Is the current American family structure more like a pole bean or a bush bean?
Approximately 20 people from four congregations gathered at Faith Lutheran Church in Lake Forest last month to hear the answer to that question. Professor Ben Freudenberg and his wife, Jennifer, discussed how the Church can provide essential ministry to the aging. That concept is a component of the much broader topic of Family Life Ministry. Professor Freudenberg is passionate about both church and family, and the intersection between the two. He serves as Division Chair of the Family Life Program at Concordia University Ann Arbor and also is a Professor in Family Life Studies there.
The focus of Family Life Ministry is to equip families to thrive by producing Christ-centered individuals and relationships. Professor Freudenberg states, “The family today needs the church for help with faith and life formation.”
Pastor Jim Buckman, pastor of Faith, said congregation members recently dedicated themselves to strengthening family life through their ministry and invited Professor Freudenberg to provide training. Training consists of nine modules. The September event, Adulthood & Aging, was the first module.
That first discussion centered on how the church can minister to older adults. Attendees also were reminded that older adults have great capacity to minister to those around them. Seniors possess gifts of experience and other resources which are beneficial to the mission of the church, family and community.
The answer to the question? In the past, Bushbean Families had many children, lived close to each other and fewer generations were alive at the same time. This contrasts with the Beanpole Families of today. Families have fewer children, travel longer distances to be together and multiple generations are alive at the same time.
For more information about this training and how you can participate, contact Faith at 847-234-1868 or by email at office@faithlakeforest.org.