Faith@Home Resolution

I was blessed this past summer with the opportunity to meet with the Sr. Pastor and staff from the Crosslake, Evangelical Free Log Church in Crosslake, MN. Crosslake is a small resort community where we spend our summer as a family because my mom also lives there. The Log Church is the largest evangelical church in town that worships around 300 people during the summer months.

On a whim, or better stated Holy Spirit prompting, I sent an e-mail to Pastor Fred Cressman who serves as the Sr. Pastor of the Crosslake Log Church telling him a little about myself, the Faith@Home movement and letting him know that I was in town for the summer and would be willing to meet with him if he was interested in doing so. To my surprise he responded relatively quickly and we set up a time to get together for breakfast. What happened next was truly a God thing as the Spirit clearly united us in both vision and passion. In the months that followed I returned to lead a seminar and preach at the Log Church and the response of the people was overwhelming. It was clear that God had prepared the leadership and people of the Log Church to be a Faith@Home focused church. Following the seminar, Pastor Fred and the leaders of Crosslake church continued to drive the Faith@Home methodology deeper into their church’s DNA and recently, I received the following e-mail from Pastor Fred:

Mark,

I wanted to share the good news with you that our Elder Board and our congregation has affirmed our Faith@Home vision through the formal adoption of a Faith@Home resolution. I have included the stated resolution in this email. In addition, we are proposing that our next step be the challenge for each of us in our church to commit to a personal covenant to make nurturing faith in our homes a priority. I have also attached that document for you to look over. We have been looking for a line in the sand kind of a commitment from our church that would say to us full steam ahead and it appears that we have that.

Attached you will find the Crosslake Evangelical Free Church’s resolution and covenant which I pray will serve to inspire and motivate you to make Faith@Home a permanent part of your church’s approach to ministry.

Well done Pastor Fred and people of the Crosslake Ev. Free church! You have not only drawn a line in the sand but you have set an example for others as to the type of commitment we should all be making to be Faith@Home focused churches and individuals!

Download the Faith@Home Resolution and Convent in MS Word format

Faith@Home at NCYM

Welcome Youth Pastors, hope you enjoyed the conference.We have an entire section of our web site just for youth pastors. Feel free to check it out site and join the Faith@Home conversation to share your ideas or question.

Humbly Serving,

Mark Holmen
Email: mark@faithathome.com
Phone: 805-207-0425
Twitter: @markholmen

Children’s Devotional


This was an actual email the Mark received this week.

Had to share…

Last week, I was solo parenting  while my wife was working and had a hysterically crying baby on my hands.

I therefore had to cut my son’s story time short.  He naturally protested and asked “What about devotional and prayer?”  I told him not tonight, and put the baby to sleep.

I checked on him later that night and found the attached scene.

Just wanted to let you (Mark) know that we appreciate the materials our church provides young families and they are making a difference in our kids lives.

Thank you

Free Children's Ministry Coaching Recording

Yesterday was a great day for Faith@Home! We hosted our first online coaching session, children pastors from California to Canada participated in the one hour session. Pastor Mark was joined by Cathy Coultrip of Ventura Missionary Church, they discussed “The Take It Home Room and our favorite TIH events”.

We posted more behind the scenes photos on our Facebook page.

We are also making this coaching session available for free to anyone. This will give you an idea of Faith@Home Coaching capabilities and how easy it is to participate!

View the Children’s Ministry Coaching Sept. 22, 2010 (The session is 1 hour, and a new window will open.)

Register today!

It is not too late to register! The fee for each Faith@Home online coaching network is $300 or if your church wants to subscribe to all three networks of coaching the fee is $750. Please note that this fee is something that provides some of the financial support needed for our team of Faith@Home missionaries who have to raise their own financial support. Essentially, we are your Faith@Home missionaries and this fee helps us to serve you.

F@H Parent Coach on Fox TV

Tim Smith our Faith @Home Parent Coach was recently interviewed on “Fox and Friends”. Don’t forget to it is not too late to sign up for Parent Coaching with Tim.

Great Job Tim!

How To Be A Faith@Home Dad #8 WEAR IT WELL

“Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads.”

