WHAT IS THE FAMILY INTERNATIONAL?

The Family International is a Christian movement dedicated to sharing God's Word and love with others. We 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 Bible, Luke chapter 4, verses 18-19 NKJ).

As of 2007, the Family International has over 7,000 full-time and associate adult volunteer members working out of over 1,000 communities or "Homes" situated in over 90 countries, and drawn from nearly 100 nationalities. Our missionary fellowship is international, cross cultural, and multiracial—dedicated to tending to the spiritual needs of as many people in as many languages and nations possible, by whatever means possible. To effectively fulfill our ministry, our full-time members are organized around a unique cooperative communal lifestyle.

OUR MISSION

The primary goal of the Family International is to share with others the life-giving message from God's Word of love, hope, and salvation through Jesus Christ. We seek to help others come to know Jesus Christ as their personal Savior and experience the joy, peace, and fulfillment that comes from including the Lord and His Word in their daily lives.

We believe that God's love, applied on a practical level to our daily lives, is the solution to many of society's problems. We devote our time to helping people find answers to the problems and difficulties that they face through faith in God and His Word, so they can change themselves, and by extension, the world around them.

We also aim to provide assistance to the needy, both spiritually and materially. Many of our communities are involved in relief work or helping the socially disadvantaged in some form. (Visit thefamilyinternational.org for details of the Family's missionary and humanitarian work around the world.)

Our communities organize and host Bible-based studies, retreats, and seminars. One of our goals is to train others in Christian leadership skills so that they can also provide help and counsel to others, and spread the good news. We believe that every Christian is called to do his or her part to change the world by being a sample of God's love and sharing that love with others, As the apostle Paul taught, "And the things that you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also" (2 Timothy 2:2).

In nearly 40 years, Family members have lived and/or worked in 170 of the world's approximately 200 nations. We personally preach the Gospel to an average of over 20,000 people a day. Of those, to date over 31 million have prayed with us to accept God's salvation through Jesus. We have also produced and distributed over 951 million pieces of Christian literature including 126 million inspirational posters, 12 million tapes and CDs of Christian music and inspirational talks and dramas, and 2.1 million of our various award-winning character-building videos for children.

OUR MESSAGE

God is love, and He loved humanity so much that He sent His Son, Jesus Christ, to Earth to show His love. Jesus loved, healed, and brought hope to many, and then was persecuted and crucified. But three days later He rose from the dead, conquering death! Jesus willingly died on the cross for humanity, so that by receiving Him as our Savior we could be forgiven for our sins and be guaranteed a place in Heaven. The Bible says, "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life" (John 3:16 NKJ).

We believe that each of us can have a personal relationship with God through Jesus, giving us the supernatural love and strength of spirit we need to obtain happiness and peace of mind. He can also speak to our hearts and give us direction, guidance, and solutions to the challenges we face and help us to rise above the problems that threaten to rob us of our joy and inspiration.

We also look forward to the day, which we believe is in the not-too-distant future, when Jesus Christ will return to Earth at His Second Coming. He will rule the Earth with righteousness, love, mercy, goodness, and kindness. He will stop all wars, banish hatred and lack of love, and create a wonderful glorious Kingdom of Love here on Earth!

Immediately prior to this, however, according to Scripture, the world will be plunged into an unprecedented time of turmoil and religious persecution, referred to in the Bible as the "Great Tribulation" (Matthew 24:21). Part of our message focuses on how to be prepared for these coming events.

OUR BELIEFS

Our basic beliefs are the same as those held by hundreds of millions of Christians the world over, including salvation by grace and acceptance of Jesus as one's personal Savior. However, some of our doctrines are considered unconventional. We respect other Christian denominations as different parts of the Body of Christ, each with their own particular emphases, doctrines, and vocations. (For a fuller explanation of our beliefs, please see The Family International's "Statement of Faith," available online at thefamilyinternational.org.)

Our beliefs and lifestyle are based on the "Law of Love" that Jesus taught: "to love God, and to love our neighbor as ourselves" which He said fulfils "all the law and the prophets" (Matthew 22:37-40). Our belief in this principle, and our application of it to our everyday behavior and activities, is a defining feature of our lives.

