Family Shield

A number of months ago my wife and I were sharing a meal with some good friends. All three of our families had been members of the same congregation several years before but we’d all moved on to different places. Our kids had grown up; what we’d discovered together was that all of our kids had drifted away from public worship. One could easily say oh they're just young adults adrift for a while. The striking thing for each of us adults, all six of us, what we shared together as older couples now, is that we really struggle with the thought that our grown kids were not in worship. Each of the next generations of our families were away for different reasons. Well moms and dads out there, Grandpa's and Grandma's, and if you had those same feelings, similar worries, you know it's not a good feeling when your loved ones become apathetic towards the Church gathered. In much of my work and I'm sure that of our guest with us today, with our work in the Church over the last years, we've encountered it, sort of a general fear and sentiment among congregational members, that our congregations seem to be dwindling; they're getting smaller and that maybe brings a new kind of fear for us.  But thank goodness our discussion topic today is with the leader in evangelism, in witness, and outreach… this is the Family Shield Ministries radio and podcast program. Welcome, welcome dear friends to another episode and conversation. I'm Pastor Mark Frith, chairman of the Family Shield Ministry board and today's guest host in place of Kay Meyer, guest host for the Family Shield radio and podcast network. Thank you for being a part of the Family Shield family, where we continue to remind you and one another to put the whole armor of God on.  Our special guest today is also the author of a new book titled Meaningful Outreach: an Essential Guide for Churches. He is the Rev. Dr. Mark Wood. He's a native of Illinois, a resident of Arizona, Dr. Wood is a former parish pastor, and a church planter, currently the Director of the Witness and Outreach Ministry for the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod. He also wears another hat for our church body, as the Director of Revitalization Initiative. Dr. Wood is a family man; he's married to Mary Ellen and celebrates with her the joy of having five children, seven grandchildren, and he just told me, now five great-grandchildren.

What if you could spend this Christmas season delighting in your Savior instead of trying to create a picture perfect holiday? Christmas is all about the birth of Christ yet we often are more focused on finishing our holiday to-do list than celebrating the greatest gift of all. In Unwrapping the Names of Jesus Asheritah Ciuciu invites you to prepare your heart so you can worship Jesus. Each daily devotional will lead you to meditate on a different name of Jesus from God's Word. Some of those names include the Resurrection and the Life, King of Kings, Light of the World, Word of God, the Alpha and the Omega, and the Lamb of God. So come, let us adore Him, Christ the Lord. My guest today is Asheritah Ciuciu, the author of Unwrapping the Names of Jesus, which is a devotional book, and Unwrapping the Names of Jesus for Kids. We’ll talk about both books today on Family Shield.

We live in an era when children often know more about their electronic devices than their own family history. Parents invest more time in the carpool line than at the dinner table, and marriages teeter on the cliff of neglect. Today's program will offer families creative, life changing solutions to these modern-day dilemmas. Learn how to deposit small pebbles of intentional action into daily life to build a mountain on which your family can stand for generations. My guest today is the author of Reclaiming Home, Krista Gilbert.

Advent is a time of anticipation and preparation for the birth of our Savior. A sure sign that Christmas is coming is when we see Advent calendars in the stores and our homes. If your children and grandchildren are like mine they love to count down the days before Christmas as they attend Advent services, participate in special Christmas traditions, and enjoy special treats. Advent and Christmas can be a stressful time. Does starting the season early with Advent add to that stress? What are some practical ways we can minimize holiday pressure? Today we'll discuss Advent and the Christmas season with Dr. Mary Manz Simon. Mary is an early childhood educator, consultant, and the author of many popular books. She also hosts A Moment for the Family on AM 850 KFUO.

Surviving a crisis is one of the hardest things a family can go through. It is also one of the six traits that research has shown can help build strong, healthy families. Today I've invited Dana Herbst to share what happened to her three-year-old daughter Nikki when she was attacked by a dog. Nikki was rushed to the emergency room by ambulance and later to the hospital. There she had many stitches put into her face and eyelid. A scary time for Dana and her blended family. Dana will share what happened to her youngest child and give us an update about how her daughter is doing today. And she'll share how hundreds of family and friends and even people they didn't know prayed for Nikki, surrounded their family with love and support, and helped them survive this crisis.

One of the great challenges Christians face is sharing the truth with those who believe they have already found it. When witnessing to current or former members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, it's essential that you compassionately describe biblical teachings from Mormon doctrine while tactfully advocating for Christ. For every believer who prays for loved ones in the LDS church, or loved ones who give up religion after leaving Mormonism, Introducing Christianity to Mormons is the book you need to learn to witness to them. The book will help you present the case for Christianity with confidence and grace, and it will empower you to share your faith with them. My guest today is Eric Johnson, the author of Introducing Christianity to Mormons. He works with Mormonism Research Ministry and currently lives in Utah with his wife and three daughters.

What was the reformation? Who was involved? And why is it so important 500 years later? Join us today as I interview Rev. William Marler about the reformation. He’s the senior pastor of Trinity Lutheran Church in Springfield, Missouri, and an instructor in the Department of Religious Studies at Missouri State University.

Why do Jehovah's Witnesses leave the Watchtower Society? Many ex-Jehovah's Witnesses are disfellowshipped. They can also experience guilt and anger after they leave. Why do they need hope that is only possible when we know the Christ of the Bible, and how can we effectively share God's love and the Gospel with them? Join us today as we visit with Melissa Bramer, an ex-Jehovah's Witness that is now a Christian. She'll share her story about leaving the Watchtower Society, and help us understand the challenges those who leave experience. She’ll also help us learn how we can reach Jehovah's Witnesses and ex-Jehovah's Witnesses for Christ.

Today on Family Shield we’ll explore the links between Dragon myths and the reality of dinosaurs. Did you know there are dragon legends in nearly every culture from China to Australia, India to Europe, the Americas, and Persia to the kingdoms of the fiercest Norse warriors? Eyewitnesses to these dinosaurs include Job from the Bible, Alexander the Great, and Marco Polo. There are drawings on cave walls and on ancient art show images that clearly resemble dinosaurs. We’ll revisit history as we talk about these creatures. Whether battling saints or terrorizing medieval castles, these creatures provide a fascinating link to man's earliest history. My husband, Tjaden Meyer will co-host the program with me today.

Raising children to know and love the Lord in today's world is a joy, a privilege, and a challenge. Parenting is the most important job you will ever have. How can we maintain a Christ-centered home while juggling jobs, sports, school, and community activities? We find the answer when we rely upon God’s power, not our own. Family Shield Ministries equips Christians to go and make disciples. We believe that individuals and their families need to go first into the home to disciple their children. Join us today as we talk about discipling our children for Christ.