The Family Life of a Christian Leader
Digital Logos Edition
Overview
Anyone involved in Christian ministry knows how challenging it is to balance ministry and family responsibilities. Many demands pull leaders in different directions—making it easy to neglect one or the other, often without even realizing it. Writing from decades of counseling and personal ministry experience, Ajith Fernando points Christian leaders back to the most important aspect of their lives: their relationship with God. He then offers practical guidance for responding to real-life situations in the home, including disciplining children, dealing with disappointment, loving one’s spouse, and pursuing joy. This book presents Christian leaders with a healthy and God-centered understanding of family that leads to a flourishing home.
This is a Logos Reader Edition. Learn more.
- Provides a great read full of biblical wisdom and practical insight for everyday life
- Explores real-life issues that help readers undestand the issues addressed
- Seeks to encourage Christian leaders to carefully lead and love their families well
- God
- Crucifying Self
- Love
- God's Beautiful Plan
- Sexual Love
- Joy
- Disappointment and Pain
- Unity
- The Love Fight
- Delighting in Children
- Fun Traditions, and Security for Children
- Disciplining Children
- Instructing Children
Top Highlights
“This is so even when the persons who have married do not seem to be suited for each other. Once God has joined the couple together, he can provide them with the grace to stay together and develop a good home.” (Page 18)
“When children grow up, they will not forget that their identity and security as children were wrapped up in praying to God.” (Page 29)
“Getting something from another is viewed as a victory over that person. Giving something to the other is viewed as a concession. In a truly Christian home, there are no winners and losers. We have won if we are wholeheartedly agreed upon something, if we have expressed love for each other. So we ask these types of questions: ‘How can I reduce her load of work?’ ‘What can I do to bring joy to him today?’ or, ‘How can I show her that I enjoy being close to her?’ Loving our family members is our ambition in life, our measure of success.” (Page 42)
“We must proactively pursue the priority of prayer in the home and somehow make the time for it.” (Page 27)
“Every Christian parent needs to develop a way to pray for his or her children.” (Page 23)
I know of no one in the Christian world more qualified to write on leadership at home than Ajith Fernando. His family is his witness. Moreover, I can think of no counsel more needed by the church today than what he says so humbly in this book.
Robert E. Coleman, Distinguished Senior Professor of Evangelism and Discipleship, Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary
Family life is never easy. This book, from a wise, experienced sage, can help you, regardless of your family situation. It rings with biblical authority and practical counsel, helping equip you to be the husband, wife, father, or mother God is calling you to be.
Russell Moore, President, The Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission of the Southern Baptist Convention
The strongest and most personal endorsement I can give for this book is that I need this. And I have a strong suspicion that you need this too. I first became aware of and in awe of Ajith’s ministry as a college student at Urbana 1990. I shared the stage with Ajith at the 2006 Lausanne Younger Leaders Gathering. And today it is one of my joys to be able to call Ajith a friend and to continue to be blessed by his passionate and practical biblical teaching.
Michael Oh, Global Executive Director, The Lausanne Movement
- Title: The Family Life of a Christian Leader
- Author: Ajith Fernando
- Publisher: Crossway
- Print Publication Date: 2016
- Logos Release Date: 2018
- Pages: 223
- Era: era:contemporary
- Language: English
- Resources: 1
- Format: Digital › Logos Reader Edition
- Subjects: Christian leadership; Christian life; Families › Religious life
- ISBNs: 9781433552939, 9781433552908, 9781433552922, 1433552930, 1433552906, 1433552922
- Resource ID: LLS:9781433552939
- Resource Type: Monograph
- Metadata Last Updated: 2025-01-14T00:12:47Z
Ajith Fernando (ThM, Fuller Theological Seminary) is the teaching director of Youth for Christ in Sri Lanka after serving as the ministry's national director for thirty-five years. He and his wife, Nelun, are active in a church ministering primarily to the urban poor, and his ministry includes counseling and mentoring younger staff and pastors. He is the author of twenty books published in twenty-four languages. Ajith lives in Colombo, Sri Lanka, with his wife, and they have two adult children and four grandchildren.