We also believe that God still speaks today and will give help, guidance and encouragement to those who ask Him. He loves us so much that He not only wants to communicate with us through His written Word, but also directly. He created a means of two-way communication, a channel so that we can talk to Him in prayer and in reply receive personal guidance from Him.

OUR PUBLICATIONS

In order to achieve its objectives, the Family International produces an array of devotional, inspirational, and teaching publications in printed, audio, video, and multimedia form. These materials are distributed to millions worldwide each year, in all major world languages. Our products include devotional books for both adults and children, teaching the basics of Christian faith and its application today. For example, one series of books—From Jesus with Love—features messages received directly from Jesus Christ on a variety of topics relevant to our daily lives such as our relations with others, coping with stress, comfort in times of trial or sickness, old age, etc. Music is an important part of our missionary outreach, and our members regularly perform at benefits and other occasions for young and old.

One of our notable publications is a monthly magazine, Activated, which is published in over 20 languages worldwide. Each issue deals with topics relevant to everyday living, bringing an understanding of how to put God's spiritual truths and principles into practice and activate His power in our daily lives.

Those who would like further spiritual training are invited to attend classes and seminars offered by Family communities, such as the 12 Foundation Stones course. This course is generally taught by Family instructors as a series of weekly classes, and is also available as a long-distance learning course. Lasting three to six months, the 12 Foundation Stones training course covers a wide spectrum of fundamental topics of Christian faith, including prayer, reading God's Word, the Bible, hearing from God personally, relations with others, etc.

GIVING CHILDREN A BRIGHTER FUTURE

The Family International has produced three series of videos for children—Kiddie Viddie, Treasure Attic, and Fantastic Friends—as well as music CDs. The videos feature Family children and teenagers performing original songs that teach practical and character-building lessons in a fun, fast-moving way that kids around the world relate to and enjoy. Our videos have received widespread acclaim from parents and educators alike, and some titles are now available in 24 languages. Concerned individuals, businesses, and civic associations, by way of Family sponsorship programs, have donated many sets of these videos and music CDs to schools, orphanages, hospitals, and other institutions for disadvantaged or handicapped children.

We also produce a variety of character-building books for children written by Family members. Some of these books are devotional, such as Jesus and Me and the Feed My Lambs course, which familiarizes young children with important basic Bible verses and places them in a modern context by means of lively illustrations. Others, like Grandpa Jake's Storybook, feature fun stories that focus on moral and family values such as friendship, honesty, and consideration. Yet others, such as the Early Bird Readers and the STEPS program, are more educational in nature, while still highlighting Christian and moral values. These and other products distributed by the Family International are published by Swiss-based Aurora Production AG (www.auroraproduction.com).

HELP FOR THE NEEDY

The goal of the Family International is to serve God by rendering loving service to our fellow man. We do this by offering spiritual help as well as material aid where and when we can. The Bible tells us in James 2:15-17 (NKJ), "If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food, and one of you says to them, 'Depart in peace, be warmed and filled,' but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit? Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead."

Family communities often collaborate with other organizations, both Christian and non-Christian, in order to maximize their efforts. Family communities also work together on projects, sometimes adopting a local name to identify their ministry. The Family International Worldwide Activity Report, published monthly, features articles on current and ongoing projects that members of our movement are engaged in.

Our volunteers aid victims of disasters by collecting, shipping, and personally distributing relief supplies on the scene where possible. Because we have communities all over the world, we're in a unique position to be able to respond quickly to local disasters. In addition to acquiring and distributing physical aid, we especially focus on counseling and the spiritual encouragement of those affected by such disasters, something not usually provided by other relief organizations. We have found that this is often the greatest need in order to help people rebuild their lives or cope with the loss of loved ones.

