I know some have been waiting for me to post on this topic-- and I have been wanting to, but so many other things (house purchases falling thru, goat deaths, etc) have been screaming for my attention.  And NOW my dear friend has beat me to the punch... (not really) but it is so interesting how much her posts and mine line up.... ) 

What is FIC?  Family Intergrated Church

Well... I have been curious about the Family Intergrated Church "movement" for quite sometime.  and after listenting to many of these:

The Centrality of the Home in Evangelism and Discipleship

Why the Church Needs the Family and the Family Needs the Church

What is a Family-Integrated Church? (7 CDs)

my desire to really visit one was very high.   For many reasons it just never happend that we could visit one.  However, when we saw there was one  local--and Jason had a weekend off-- we decided to go for it...and I did post about it that first week on my MOMY's board-- these were our first thoughts:  (from back in April)

We thought according to the website it started at 10:30--but that was changed -- it starts at 11am- There is a class being taught at 10:30 on Greek.

So there were acutually quite a few families in the other building (they meet at a Farmers market) that we were able to meet and REALLY talk with- and Oh-- can I just say-- the Likemindedness was OUT OF THIS WORLD!! (literally) it was so not ackward-- we talked and talked and we all had very much of the same ideas on many things-- but most importantly many sentences began with "The Lord has--" and that was awesome-- Jason was able to REALLY REALLY talk with 3-4 men and again-- it was so refreshing for him to talk to men about more than just the daily "druge" but about what the Lord is doing---

Then they lined up and had a word of prayer (w/ requests) and walked over to the other building where they lined up and read a Psalm and I beleive sang a song.-- this was all while they were lined up before entering where the pews were... (that was a bit different for us)

Then we sat and -- the service began-- one gentleman is working his way thru the Books of the Law with the congergation and this was on Ex. 23.... that was very interesting.. They call it "Case Law Studies"

Then right now each month they are taking a book of the Bible (in order) and going thru it-- the way it worked today and most days (I believe) is 3-4 men in the congergation stood up (one at a time of course) read a chapter of the book (yesterday was Joshua) and shared what they learned from that book-- then they sang a quick song and the next man and so forth for 3-4 men-- then the Pastor stood up and wrapped it all up (very nicely)....

They then had prayer-- and the pastor led, and other men of the congergation were able to add in as led.

They then had communion (the fathers went up and got the elements for their family).

Then it was over- guess the time------ 2:40pm!!

The only down side to the whole day-- it was like 100' in that building!! REALLY it was hot-- they had some fans-- but many babies were hot and miserable-- sweaty and tired (mine especially)... They did tell us afterwards it is usually not that bad they try to get some a/c from the other building over there... wehewwwww- But you know... Missionaries all over the world deal with MUCH harsher conditions than that-- i am just a spoiled American!!

They then stay for a meal (but we left-- too many hot and tired babies) and they said some do not leave for the day till around 5pm! This is their Lord's Day and day of Fellowship with fellow beleivers.

So I really really enjoyed it-- And of course all the families were together-- and there were many babies and toddlers-- that mamma's had to deal with-- but it was still a very sweet time--

Last evening dh laid down (he had to work last night) and a gentleman from the church called and ds told him daddy was sleeping-- so the gentleman said he would call back later-- This morning we had an e-mail from one family that said they had called to invite us over for some HM Icecream at their home that evening-- but since it didn't work out--they would love to try to get together another time---

Oh it was such a sweet time--

It was LONG and HOT-- but other than that-- I don't know when I've been around so many like-minded people--EVER!!!!

Does anyone elses worship last that long? 11-2:30(ish)??? Just curious--this was a stretch for the boys-- (since they are used to SS during church).    When I asked them what they thought--

Zach- I don't wanna go back-- I asked why-- he said he didn't like being that hot-- I asked what if it was cooler-- he said "oh yea- then I'd like to go back"

Josh- Was disappointed he didn't get any bread/juice (not understanding really that was not a "snack")--but other than that-- yeah- he'd like to go back too-

Jason- dh- Yes he REALLY REALLY liked the men and the family atmosphere-- but it was HOT-- and usually dh works nights (including Saturday into Sunday) and that would make a LONG morning for him right now-- but other than that-- he really enjoyed it too...

