The Family International is an international Christian fellowship dedicated to sharing God's Word and love with others. We in The Family International seek to comfort, help and minister to those in need, endeavoring to follow the model of Jesus, who said His ministry was to "preach the Gospel to the poor... to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed, to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord" (The Gospel According to Saint Luke, chapter 4, verses 18 and 19).
There are approximately 10,000 full-time and associate adult volunteer members in The Family International working out of over 1,100 centers or communities, situated in over 100 countries. Our members live with, and when possible are joined in their ministries by, their children. We are drawn from a multitude of nationalities, more than 90 at last count.
To help achieve our broad objectives, The Family International has produced an array of inspirational publications and audio and video tapes/CDs/DVDs, which are distributed by the millions worldwide each year. Our members also regularly perform at musical benefits, and many of our communities are involved in helping the socially disadvantaged.
Members of The Family International take seriously their responsibility to be a living example of the Christian love that they preach. Following the pattern of the earliest Christians, we maintain a cooperative lifestyle, sharing our material possessions, resources and responsibilities with one another. This economical and communal way of life enhances our efforts and plays an important part in the furtherance of our work.
We also aim to ensure that the children of our members receive the best Christian upbringing we can give them. Many of our members have chosen home-based education for their children, while others who live in larger communities have established their own small schools.
Life in The Family International
Family communities, or "Homes" as they are commonly called, serve a number of purposes. They provide bases from which we conduct our outreach endeavors and Christian social work. They serve as living examples of the way we believe God intended for the peoples of the world to live; in harmony, cooperation and brotherly love.
Our Homes also provide safe, secure, stimulating, and supportive environments for our members and their children. Family Homes reflect the rich cultural and ethnic diversity of our membership, and have been likened by social scientists to a microcosm of the global community, yet without the tensions that often prevail in the world at large.
Family Homes range from small family-size residences to large "combos"—facilities which combine a number of outreach-related functions under one roof. Regardless of size, make-up, or locale, each community and its membership endeavor to uphold a Bible-based code of conduct and maintain high standards in the areas of health and hygiene, educational opportunities for the children, and a proper balance between work, recreation, and rest.
In today's fast-paced world, the traditional nuclear family is under siege, as parents find themselves with less and less time to spend with their children. To counter this trend, all Family Homes schedule at least one hour each day and one full day each week for parents and their children to spend together in family-oriented activities. This helps maintain a balance between working together as a large integrated community and nurturing strong nuclear family ties. We consider each of our children a precious gift from God. We therefore devote a great deal of time, energy, and resources to their care and upbringing.
The Family International has developed a threefold approach to education which focuses upon academic skills, vocational training and the development of Christian leadership. The cooperative lifestyle of The Family International is ideally suited to this end, as it provides our children with many unique opportunities to learn academic and practical skills, and to grow in spiritual depth and moral character.
Our children follow an orderly, progressive, and well-planned curriculum and it is an ongoing project to keep this updated and expanded on when possible with new books, videos, audio tapes, computer programs, etc. The emphasis is on the joy of learning rather than on marks, grade levels, and competition.
Through their direct participation in The Family International's outreach ministries, children in our communities learn to relate to and work with people of all ages, cultural backgrounds and economic and social standings. At early ages, they experience the greatest joy of life—that of bringing cheer and happiness to others. Although our members come from many different backgrounds and over 90 countries, we all have the same motivation and desire: to reach out to those around us with God's love, and to work together to make the world a better place for everyone. We look forward to working with you, too, in some way.
The Family International's Outreach and Mission
The Family International reaches out to help others in need. Compassion, as exemplified by the Good Samaritan Jesus spoke of goes far beyond mere sympathy: When it sees a needy situation it does something about it. Compassion puts love into action.
See the Gospel According to Saint Luke, chapter 10, verses 30 to 37.
Family members make regular visits to encourage and assist the elderly, the sick, and the disadvantaged. They also work to rehabilitate drug addicts and gang members, and offer personal counseling in prisons and juvenile detention centers.
Throughout the world, Family members offer assistance in disaster-relief efforts and refugee camps. In recent years, The Family International joined relief efforts following hurricanes Andrew and Iniki in the U.S.A.; floods in France, the U.S Midwest, Venezuela, and Mozambique; earthquakes in Maharastra, India, and Los Angeles, California, Japan and Taiwan; gas explosions in Guadalajara, Mexico; bomb blasts in Lima, Peru, and Bogota, Colombia; the Royal Plaza Hotel disaster in Korat, Thailand; and the eruption of Mount Pinatubo in the Philippines. Family members also help in refugee camps for victims of the civil war in the former Yugoslavia and Kosovo and distribute humanitarian and medical aid in Russia and other nations of the former Soviet Union.
Although our material resources are extremely limited, we have an invaluable asset--dedicated and sacrificial personnel. Our young adults and teenagers are some of our most enthusiastic, energetic, and effective workers.
The Family International endeavors to cooperate with people and organizations from all cultural and ethnic backgrounds and religious beliefs in our activities to bring genuine relief and hope to those in need. Our efforts to distribute basic necessities to the disadvantaged and devastated are frequently multiplied by the charitable contributions of like-minded individuals, businesses, and organizations. Although we do minister to people on a material level, we believe our primary purpose is to help others spiritually. We live in a materialistic world where the great values of love for God and one another are often neglected. Consequently, many people are lonely, sad, and in need of encouragement.
Our members regularly go to places where people gather, to talk, counsel, and offer help. Although we often speak to and perform for larger audiences, our primary emphasis in outreach has always been to interact with individuals on a one-on-one basis.
Many people simply need a sympathetic person to share their troubles with, so we encourage our members to be compassionate listeners. Our members come from a wide variety of backgrounds and are often able to apply the experiences that they have been through to others' situations.