Our members also work with the organizers of homeless shelters, food kitchens, and refugee camps to provide food, clothing, medical care, and other basic necessities, as well as meaningful entertainment—particularly for children—and comforting musical inspiration. In many cases, members of our movement serve as links between civic-minded businesses or individuals and needy situations. Family volunteers identify the need, solicit the donations of goods, services, or financial aid from those who have the means to help, and then deliver the donated items to ensure their proper usage. In addition to providing material assistance, our volunteers offer comfort and counsel, hope and faith, and a listening ear.

Our members conduct regular visitation programs at hospitals, orphanages, children's homes and institutions worldwide. We stage musical and theatrical performances for sick or disadvantaged children, encouraging them as they struggle to come to terms with their sicknesses or plight. Visits at hospitals for children suffering from cancer and other debilitating or terminal illnesses have been particularly welcomed. In cases where institutions receive insufficient support, Family communities often help to arrange sponsorship and donations of food, clothing, shoes, school supplies, and toys.

An important part of our ministry is to counsel and encourage the staff of these institutions, who are often overtaxed and greatly in need of emotional support. In many areas, classes or seminars are held for the caregivers, which include practical, motivational, and teaching tips. Our members also visit senior citizens in nursing homes, retirement centers, and at home, bringing solace, entertainment, practical help, and material support as our resources allow.

Many Family communities conduct programs in prisons and institutes for juvenile offenders. Simple musical or meaningful theatrical performances are features of these visits and have been very effective in motivating individuals there to turn their lives around for the better. Family volunteers also engage in individual counseling that has time and again restored a sense of personal worth to the inmates, helped them come to terms with their past, resulted in a decision to contribute positively to society, and imparted to them a personal knowledge of God's love and forgiveness.

OUR PRIMARY MISSION: RESTORING THE SOUL

Our efforts range beyond providing food and clothing to those whose stomachs are empty and whose clothes are thin, to providing spiritual food and clothing to those whose hearts are empty and whose souls grow thin. Jesus gave us an important key to happiness when He explained that "people don't live by food alone, but by every word that comes out of the mouth of God" (Matthew 4:4).

Spiritual words of life are as essential as physical food for our total health, and we consider the care of the soul our most important mission. Even those who have their physical needs well taken care of can be spiritually impoverished—sometimes even more than those materially less fortunate.

Many need help to overcome bitterness, resentment, the loss of those dear to them, mental or emotional abuse, fear of the future, anxiety, or souls stifled and left empty by materialism and plenty. Some are faced with daunting afflictions, even incurable diseases, or the pain of bearing with a loved one engaged in such a struggle. Others are tormented by painful hurts they've inflicted on others, or themselves, or fight alcoholism or substance abuse. Making a positive difference in the world by changing lives for the better, even one life at a time, is the goal that we work day in and day out to accomplish.

We accomplish these goals primarily through personal counseling, classes, and seminars. Our goal is to help people to grow toward a personal relationship with Jesus, to provide encouragement and reassurance that there is Someone Who loves them and Who is personally interested in helping them in whatever area of their lives they have a need. We actively seek out those who are in need spiritually, and we reach out to everyone regardless of his or her race, religion, culture, or social standing.

OUR FOUNDER AND LEADERSHIP

In 1968, David Brandt Berg (1919-1994), a Christian pastor, began an outreach ministry to the counterculture ("hippie") youth in Huntington Beach, California, USA. From these humble beginnings, what started primarily as a youth group grew to become an international Christian missionary movement.

David was the founder and pastor of the Family International. He taught that the Bible was God's standard, the yardstick of measurement by which all truth and all error could be measured. Many of our publications are based upon his writings.

After leading the Family International for 25 years, David passed away in late 1994. His wife of 25 years, Maria, is now remarried and leads the Family International together with her husband, Peter. Like David, Maria continues to publish many writings on a variety of spiritual and practical topics.

FAMILY STRUCTURE AND GOVERNMENT

The Family International's Charter outlines the principles, goals, and governance of the Family International. It also outlines the rights, responsibilities, and requirements of full-time Family membership, as well as our fundamental rules, structure, procedures, and methods of operation.

