Friend of the Family News Letter

Family Issues


On December 13, 1971, I, along with two men from our church, went to a Christian School Conference at the Baptist Bible Church of Elkton, Maryland. We were blessed by the preaching and teaching regarding faith and Christian Education. We got back to the church in the late afternoon, having discussed on the way home, the possibility of starting a Christian School in our church. After chatting a while, we got down on our knees on the macadam walkway and asked God to give us a school for the fall of 1972. The church had started in January of 1967, and although we had quickly grown to about 200 in attendance, this would be a huge step. I will not go through all the amazing things the Lord did over the ensuing months, but in September of 1972, West Chester Christian School opened its doors with 69 students in grades K – 11. May He receive the praise and the glory. I will never get over what God did in those days. Almost equally exciting was the response of Christians to this new educational opportunity. As one might expect, we could not offer the variety of classes and activities available in the public school, but those things became secondary in importance, to parents and students who saw the need for a genuine Christian educational environment. Initially, we were going to provide classes for K – 2. Our School Administrator, Carl Bieber, who stepped out in faith to come run WCCS, had a boy going into 7th grade. Carl said he could not come if his son’s needs were not met. Quickly, the school was K - 7. Brother Bieber enlisted other teachers who were willing to step out in faith, so we would actually be able to handle a basic program of K – 10. Three young people going into 11th grade came and said they knew they would not be able to get everything they wanted, but asked if we would please let them come. They desperately wanted to attend a Christian School. So, we opened, offering a modest, but sufficient program. Young people sacrificed because they wanted to be taught creation, not evolution; health education, but not sex education. They wanted to pray. They wanted Bible classes. They wanted true history, not rewritten with a liberal slant. Then there were the parents who saw the need for their children to get sound training in every area. They knew there would be no financial assistance and they would have to bear the burden. They did. Jeremiah 10:2 says, Learn not the way of the heathen. Those parents accepted that challenge for their children. We need such conviction today.



Trends &Troubles


The devil is having too many victories. It is important we understand the nature of the conflict we face and get into, maybe back into, the fight. With that in mind, I want to discuss the message and meaning of Ephesians 6:10-18 in the next few articles of this column. Verse 10 gives us a serious exhortation. Paul tells us to be strong in the Lord and in the power of his might. That simply means our strength for this conflict must be found in the Lord. The message implies that we are vulnerable and if we try to handle things in our own strength and wisdom, we are going to lose the battle. In verse 11, Paul tells us to put on the whole armor of God with this purpose – that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. We are told that God has made provision for us to win. The provision is called armor, because we are in a war. The term “wiles” means strategies and methods. The devil has a variety of strategies which he has successfully used for thousands of years. He knows what has worked in the past and he has perfected those methods to defeat unwary Christians. You and I have to learn how to stand, so we can hold our ground when the attacks come. Too many believers have fallen under the pressures. Some have become bitter. Some have quit their service for Christ. Some have experienced marriage disaster. Some have given into the temptation to sin. These things are unacceptable and unnecessary, but we must really work at learning how to employ God’s protective resources. In verse 12, Paul reminds us of a truth we should already know. We wrestle not against flesh and blood. That reminds me of a great statement I heard years ago and often use in my preaching and counseling. “It is not what happens to us that matters, it is how we respond to what happens to us that matters.” Dealing with people can be very hurtful. Without a doubt you have been hurt by what people have said to you and about you. You have been hurt by what people have done. These things are true for me too; indeed they are true for all. And, unfortunately, we who have been hurt have also been the perpetrators of hurt. The whole matter of human relationships can be very difficult to handle. Where are apologies? When will people change? When will the hurt stop? Paul, no doubt, has all of this in mind – and more. Paul wants us to know however, that while physical and emotional pain are very real, ultimately our battle is spiritual. If what people do to us can drive us away from the Lord, Satan wins. If people’s sins against us can make us question God’s love or doubt the validity of the promises in His Word, Satan wins. Using people (saved or unsaved) to destroy Christians has been a time tested method of the devil. Even before we consider the actual armor of God, we must recognize the nature of Satan’s war. He cannot take our salvation, but he can ruin our testimony. His first method seems to be to get us to focus on the sin and failure of people. More next time.


