Family Shield Ministries (FSM) Board of Directors unanimously approved taking over the ministry that was previously accomplished through Faith Family Reunion (FFR) at its March 2023 FSM Board meeting. Faith Family Reunion (FFR) was founded by Paula Isakson. It has ministered to parents and grandparents whose adult children have left the faith. Paula was away from the faith for 25 years and is now reunited with the Lord and His church. During those years her parents prayed fervently for her, maintained a positive relationship with her, made sure she knew they loved her, and gently reminded her of God’s love through Christ. Paula’s dad was an LCMS pastor that is now with the Lord. Rev. Mark Wood, the Outreach Director for the LCMS, recommended Family Shield Ministries to Isakson since he knew FSM did similar gospel outreach.
Overall Goals of Faith Family Reunion
Faith | Provide resources to congregations, pastors and church leadership to engage hurting parents in order to:
- Restore faith by reminding them of their identity in Jesus Christ
- Renew faith in Jesus Christ by welcoming them in love which can help them to experience forgiveness and come to a place of forgiveness for themselves and the prodigal
- Remind them that faith in Jesus Christ ultimately brings hope to their situation
Family | Create community and outreach, within the church family, for hurting parents by:
- Demonstrating the love and caring of the church by reaching out to them as a church family
- Creating a place where trust (within the church family) is built and offering a safe haven where the walls of pride, shame and secrecy can come down
- Cultivating support and mentoring opportunities with the church family as members of the congregation, pastors and church leaders intentionally interact with them
Reunion | Help parents to come to an emotional place of peace to:
- Reunite them with their prodigals in order to open the door for reconciliation with their family so they can share their faith in Jesus Christ authentically
- Reunite individual families with their church family and create an opportunity for open and honest communication to create a strong familial bond within the congregation
- Reunite pastors and church leaders with parents and the members of their congregation so that they can work together to engage the prodigal and members that have left the church
- Equipping Parents and Families with Prodigals
Bio
Paula Isakson grew up in a wonderful Christian home, with loving and supportive parents who raised her in the faith. But life took Paula in a different direction. She abandoned the faith of her childhood to find her own spiritual way in the world and wandered for over 25 years. Her family and friends never gave up on her. The Holy Spirit continued to work in Paula’s life. She founded Faith Family Reunion (with her father a retired LCMS pastor and mom) because of her own falling away from faith and then, by God’s grace, returned to her Christian faith. Faith Family Reunion shares the story of a God who never gives up on his people and encourages attendees never to give up on the lost people in their lives!
In 2023, Faith Family Reunion merged with Family Shield Ministries. Through this merger we hope to help more Prodigal Parents pray for their children who have left the faith and continue to keep their relationship positive. We pray many Prodigals will return to the faith through our work together.