So those were our first thoughts-- since then we have been back about 4-5 times and I can attest-- it has been MUCH COOLER!!    And we have really been able to connect and get to know many of the families (it is a smaller church probably only 10 or so families).   We have since stayed for all the meals/picnics which has afforded us even more opportunity to share and fellowship.   We have even been able to visit outside of Sundays 1 family in particular. 

Zachary and Joshua have made many "boy" friends-- and let me tell ya- they are BOYS!!  LOL  

I don't know I've ever experienced such like minded ness-- it is so nice-- we almost can finish oneanothers sentences.....

The other great thing is due to the heat they have moved the service up 1 hour-- which makes it much more "do-able" for Jason even on the days he works.  So that was an answer to prayer-- as we loved the church-- but it made such a LONG day for Jason when he was dead tired.  (Please pray- as we are hoping by September he will be done training the 2 new guys and he can again have his old schedule of Sunday/Monday off.)

Well after much thought and prayer-- Jason and I have decided to begin offically attending this Family Intergrated Church.  It was a tough decision, because we were not "upset" or "mad" or anything at our current church.  We always felt this need for the family to be more centralized though-- and when we pulled our family to be centralzied (kept the boys with us in church, etc) it was always seen as a 'punishment' to the boys-- they really didn't understand.  However now that we have been attending here-- the boys do see a difference.  I can HONESTLY say-- they have NEVER complained about the length of the service-- they enjoy it-- and they also Know afterwards-- there will be time to PLAY and FELLOWSHIP (some stay till 5pm or so) with other children-- so they can focus on the topic and KNOW fun times are still ahead.

So Jason did talk with our 'current' pastor-- as we really do like him-- (he is almost a neighbor) and we do hope to stay in contact with him (and many from the church) however at this time- for OUR FAMILY this is the decision we have made.   Our pastor was very understanding-- and we have many times talked with him in the past about our concerns over children in the meeting of 'his' church....and why they handle certain things certain ways....this was nothing new for our 'pastor" to know our desires in these areas.

So that is the basics-- of where we are and WHY- I know some have been waiting to see this post-- as I haven't been too vocal until the decision was made and Jason had a chance to talk with our "pastor".  

As for some of the nuts and bolts of a FIC:

The Mission of the National Center for Family Integrated Churches

Taken from:  National Center for Family Intergrated Churches- Mission Statement

Uniting Church and Family

Taken from:  Vision Forum Minsitries- Uniting Church and Family  This link by the way has TONS of VERY good artciles on FIC!!  Including THIS ONE!!  

Why did we create the NCFIC Church Directory?

As fathers turn their hearts toward home and return to the biblical culture of family life, it is only to be expected that such faithful men will desire a local church that supports rather than supplants the family. The NCFIC Church Directory has been established for the specific purpose of assisting the thousands of families and local church leaders who have contacted us expressing a desire to network with like-minded individuals and assemblies, to work for godly change within pre-existing local churches or to plant family-integrated local churches in their area.

Taken from:  The National Center for Family Intergrated Churchs - blog

*** I just want to note, as I know I have one friend who is a bit confused by this whole idea-- this is not a church set up or ran of having any connection with Vision Forum.  A Family Intergrated Church can be ANY church that is INTERGRATED--- if you look at the website and see the churches that have 'registered" you will see there are many different denomonations etc... it is not a specific denomination-- there are Baptists, Pentacostals, Presbyterian, etc.. that is not the issue, and Vision Forum is not the issue....the issue is on REUNITING CHURCH AND FAMILY.  

If your church is already Family Intergrated-- why not register -- so others can see and find-- such a church.