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Prescription

For The Family


My son, Pastor Craig Griffith, has established a wonderful practice with his children. So far, he has taken three of his children on a trip to the mission field. He took Hannah to Tanzania. He took Sarah to Lebanon. He took Craig Jr. to Uruguay. Next month, he is scheduled to take Jeremiah to Spain. These trips are spiritually eye opening and challenging, to say the least. From my perspective, one of the greatest blessings for dad and child, is one on one time. What a doorway for conversation on many topics and shared ministry opportunities. I could wish I had done the same thing. What I learned to treasure however, were those times when I could be with one of my children, with no one else around. Parents need to hear from their children. We need to know what they are thinking. We need to open ourselves to their questions and get into situations where they are free to ask them. We need to hear their ideas and learn of their desires and goals. I wonder what Abraham and Isaac talked about on their way to Mount Moriah. I wonder what they talked about on their way back home. I wonder what the conversation was like between Ruth and Naomi, as they made the long trek from Moab to Bethlehem. We live busy schedules and there seems to be little quiet time. Husbands and wives struggle to get time away together to have a break from the rat race of life. It is special to be able to take the children on vacation. Family time is a necessity. But how can we also fit in time for one child at a time? To be sure; it won’t just happen. There will have to be a plan made well ahead of time. I encourage you to think about it. Has each of your children ever heard your personal testimony of salvation? Have you ever heard theirs? Have you ever asked them what might be their greatest desire as they think of growing up, or perhaps their greatest fear? Have you ever taken the time to tell them about your own life growing up? Have you ever talked to them about the hard lessons you learned and how you got through problem times? Have you ever had a one on one time of reading Scripture and praying with one child at a time? To effectively rear our children, we need to know their strengths and weaknesses. For most people, the one on one will not be a trip to a mission field. It might be a camping outing, perhaps just a day away or a night out for dinner. The words of Proverbs 4:20-22 seem very personal to me. “My son, attend unto my words; incline thine ear unto my sayings. Let them not depart from thine eyes; keep them in the midst of thine heart. For they are life unto those that find them, and health to all their flesh.” I tend to think these words came at a quiet and tender time.


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God is looking for men…

Is He looking for you?

Psalm 15:1 asks the question. “LORD, who shall abide in thy tabernacle? Who shall dwell in thy holy hill? The writer gives the requirements. One of them is found in verse 4. It says, “He that sweareth to his own hurt and changeth not.” The Bible cautions us about vows/promises. It tells us it is better to not make such commitments than to make them and break them. We might make a promise with the best of intentions, but things get in the way. Sometimes we are hindered by the unavoidable. Anyone would understand that. But, sometimes it’s just not convenient to follow through, or maybe something better comes along. If a man makes a promise, he MUST do it. Are you willing to be that man?



From Under the Umbrella

By Patricia E. Griffith


Ephesians 5: 15-17 – “See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, Redeeming the time, because the days are evil. Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is.” The Church is slowly slipping away to the culture we live in. Watered down sermons are being put forth in the “modern” Worship Centers. Notice I left out “churches” because they no longer want to be associated with the old type Church services. The Old Type Church Services, which worship the King of kings and Lord of Lords; that bring honor and glory to our Savior, The Lord Jesus Christ. They reject the idea that we should come humbly, dressed in our best, to sing hymns that honor and praise our Savior, and be fed by God’s Holy Word. They prefer the “praise songs”, led by “praise teams” - no organ; that is way too holy sounding. And the very, very sad thing to me is, they pretend the music beat and their response to it, is spiritual, but in essence it is fleshly. If you have ever been in a church that worships this way, you quickly see the difference between worshiping in awe of a Holy God versus being entertained. The time of Christ’s return is fast approaching. Christians are so busy about their own lives and fitting in church attendance, they forget the purpose of going to church. We need to be fed spiritual truth, so we can win others to Him. Our lives are to glorify the Lord Jesus Christ. We need to “redeem the time”, because the days are evil. The world needs Jesus Christ. I include myself when I encourage you to be about our Father’s business in this evil time. God bless you all, as you are bold for Him.


BFM RESOURCES INCLUDE:

*All listed prices are suggested donations.


BOOKS AND BOOKLETS:

The Christian Response to Culture Collapse in the USA - $2.00.

Does it Matter? – A look at Bible manuscripts and versions - $8.00

Before the Throne of Grace – Leather - $19.99.

Victory Over Trial and Trouble – hard back book on getting real victory in life - $13.95.

Parenting: One Chance to do it Right - $12.95.

Serving As A Deacon – booklet - $2.50.

Growing Up God’s Way – John Stormer - $3.00

None dare Call It Education – John Stormer - $3.00


CDs -

Holy Ground – 3 messages - $12.00

Til Death do Us Part – 6 messages - $18.00

Parenting – 6 messages - $18.00

The Basic Family Series – 6 messages - $18.00


Biblical Family Ministries Inc. is a 501(c) 3 non-profit Christian ministry established in 1993 to present the Bible’s teaching on marriage, family, child training and other Biblical topics. Dr. E. Allen Griffith and his wife Patricia, work together in this ministry located in Myerstown, PA. They are assisted by Kimberly Schmelzer.



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