Our Charter was adopted in 1995, with amendments being made in subsequent years. Each aspect of the Charter is based on biblical principles as well as the writings of our founder, David Brandt Berg. These guidelines also provide opportunity for Family members to follow what they believe is God's will for them personally, to collectively manage and govern their own communities, and to freely operate according to their own initiative.

 

FAMILY MEMBERSHIP

All Family members have received Jesus Christ as their Savior and have been baptized with the Holy Spirit. Each Family member believes he or she has been called by God to serve Him within our particular movement in some capacity.

We believe that it is a high privilege for a believer to affirmatively respond to Christ's challenge to follow Him as a full-time disciple. We also believe that Jesus' call to such full-time service remains essentially unchanged from that which He issued to the fishermen on the shores of Galilee long ago, "Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men" (Matthew 4:19). As was the case with the first Apostles and disciples, so we believe it is today; that the Lord has called us to wholly commit ourselves to Him, to follow His teachings and His example, fully devoting our lives to Him out of love and gratitude for His sacrifice for us.

Family membership is currently divided into the following categories:

Family disciples: Family members who live in a Family community, who regularly engage in missionary outreach, tithe 10% of their income, and abide by the responsibilities of Family disciples and Homes as outlined in the Family International's Charter.

Missionary members: Family members who may or may not live in a communal Family Home, who regularly engage in missionary outreach, tithe 10% of their income, and abide by the Missionary Member Statues, which outline the membership requirements for this level of fellowship.

Fellow members: members who espouse Family teachings and tithe 10% of their income to help support Family operations, with a less rigorous level of commitment and fewer membership requirements than Family disciples or Missionary members.

Active members: those who believe in Family doctrine, receive our monthly membership magazine—Link, and work with and sponsor Family communities in some capacity.

General members: those associated with the Family International in some way, such as through receiving our literature regularly and/or working with us on missionary or humanitarian projects.

There are no restrictions to membership with regards to race, color, culture, gender, or nationality. Membership in the Family International is voluntary, and all members must sincerely believe they are called by the Lord to work with our movement at the level of membership they choose, receive the approval of the local Family community, and be willing to abide by the guidelines governing their level of membership. Those wishing to change their membership level or discontinue it altogether and pursue another vocation may do so at any time.

FAMILY COMMUNITIES

Members of the Family International take seriously their responsibility to be a living example of the Christian love and dedication that they preach. Following the pattern of the earliest Christians, Family disciples and many Missionary members maintain a cooperative lifestyle, sharing 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.

Each Family community functions independently, elects its leadership, and determines its goals, direction, and activities, by the vote of its members.

Each community is also financially autonomous, and thus its members are responsible to raise the support and finances necessary for their community as well as their particular mission or social welfare projects. Family communities and their projects are generally sponsored by local businesses or individuals, as well as through the sale and/or distribution of inspirational and/or educational books and audio-video products. Full-time Family members dedicate their full time and efforts to their mission. In other levels of Family membership, secular employment is more common.

Individual members are expected to find the will of God for themselves. They are encouraged to seek counsel from other Family members, particularly those in their own community, but are responsible for their own decisions. Individuals and families also decide which community they choose to live in, providing the receiving community agrees to and is able to accept them.

World Services, the administrative arm of the Family International, is responsible to receive and manage tithes from Family communities. These tithes are used for the creation and publishing of numerous internal publications, including outreach and parenting aids, which are sent free to Family communities; aid to Family communities in developing countries; sponsorship of a wide variety of Family projects to assist communities in their outreach, home life, and the care of their children.

FAMILIES: MARRIAGE AND CHILDREN

Marriage, according to the Scripture, is the union of a man and a woman, as husband and wife. Members of the Family International who choose to marry enter into a covenant together between themselves and God, committing themselves to love, care, and be responsible for one another and their children.

In recognition of the importance of our members' care of their children, a substantial part of our governing Charter is dedicated to outlining the rights of children and parents, as well as the responsibilities of the parents and the Family communities in which they reside, to provide a loving, safe, and nurturing environment for children.

