The purpose of the school is to train you to set up seminars, camps, and family ministry programs in your nation and equip you to counsel couples and families.

The FMS focuses on eight core sections:

1. World View of Family/Biblical Foundations - To give students an understanding of the biblical view of marriage and family life.

2. The Marriage Relationship - To give students basic instruction and input regarding the marriage relationship. To equip students in the use of a premarital preparation tool.

3. A Marriage Seminar - To equip students with a marriage seminar package.

4. Parenting Issues - To give students basic, introductory, biblical material regarding parenting issues.

5. A Parenting Seminar - To equip students with a parenting seminar.

6. Family Systems - To introduce the students to the concept of family systems counseling and basic family systems tools.

7. Counseling Techniques and Skills - To introduce students to basic counseling skills and techniques.

8. The Role of the Family in Ministry - To train families to minister together and to fulfill their destiny in ministry and missions.

It is possible to do a two months field assignment following the lecture phase in order to integrate previous classroom studies with practical service application. Students serve on teams which conduct marriage and parenting seminars, and also help in planning and conducting family camps. They participate in a limited amount of supervised family counseling throughout the program. For students with families, the field assignment affords opportunities for the family to minister together as a team.

What some of the students do now

Here are just a few examples of people who took the Family Ministry School and what they do with their training.

Alyona and Sasha (Ukraine): among other things they lead out in a film project called "Let's Talk About..." that raises awareness for family issues in the Ukrainian public via TV and public showings. Find out more about the project.

Jong Chel and Hyun Joo (Cambodia) have a heart to see Cambodian families restored. They initiated several community development projects and interviewed hundreds of families.

Arthur & Eva (Palawan, Philippines) are teaching approx. 60 parents in the "Parent's University" of the Christ Life Church twice a month. This is a required program for all parents whose children attend the freely provided pre-school.

Ivan (Bulgaria) set up a website in Bulgaria that provides resources, teaching and consulting in family related areas for Bulgarians. Find out more about this project.

Mel and Brenda (Philippines): among leading Family Ministry Schools and other things Mel and Brenda run a Student Sponsorship program that enables children of poor families to receive education. Find out more about this project.

Vlado and Renata (Slovakia) initiated Marriage Week in Slovakia. It was launched in Slovakia for the first time in 2011 and had a very promising start. Find out more.

Andreas and Angela (Germany) wrote a book about raising a family while being in ministry. Find out more.

Stephan and Eva (Switzerland) lead a family adventure camp every summer. Find out more.

Mathias and Susanna (Germany) also wrote a book that helps couples to prepare themselves for marriage. Apart from that they regularly teach on this and other marriage related topics.