Paradigm Shift Ministry Ideas
Visit The Networks to find contact information for each congregation if interested
in learning more about these ideas.
Ideas from Nebraska Network
  • Established a Family Life Board and a part-time Family Life Ministry Director position
    (Immanuel-Tilden, Nebraska Network)

  • Teachers shared "Paradigm Shift" at parent/teacher conferences (St. John-Battle Creek,
    Nebraska Network)

  • “Repentance of the Church” sermon series focused on paradigm shift (St. John-Battle
    Creek, Nebraska Network)

  • "Sounded the Alarm" in worship and turning ocean liner around to be a home-centered,
    church-supported faith center (Good Shepherd-Fremont, Nebraska Network)

  • Pastor held a sermon series on "Sounding the Alarm" (Peace-Grand Island, Nebraska
    Network)

  • “Frogs Without Legs Can’t Hear” as Lenten evening series (Good Shepherd-Fremont,
    Nebraska Network)

  • “Sound the Alarm” presented at Bible class and all church board meetings (Nebraska
    Network)

Ideas from Michigan #2 Network
  • Integrated the Family Friendly motto into all of our publications: print, web, etc. (Our
    Savior Lutheran - Lansing, MI)
The Family Friendly Partners Network
Ideas from the Indiana Network
  • Faith Lutheran is including a weekly Family Friendly Faith Encouragement note from
    their Family Friendly Core Team in the Sunday morning printed announcement insert in
    the bulletin.  Download their first seven messages. (Faith Lutheran - Bloomington, IN)

Ideas from Ohio Network
  • Royal Redeemer had congregational members write their Family Mission Statements and
    displayed them on the Wall of Family Creeds.  Some of the families gave a testimony
    from their creed in worship. (Royal Redeemer - North Royalton, OH)

  • Zion included parts of the "Family Mission Statement" in a Sunday morning sermon and
    after worship during a potluck. (Zion Lutheran - Aniwa, OH)

  • Bethlehem Lutheran is trying Family Cook Out nights once a month to bring families
    together for food, games and fellowship.  (Bethlehem Lutheran-Parma, OH

  • Faith Lutheran Church has developed an intentional, faith formation path for families.  
    They are introducing Mile Markers… A Faith Journey.  Based on Deuteronomy 6:7, this
    is a 7 step process from Baby to Empty Nest that gives parents the tools and motivation to
    bless their child at different stages of growth and to link families together through
    mentoring.  Their “mile markers” are unique to their church and the needs of members
    from their Family Needs Survey. Check out what they are doing by clicking on these pdfs:
    Mile Markers Information.  Mile Markers Brochure.  (Faith Lutheran Church-Avon, Ohio
    Network.  For more information, contact Gail DeLuca)

  • Ascension shared pieces of Event 1 with their leadership, church council and Sunday
    school staff.  They presented it to the congregation on Sunday mornings during Lent.
    (Ascension Lutheran-North Olmsted, OH)

  • Emmaus Journey shared "The Paradigm Shift" and "The Presentation" with their
    Leadership Team.  "It Starts with Me" and "Writing a Family Mission Statement" were
    incorporated into their membership class.  They also presented a "For Better-For Worse"
    sermon series. (Emmaus Journey-North Ridgeville, OH)

  • Royal Redeemer put together a sheet with facts about families to be passed out to
    preschool families and school families.  They also put together a Fall Festival to encourage
    families to meet with other families.  In addition, they surveyed parents, grandparents,
    etc. to see what their top prayers were for their kids and then did a sermon series on
    these. (Royal Redeemer-North Royalton, OH)

  • Bethlehem Lutheran used "The Paradigm Shift" and "The Presentation" with an adult
    Bible class.  They offered a "Family Mission Statement" session to couples, parents, and
    young adults and had each family create their own family mission statement.  One copy
    was displayed at church and another for the family's refrigerator. They found the
    Paradigm Shift sessions to be very important in helping them see the importance of
    parents being the primary faith-shapers. (Bethlehem Lutheran- Parma, OH)

  • Hosanna Lutheran presented "The Paradigm Shift" to church leadership. They are
    developing a new vision that focuses on the church as a family outreach center and have
    re-written their mission statement to be: "Sharing the Risen Christ to All Generations!"
    (Hosanna Lutheran-Columbia Station, OH)

  • Zion used church newsletters and board meetings to present information from "The
    Paradigm Shift."  "Sound the Alarm" was used in worship. (Zion Lutheran-Ashtabula,
    OH)

