Family Ministry School (FMS)
“Your people will rebuild the ancient ruins, and will raise up the age-old foundations; you will be called Repairer of Broken Walls, Restorer of Streets with Dwellings.” Isaiah 58:12
IntroductionTop ↑
This course introduces students to the biblical foundations of marriage and family life. It has been designed to give biblical and practical training in ministering to families and targets five major themes related to effective ministry to families:
- The biblical model of family
- God’s design for marriage
- Godly parenting
- Christian family counseling principles
- The role of the family in ministry
It is a 12 to 24 week course (dependent on an optional 8 to 12 week Field Assignment) starting in January each year for singles, couples and families who sense a call of God on their lives to help restore family life to God’s intended pattern. Students can anticipate growth and development in their personal lives, in their families and in their ability to minister to other families. This course prepares students to disciple other families through the use of family camps, marriage seminars, relationship seminars and parenting seminars. Students are also introduced to premarital counseling tools in the school so they can effectively prepare couples for marriage.
This course seeks to help families discover their destiny and to train them to minister as a family. It also seeks to train individuals and families to minister in cross-cultural settings and to understand the impact of culture on marriage and family life.
All perspective YWAM Family Ministry staff leaders are encouraged to take this course and field assignment in preparation for a ministry to families.
The FMS is our primary vehicle to multiply ministry to families nationally and internationally.
Scenes from our classroomsTop ↑
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EligibilityTop ↑
Completion of a Discipleship Training School and Field Assignment (UofN Course codes: IDS 701/702 or IDS 703/704) is the usual requirement and we strongly recommend that people do a DTS before doing the FMS because it establishes a foundation for them in YWAM and its values.
However we do allow people to do the FMS in some circumstances without having done a DTS. If you do this, the FMS will be classed as a seminar for you. The following conditions will apply: You will not be registered with the University of the Nations and will not receive any credits towards a degree in the University of the Nations. If you later wish to do further courses in YWAM you will probably have to do a DTS first. You will not be eligible to go on staff in YWAM until you have done a DTS. You will not receive a University of the Nations certificate at the end of the course.
Basic StructureTop ↑
The Family Ministries School (FMS) is a 12-24 week school with two distinct phases. Phase one is a 12 week classroom segment which utilizes lectures, discussions, workshops, small group interactions and personal study. The close community of students and staff provides an environment where the application of skills learned can be worked out practically. Phase two is the field assignment or outreach which provides practical experience where the knowledge, skills and character qualities learned in the lecture phase, including the family and parenting seminars, are put into practice in a mission field setting.
I. Lecture Phase
During the twelve weeks lecture phase, FMS staff and experienced National and International speakers, (including pastors and counselors) will teach on the areas of:
- Marriage Family Counseling
- The biblical basis for the family
- Phases of child development
- Children’s Ministry
- Preparation for marriage
- Parenting children
- Stress and grief
- Communication in marriage
- Bi-cultural families
- Family Systems
- Solving conflicts
- Dysfunctional families
- Counseling skills
(For a more detailed list of topics, please refer to UofN FMS Curriculum Guidelines and FMS Learning Objectives Please note that these information are provided as a reference only. Exact topics covered for each school will be determined by each FMS School Leader and Staff team.)
Each student will be required to do a research project on a topic relating to family or marriage. If there is any particular area that you would like to research, it may be advisable to bring related material with you. This project will be handed in at the end of the school for marking and students will be required to give an oral presentation, to the class, of the research they have done.
The specific strength of our program is that students completing the FMS can expect to participate in running parenting and marriage seminars and be equipped to help families return to Biblical standards. At the end of the FMS you’ll have your own teaching materials (in the form of overheads, Power Points, hand outs, short teaching skits), plus counseling and seminar skills.
During the lecture phase Students will also be expected to:
- Hand in an assignment each week summarising what they have learnt the previous week.
- Read 2 books and write a report on them.
- Take part in small groups/buzz groups.
- Meet one on one with a staff person on a regular basis to discuss their progress.
- Learn Memory Verses each week.
- Attend base worship and intercession.
- Take part in work duties to help in the running of the base.
- In the last week of the school an exam will be held
II. Field Assignment
See Outreach/Field Assignment under “FMS Field Assignment”