Robyn Besemann – Family Connections Ministries, Eugene First Baptist Church, Eugene, Oregon

Strategy:
Ministering to single parents families within your church

Vision Statement:
Being the "camp mom" at our church-owned camp (3500 kids per summer),I would listen to children talk about their hurts in their broken/shattered homes. One summer, we put a little box for single parents to check if they were interested in a single parent family ministry. 450 families checked that box!!

Desired Impact:
Develop an spfm that would bring families toward Jesus and so they could find acceptance, healing and family within our church.

List of Strategy Steps:
1) Did demographic study
2) Received contact info and sent promo information out to each family
3) Held several events outside of the church building and began to build relationships w/them
4) Got a focus group of single parents to let us know how we could be effective
5) Set up a church prayer team for this ministry
6) Looked online and locally to find resources

List of Key Roles:
1) Ministry Director - Laison to pastoral staff and the church congregation; coordinator; leadership team leader
2) Leadership Team - All members had either been or were presently a single parent
3) Overseeing Pastor - to oversee all aspects of our spfm
4) Prayer Team - To keep informed on how to pray and encourage our leadership team

List of Expenses:
Very Minimal
1) Postage to send promo out
2) Paper goods for events/meals
3) Table games for families
Most was donated by people who believed in this ministry. We now have a budget for it. It doesn't take a lot of money to start an spfm up. Families just want to feel accepted and not judged.

Difficulties:
Pastors who never lived this, were unable to understand it and therefore were not very open to it.
Some older church members thought that if we had a ministry for those who had been divorced, it would mean we were condoning divorce. NOT!
Having enough finances to put on our annual single parents family camps.

Helpful Organizations:
Single Parent Family Ministries Association led by Gary Sprague (no longer going)
Church Initiative (Divorce Care, Divorce Care For Kids)
Boundaries
The Big D...Divorce T hru the Eyes of a Teen

Resources:
Linda Jacobs (hlp4.com)
Many SPFM Association conferences and workshops
Church Initiative DVD series and training
Kevin Leman - Successful Single Parenting

Results:
Family Connections Ministries is 12 years old and through those years, we have seen our church grow dramatically in numbers, grow in heart for the hurting,as well as grow in acceptance, grace and the love of God. Children in our programs have healed a lot and parents have not jumped into relationship after relationship. Family Connections is a big family now as well as families feeling part of the First Baptist family. Families also serve in other areas of the church now too. Small groups in our church also serve our single parent families when needed. We praise God for His guidance in all of this and give Him all the glory!

Contact:
Robyn Besemann
Email: robynb@fbceugene.com
Address: 3550 Fox Meadow Rd., Eugene, Oregon 97408
Phone: (541) 345-0341 ext. 259

Eugene First Baptist Church Website:
www.fbceugene.com