  • Faith used "The Presentation" with Family Champions and "Writing a Family Mission
    Statement" in a parenting workshop.  They have also been working on "family
    confirmation" and a Family Life sermon series. (Faith Lutheran-Avon, OH)

  • St Mark's presented "The Family Mission Statement" along with a luncheon. They have
    created a three year plan for launching and continuing family ministry activities and
    events. (St. Mark's Lutheran-Milford, OH)


Ideas from North Wisconsin Network
  • St. Luke's shared the "Paradigm Shift" with their church council, women's ministry
    team, Christian education team, elders, and youth ministry team.  "The Presentation"
    was delivered to the staff.  "It Starts with Me" was incorporated into their Rally Day.  
    "Writing a Family Mission Statement" was a part of their fall marriage series and
    dovetailed with Fireproof small groups. (St. Luke Lutheran-Wisconsin Rapids, WI)

  • As a result of the Congregation Family Ministry Assessment, St. Luke’s chose to make
    Family Ministry our congregation focus by keeping it before the congregation in our 2010
    theme.  The theme: “Passing on the Faith” was chosen.  A logo and tag line were included
    on each weekly service folder and monthly newsletter.  Each month a lead article was
    written by the pastors connecting “Passing on the Faith” to a ministry of the church –
    children’s ministry, men’s ministry, women’s ministry, social concerns, evangelism,
    discipleship, etc. (St. Luke’s – Wisconsin Rapids, WI)

  • Zion has used various pieces of Event 1 materials with their church council, elders, in a
    Bible Study and on Rally Day.  They also presented a skit on a Sunday morning to "Sound
    the Alarm." Continue to sound the alarm in weekly bulletin, monthly newsletter, verbal
    announcements and changing our focus to family led/parent involved passing on the faith.
    (Zion Lutheran-Aniwa, Wisconsin)

  • Presented Family Friendly concepts in leadership training to new officers. (Zion – Aniwa,
    WI)

  • Pastor has written hymn texts for Sunday worship using familiar tunes that express the
    Family Friendly goal. (Zion – Aniwa, WI)

  • At a potluck, we shared “Sounding the Alarm”, survey results, and “Family Mission
    Statements” (Zion – Aniwa, WI)

  • Trinity shared "The Paradigm Shift" with school staff, board of elders, church council and
    in worship. A modified "Paradigm Shift" was preached at both weekend worship services.
    They also presented a Lenten series on Sundays and Wednesdays, sharing principles and
    key ideas called "Frogs Without Legs Can't Hear" (Trinity Lutheran-Athens, WI)

  • Senior High Youth used a modified “Finding your Family Mission” to develop Youth
    Mission Statement (Trinity – Athens, WI)

  • Completed and analyzed Family Needs Survey and Youth Needs Survey.  Reported results
    in church newsletter and in pastor’s reports to Church Council and Voter’s Assembly
    (Trinity – Athens, WI)

  • Zion presented information from "The Paradigm Shift" and "The Presentation" to the
    congregation in worship on Sunday mornings.  They used "It Starts With Me" with
    confirmation parents and "Writing a Family Mission Statement" following showing of the
    Fireproof movie in a Sunday morning Bible class. (Zion Lutheran-Colby, WI)

  • Immanuel shared "The Paradigm Shift" with their board of directors, church forum,
    school board, LWML group, and elders. (Immanuel Lutheran-Wisconsin Rapids)

  • Faith Lutheran led a one afternoon workshop to present "The Paradigm Shift" and "The
    Presentation" to lay leaders and staff.  Preschool parents, congregation members and lay
    leaders were invited to an event that included "It Starts with Me" and "Writing a Family
    Mission Statement." Lunch and babysitting were provided. (Faith Lutheran-Chippewa
    Falls, WI)

  • Trinity at Ironwood presented pieces of Event 1 in special sessions for confirmand
    families, in a sermon series, and to the congregation at whole. (Trinity Lutheran-
    Ironwood, WI)

  • Held several “Sound the Alarm” sessions with congregation, church leaders, etc.  We are
    seeing our leaders thinking “Family” when talking about programming issues! Pretty
    Cool! (Trinity – Ironwood, MI – Wisconsin Network)

  • Conducted Family Needs Survey and shared results with the congregation. Surveyed teens
    and shared results with parents. (Trinity – Ironwood, MI – Wisconsin Network)