In response to the overwhelming needs of parents and families, Jim Burns founded HomeWord in 1985. Today—now more than ever before— there is an unprecedented desire among families and leaders to obtain resources and training that will build strong marriages, confident parents, empowered kids, and healthy leaders.
In these unpredictable times, HomeWord is uniquely equipped to provide the resources desired to prepare leaders and parents and restore families.
HOMEWORD’S FOUR PILLARS:
- Strong Marriages – Our goal is to be a global leader in the area of strengthening couples in their marriages and in preparation for marriage.
- Confident Parents – Our desire is for parents to have the resources they need to raise Christ-centered kids in our ever-challenging culture.
- Empowered Kids – HomeWord is focused on helping kids make right and wise decisions. Young people are the reason we exist.
- Healthy Leaders – Jim Burns and Doug Fields have been two of the major leaders in youth ministry worldwide and they are using their leadership and talents to help the next generation of leaders in the fields of youth and family ministry.
America’s Parents Have Tremendous Needs
Consider that:
- Between 1960 and 2016, the percentage of children under the age of 18 living in families with two parents decreased from 88 to 69.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Families and Living Arrangments, 2016. - In 2016, of the 73.7 million children under the age of 18 in the U.S., 20.2 million lived in single-parent homes.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau – Families and Living Arrangements: 2016. - 85.1% of single parents of children under 18 are mothers; 14.9% are fathers.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau – Families and Living Arrangements: 2016. - U.S. Teens, (grades 9-12) :
- 17.2% seriously considered attempting suicide
- 13.6% made a plan for committing suicide
- 7.8% attempted suicide
- 31.5% felt so sad or hopeless that they stopped doing some usual activities
- 28.9% tried cigarette smoking
- 42.2% vaped
- 60.4% drank alcohol
- 35.6% used marijuana
- 14% took prescription pain medication without a doctor’s prescription
- 28.7% were sexually active in the past three months
Source: CDC: Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance, U.S., 2017.
- Studies reveal that 85% of the people who make a commitment to Jesus Christ make the decision by the age of 18, or they never will.
- Churches are generally not equipped to respond to the needs of parents
Values
HomeWord’s values guide the heart of our ministry.
- A Commitment to Christ: We acknowledge Christ as the head of our organization and submit ourselves and all our activities to His will. (Ephesians 1:22-23)
- A Commitment to the Church: We support the church as God’s primary institution for sharing the love of God and the message of Jesus Christ. (Ephesians 5: 23-24)
- A Commitment to Family: We support the spiritual nurture of the family as one of God’s primary means to perpetuate the Christian faith from generation to generation. (Deuteronomy 6: 4-9; 2 Timothy 1:5)
- A Commitment to Cultural Relevance: We believe our ministry should be culturally relevant without compromising biblical absolutes. (1 Corinthians 9:19-23)
- A Commitment to Relationships: We are committed to cultivating deep abiding Christ-like relationships both within and outside our organization. (1 Corinthians 13)
- A Commitment to Integrity: We are committed to being truthful, accountable, and forthright in all that we do. (Proverbs 2:7)
- A Commitment to Ministry Excellence: We will constantly evaluate our forms and methods for ministry, seeking maximum ministry effectiveness in delivery of our mission. (Colossians 3:23)