This year marks the 100thanniversary of Family Ministries in the Adventist Church. This vital department focusing on strengthening families in and out of the Church began in October 1919, when the General Conference Committee created the Home Commission.
Realizing parents and couples needed additional support, the first director, Arthur Spalding, with his wife, Maud, produced an inspiring set of educational literature for the whole family. This set of lessons, entitled The Christian Home Series, covered a variety of topics relating to home life. The Spaldings served from 1919-1941.
According to a historical sketch provided by Family Ministries, the General Conference held a convention focused entirely on the “home” in June 1941. It was at this time the Home Commission came under the umbrella of the Education Department and for “the next three decades, marriage and family life programs were promoted by the Parent and Home Education secretaries from the Department of Education.”[1]
During the 1975 General Conference session in Vienna, Austria, delegates voted to establish the Home and Family Service (HFS) with Delmer and Betty Holbrook as co-leaders. The husband and wife team traveled extensively, providing training seminars for administrators, pastors, and church members in every division of the World Church. They produced a 14-hour marriage and family series for Christian radio station WGTS, as well as a pre-marital education film series for college students.
“Delmer Holbrook directed the HFS from 1975 to 1982, and Betty served as director from 1982 until 1985 when HFS became part of the Department of Church Ministries. Betty continued as an associate director for Church Ministries for Family until 1988.”[2]
Ron and Karen Flowers joined the HFS team in 1980 and, after Betty retired, they continued as associates of the Church Ministries Department. Big changes took place at the 1995 General Conference Session in Utretch, Netherlands. The Department of Church Ministries was dissolved and a formal department for Family Ministries was established. The Flowers served as co-directors until their retirement in 2010.
The Flowers’ contribution to family life education is substantial. They “presented seminars on marriage, parenting, and family living in some 85 countries, instituted the Annual Family Ministries Planbooks, developed a curriculum to train directors of Family Ministries around the world, and established the Arthur and Maud Spalding Distinguished Service Medallion, the highest honor awarded by the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Family Ministries.”[3]
Following the Flower’s retirement, the Church in world session voted Willie and Elaine Oliver as co-directors of Family Ministries in June 2010. The Olivers continue the work begun a century ago by conducting marriage conferences, retreats and relationship seminars around the world. The Olivers authored the 2019 world missionary book of the year titled Hope for Today’s Families, and host a television program on the Hope Channel, Real Family Talk. They are regular contributors to Message Magazineand Adventist Worldonline.
What’s next for Family Ministries? Willie shares, “There’s so much happening with families today. People need time, they need support. The generations are different, they have so many expectations, there’s so much social media that’s taking place and we really need for the Church to provide a place and resources for families to be able to grow and to understand each other by listening to each other.”
“The more we listen to each other,” he continues, “the better and stronger the families are going to be. The truth is, when we have strong marriages, we’re more likely to have strong families. When we have strong families, we’re more likely to have a strong Church. When we have a strong Church, we’re more likely to have an opportunity to preach the gospel with power and joy and help hasten the coming of Jesus Christ.”
As Family Ministries marks their 100thanniversary, you can celebrate with them by visiting family.adventist.org/fm100, and taking advantage of the various resources available there. They’ve provided a downloadable brochure, 10 ideas to help churches commemorate the centennial, a video sketch of Family Ministries through the years, and a host of other information.
By God’s grace, the Family Ministries Department will continue to promote “Strong Marriages, Strong Families, Strong Churches for Jesus” until He comes.
[1]Taken from family.adventist.org
[2]Ibid.
[3]Ibid.