Wear your faith wherever you go. You have been called to be a Godly man not just at church and at home but everywhere you go. You are called to be a Godly man at work by working as if you are working for the Lord. You are called to be a Godly driver on the interstate when someone cuts you off. You are called to be a Godly man in your basketball or hockey league as well as whenever no one is looking. Remember…WWJHYD! What would Jesus have you do? Christianity is not something you simply turn on and off. You are called to be like Christ in all you do.
Now Available! Order Today Faith Begins at Home Dad

FBAH Dad

Faith Begins at Home Dad by Mark Holmen

How To Be A Faith@Home Dad #7 TELL THE STORY

I can guess that you may be feeling a little overwhelmed at your role and responsibility of building faith in your child. You may be asking, “How am I going to do this? I never had faith conversations in my home with my parents. How am I supposed to do this with my child? What am I supposed to tell them?” Let’s look at the Deuteronomy passage again for the answer.

“Tell him: ‘We were slaves of Pharaoh in Egypt, but the Lord brought us out of Egypt with a mighty hand. Before our eyes the Lord sent miraculous signs and wonders—great and terrible—upon Egypt and Pharaoh and his whole household.  But he brought us out from there to bring us in and give us the land that he promised on oath to our forefathers.’”.

What do you tell your child? The story. You don’t have to be a theologian. You simply have to know YOUR story of God has impacted your life and then simply tell that story to your children. Don’t be intimidated. You can do this. It’s not that difficult. And if you need help, then go to a Christian church because the role of the church is to be a life-long partner, not a replacement, to help you know and tell the story.

Now Available! Order Today Faith Begins at Home Dad

FBAH Dad

Faith Begins at Home Dad by Mark Holmen

Faith@Home Mom Insight #8

“Fear the LORD your god, serve him only and take your oaths in his name. Do not follow other gods, the gods of the peoples around you:” One of the things we have talked quite a bit about in this bible study group is the following of only one God. The girls and I have talked about Scientology, yoga, horoscopes, and other spiritually borderline stuff. We have talked about others they know who believe a little of everything to make up what they “justify” as their belief system. We have wrestled with the whys and we have talked about what people “make up” to worship. We have explored where these combo meals get people. The conclusion of these 13 year old girls was that it missed the mark. The full covering came from only one source and there was peace and comfort in all that. The be careful part of this verse is you really have to watch what seeps into your belief system and you have to watch what you pass on to your kids. They are watching who you give all the glory to. Make the choice easy for them; pick only one…THE only one!

Now Available! Order Today Faith Begins at Home Mom
Faith Begins @ Home Mom

Faith Begins at Home Prayer Insight #7

With busy schedules, it is hard to find a time when everyone can gather for prayer. However, wait and make the time for this. Don’t fall for the trap of, “Let’s just do it without him or her. It’s easier that way.” Just because it may be easier doesn’t mean its best. In fact, often the easier path is usually not the right path. Encourage everyone to participate even if it is via phone, Internet, or silently standing with you.

Now Available! Order Today Faith Begins at Home Prayer

Faith Begins at home Prayer

How To Be A Faith@Home Dad #6 COMMIT

I am a life-long Chicago Cubs, Bears, and Bulls fan. I have all the paraphernalia to prove it and I will never root for another team ahead of my beloved Bulls, Bears, and Cubs. I have lived in Minnesota Vikings country and I didn’t care. I wore my Bears jersey proudly. I now live in Los Angeles Dodger country yet I still put on my Cubs uniform and go cheer my Cubbies on whenever they come to play the Dodgers. Do I take a lot of grief and ridicule, especially when the Dodgers take the Cubs out in the playoffs, which just about killed me? Absolutely! But do I care? Not a bit. I am committed to my teams.

Can you be as committed to loving and serving the one true God as you are to your favorite sports team? Can you stay committed to following God even when you get ridiculed for it? You clearly have the ability to commit yourself to something. Will you commit yourself to God?

Now Available! Order Today Faith Begins at Home Dad

FBAH Dad

Faith Begins at Home Dad by Mark Holmen