBLE READING
Read your Bible through in a year using our Treasures Old and New Bible Reading Schedule and Study Guide. It only takes 15 – 20 minutes a day to read three or four chapters of God’s Holy Inspired Word. If you do this in the morning, you can think about it all day! You can download the Treasures Old and New Bible Reading Schedule from the Home Page.

FAMILY DEVOTIONALS
Each quarter a periodical, called “Power for Today,” is provided which contains daily devotionals as well as a weekly family-night topic. These devotionals are structured with a scripture, song, and prayer providing ready-to-use material for individual and family study.

YOUTH LUNCH & VISITS
Each month our youth and their parents have lunch in the Fellowship Hall before car-pooling to a shut-in member’s home to fellowship with the shut-in by singing songs, sharing a devotional thought and listening to the shut-in member’s story, thus building inter-generational relationships. This family ministry helps build and strengthen our families for works of service in accordance with the ageless Biblical principle “Train up a child in the way he should go. Even when he is old he will not depart from it.” Proverbs 22:6.

BARNABAS MINISTRY
Families come together weekly for an inter-generational fellowship meal, to pray for our visitors, for children to make thank you cards, and to deliver baskets filled with handmade items and goodies to our first-time local visitors.

LEADERSHIP TRAINING for CHRIST (LTC)
The Leadership Training for Christ program reinforces Biblical principles and leadership skills through various activities culminating in an annual statewide convention.

WORSHIP TRAINING
Wednesday night services are an opportunity for men of all ages to practice leading songs, prayers, and short devotionals, building confidence in our men as they grow to become leaders.

SERVICE ACTIVITIES
On occasion, certain needs arise within the congregation, such as helping with home improvements, yard work, etc. Volunteers of all ages work together in these efforts when the needs arise.

VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL (VBS)
Our Vacation Bible School is unique by including all ages. Every summer VBS offers a fun, themed-based setting that involves skits, crafts, and projects for children while teaching God’s word. The adults have their own classes as well.

West Olive is committed to equipping our families to raise their children in Godly homes so that they are faithful and ready as they mature and venture on their own.