Why You Need a Family Mission Statement

You’ve probably seen the little decor signs like “In this house, we laugh together, pray together…” and it’s actually a small glimpse of what family mission statements can be, a statement we want to describe us. However, how many of us actually take creating those guiding statements seriously, more than a fun quote? A mission statement for your family executed well should have a daily impact on your family’s life. Let’s dive into what defines a mission statement and the purpose of it for your family.

What Is a Family Mission Statement?

To understand what a family mission statement is, let’s first clarify how it is different from the counterpart of a vision statement. A vision statement paints a picture of the future goal, the thing only God can do. A family mission statement gives us the daily guidance that allows us to work towards accomplishing that vision. The two go hand in hand. Mission statements bring clarity on what to do, practical application for how your family should live on a day-to-day basis. Vision tells you what you are living for.

Vision & Mission Example

Vision: Every generation pursuing Christ.

Mission: Share God’s Word. Love freely.

If you want to see each generation know Christ, you’ll have to follow that mission with actions that are loving like Christ did and that are grounded in God’s Word. Mission helps accomplish the vision.

How Does a Family Mission Statement Shape Your Family?

To move mission statement from a nice inspirational quote and into a practical tool, here are some guiding principles around how a mission statement should be used in your family:

1. A Family Mission Statement Gives Clarity of Purpose.

There is no shortage of distractions or no shortage of good things your family could do, so a family mission statement helps you cut through the noise and find where your focus needs to be. It allows you to evaluate decisions and create unity when you all know what matters most and how you want to live.

2. A Family Mission Statement Creates Accountability and Checkpoints.

As parents, you strive to hold your children to standards, but a family mission statement becomes a tool where you all are unified and held to a clear goal and set of standards. You can use a mission statement as a tool to call people up to new growth and to measure decisions against. It keeps you aligned.

3. A Family Mission Statement Adapts to New Seasons and Growth.

If the one constant in life is change, then a family mission statement is exactly what you need. As your children step into different seasons, leaving the home, having their own children, your mission statement actually can still hold true and it becomes a rallying point for your family. While the expression of it might look different now, it is a powerful tool to keep your family growing and connected. 

For example, in the early years a mission statement of “Share God’s Word. Love freely.” might have meant you were reading Bible stories at bedtime with your little ones or encouraging them to love their little sibling by sharing, but now it could look like finding an annual way you serve together or having a theme verse that you share at family gatherings. There are many opportunities to continue to grow in purpose, no matter the season.

Chart Your Course and Stay on Track

Now that you understand the power of a family mission statement, take time to craft a plan for your own. We always recommend keeping them short and succinct so that it can be easily remembered, no more than seven words. From there, continue to repeat it and find ways to incorporate it into your daily life, especially in times of decision-making or conflict. A family mission statement can give you clear purpose and unity for generations to come.

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Want further help crafting your own mission statement? Our partner organization, 7th Gen Consulting, offers online workshops where you can learn how to do this! Learn more at 7thgenconsulting.com/virtual