For more on The Family International's outreach and projects, please visit the Projects Section of this website.
There are approximately 10,000 full-time and associate adult volunteer members in The Family International working out of over 1,100 centers or communities, situated in over 100 countries. Our members live with, and when possible are joined in their ministries by, their children. We are drawn from a multitude of nationalities, more than 90 at last count.
To help achieve our broad objectives, The Family International has produced an array of inspirational publications and audio and video tapes/CDs/DVDs, which are distributed by the millions worldwide each year. Our members also regularly perform at musical benefits, and many of our communities are involved in helping the socially disadvantaged.
Members of The Family International take seriously their responsibility to be a living example of the Christian love that they preach. Following the pattern of the earliest Christians, we maintain a cooperative lifestyle, sharing our material possessions, resources and responsibilities with one another. This economical and communal way of life enhances our efforts and plays an important part in the furtherance of our work.
We also aim to ensure that the children of our members receive the best Christian upbringing we can give them. Many of our members have chosen home-based education for their children, while others who live in larger communities have established their own small schools.
Life in The Family International
Family communities, or "Homes" as they are commonly called, serve a number of purposes. They provide bases from which we conduct our outreach endeavors and Christian social work. They serve as living examples of the way we believe God intended for the peoples of the world to live; in harmony, cooperation and brotherly love.
Our Homes also provide safe, secure, stimulating, and supportive environments for our members and their children. Family Homes reflect the rich cultural and ethnic diversity of our membership, and have been likened by social scientists to a microcosm of the global community, yet without the tensions that often prevail in the world at large.
Family Homes range from small family-size residences to large "combos"—facilities which combine a number of outreach-related functions under one roof. Regardless of size, make-up, or locale, each community and its membership endeavor to uphold a Bible-based code of conduct and maintain high standards in the areas of health and hygiene, educational opportunities for the children, and a proper balance between work, recreation, and rest.
In today's fast-paced world, the traditional nuclear family is under siege, as parents find themselves with less and less time to spend with their children. To counter this trend, all Family Homes schedule at least one hour each day and one full day each week for parents and their children to spend together in family-oriented activities. This helps maintain a balance between working together as a large integrated community and nurturing strong nuclear family ties. We consider each of our children a precious gift from God. We therefore devote a great deal of time, energy, and resources to their care and upbringing.
The Family International has developed a threefold approach to education which focuses upon academic skills, vocational training and the development of Christian leadership. The cooperative lifestyle of The Family International is ideally suited to this end, as it provides our children with many unique opportunities to learn academic and practical skills, and to grow in spiritual depth and moral character.
Our children follow an orderly, progressive, and well-planned curriculum and it is an ongoing project to keep this updated and expanded on when possible with new books, videos, audio tapes, computer programs, etc. The emphasis is on the joy of learning rather than on marks, grade levels, and competition.
Through their direct participation in The Family International's outreach ministries, children in our communities learn to relate to and work with people of all ages, cultural backgrounds and economic and social standings. At early ages, they experience the greatest joy of life—that of bringing cheer and happiness to others. Although our members come from many different backgrounds and over 90 countries, we all have the same motivation and desire: to reach out to those around us with God's love, and to work together to make the world a better place for everyone. We look forward to working with you, too, in some way.
The Family International's Outreach and Mission
The Family International reaches out to help others in need. Compassion, as exemplified by the Good Samaritan Jesus spoke of goes far beyond mere sympathy: When it sees a needy situation it does something about it. Compassion puts love into action.
See the Gospel According to Saint Luke, chapter 10, verses 30 to 37.
Family members make regular visits to encourage and assist the elderly, the sick, and the disadvantaged. They also work to rehabilitate drug addicts and gang members, and offer personal counseling in prisons and juvenile detention centers.
Throughout the world, Family members offer assistance in disaster-relief efforts and refugee camps. In recent years, The Family International joined relief efforts following hurricanes Andrew and Iniki in the U.S.A.; floods in France, the U.S Midwest, Venezuela, and Mozambique; earthquakes in Maharastra, India, and Los Angeles, California, Japan and Taiwan; gas explosions in Guadalajara, Mexico; bomb blasts in Lima, Peru, and Bogota, Colombia; the Royal Plaza Hotel disaster in Korat, Thailand; and the eruption of Mount Pinatubo in the Philippines. Family members also help in refugee camps for victims of the civil war in the former Yugoslavia and Kosovo and distribute humanitarian and medical aid in Russia and other nations of the former Soviet Union.
Although our material resources are extremely limited, we have an invaluable asset--dedicated and sacrificial personnel. Our young adults and teenagers are some of our most enthusiastic, energetic, and effective workers.
The Family International endeavors to cooperate with people and organizations from all cultural and ethnic backgrounds and religious beliefs in our activities to bring genuine relief and hope to those in need. Our efforts to distribute basic necessities to the disadvantaged and devastated are frequently multiplied by the charitable contributions of like-minded individuals, businesses, and organizations. Although we do minister to people on a material level, we believe our primary purpose is to help others spiritually. We live in a materialistic world where the great values of love for God and one another are often neglected. Consequently, many people are lonely, sad, and in need of encouragement.
Our members regularly go to places where people gather, to talk, counsel, and offer help. Although we often speak to and perform for larger audiences, our primary emphasis in outreach has always been to interact with individuals on a one-on-one basis.
Many people simply need a sympathetic person to share their troubles with, so we encourage our members to be compassionate listeners. Our members come from a wide variety of backgrounds and are often able to apply the experiences that they have been through to others' situations.
For more on The Family International's outreach and projects, please visit the Projects Section of this website.
