Core Values

The National Association of Family Ministries is founded upon the following core values:

1. Jesus must come to have first place in everything, including family life (Col 1:18).
2. Marriage between a man and a woman is a gift from God. God created marriage (Gen 1, Adam and Eve).
3. Children are a gift from God and a welcome addition to a family (Psalm 127:3).
4. Our first ministry is to our family and we should not neglect them as we minister to others.
5. Parents are meant to be the primary and most influential teachers and disciplers of their children (Deut 6:6-9; Eph 6:1-3).
6. In the context of family life and parenting, the church’s role is a secondary one, supporting the home and its teaching.
7. Experienced members of the Body of Christ must come alongside families to teach and mentor them (Titus 2).
8. Where there is no Christ-centered influence in the home, the church takes the primary role by default.
9. A biblical, Christian community is inclusive of age groups (intergenerational - Heb 11; Josh 24:15; Matt 5-7), relational (1 Thess 2:7-8) and interwoven (not isolated, but integrated).
10. A family is “a covenant of relationships and responsibilities within the guidelines of biblical principles”.
    These Biblical principles are:
    • Honoring God first. Not making the family an end in and of itself (Col 1:18).
    • Reflecting the nature and character of Jesus Christ in our relationships (Eph 5:1; Col 2:6-7).
    • Demonstrating fidelity in marriage (1 Thess 4:3-7; Heb 13:4).
    • Practicing chastity and purity in singleness (1 Thess 4:3-7).
    • Nurturing the children God gives us (Psa 127:3; Eph 6:4).
    • Showing lifelong care for family members (Eph 6:1-2).
    • Maintaining a vital connection to a community of faith (Heb 10:24-25).