We believe that children are given to their parents to love, care for, and raise in a godly manner. Primary responsibility for the welfare of children rests with their parents, but because of our faith and co-operative lifestyle, the raising of children is also a community affair, as parents share the child-rearing duties together with others in the Home.

Family parents and communities are responsible to ensure that each child receives a proper education. Homeschooling is highly encouraged due to its many benefits, and therefore most parents in the Family International choose to educate their children at home so the children can receive caring, concerned teaching and supervision, which correspond with our Christian values.

We strive to provide our children with positive home-study learning environments which encourage each child to discover his or her unique gifts, talents and abilities, to come to know God in a deep and personal way, and to develop qualities in their lives that reflect the life of Jesus. We believe that not only is the Christian lifestyle, environment, and education we give our children essential for their spiritual growth and well-being, but that we are morally obliged to train our children in this way in obedience to God and His Word.

It is our hope that as many of our children as possible will grow up to serve God and others. However, as they come of age, it is up to them to choose whether they wish to devote their lives to serving God in the Family International, or whether they prefer to pursue other careers. We believe and expect that parents should do what they can to make their children's transition to another lifestyle as smooth as possible, assisting them within their available resources and extending to them unconditional love and support, so that they can be productive members of society in whatever career they choose.

CONTROVERSY

• It is a sad commentary on the world today that believers of many faiths are subject to intolerance, discrimination, and persecution. Such problems also exist for adherents of new religions, popularly labeled as "sects" or demonized as "cults." The Family International, being a non-traditional Christian group, has been no exception.
• Opponents of our movement—including apostates, anti-"cult" organizations, and media factions—have made sensational allegations about us, which even led to civil authorities in several countries carrying out violent raids on our communities in the early '90s. In some instances our members and their children were brutally mistreated and children forcibly separated from their parents and placed in government institutions. However, after extensive physical, psychological, and educational testing, each and every child was returned to the care of his or her parents, the courts decisively concluding that all had been well cared for.
• Subsequent investigations exonerated our members, indicating clearly that the allegations were false. Some courts went further to decry this unwarranted horrific treatment of Family members and the violation of our rights.
• The findings of courts who have investigated our movement are documented in our publication "Religious Freedom on Trial: A review of judicial findings on The Family" (available at thefamilyinternational.org).

BUILDING A BETTER WORLD

In an increasingly multicultural and multiracial society, where national borders have become blurred and ethnic disputes more common, the need for tolerance and respect towards all people, regardless of race, ethnicity, cultural or religious background, or place in society, is crucial.

As Christians, we consider it an inherent component of our faith to extend a hand of acceptance to all, offering them a Gospel that makes no distinctions as to color, race, culture, or nationality. Jesus Christ said that God has given us two great principles to live by—to love God and to love our neighbor (Matthew 22:36-40).

Through sharing God's words of hope, love, and salvation, we believe that we can work towards building a better world; firstly by growing closer to God ourselves, and secondly, helping those around us likewise establish a personal relationship with Him—changing hearts one by one. May you and your loved ones be blessed with the precious gifts of God's love and peace.

FOR MORE INFORMATION

The Family International's activities are documented in the monthly newsletter titled The Family International Worldwide Activity Report, as well as found on the International Family website at thefamilyinternational.org. The website also hosts a sampling of our publications.

Other sites highlighting the Family International's work in various countries, or in other languages, can be found at: www.thefamily.org/links.

A list of scholarly examinations of the Family International and its beliefs by respected academics can be found here: www.thefamily.org/about/thirdparty.php.

 

HOW CAN I GET IN TOUCH?

Australia — aus_fam@bigpond.net.au

Brazil — afamilia@afamilia.org

Europe and Africa — info@thefamilyeurope.org

Japan — mail@family.gr.jp

Latin America — familia@lafamilia.org

Taiwan — mail@thefamily-chinese.org

Thailand — family@thaifamily.org

U.S. — family@thefamily.org

 

Family Information Desk

27 Old Gloucester Street

London WC1N 3XX

England

 

The Family International

2020 Pennsylvania Ave NW

PMB 102

Washington, D.C. 20006-1846

USA