Creating a Family Mission Statement

Stephen Covey, author of The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Families, says, “A family mission statement is a combined unified expression from all family members of what your family is all about – what it is you really want to do and be – and the principles you choose to govern your family life.”

Creating a mission statement can set the tone for how your family lives out their values individually and collectively. It gives all members of the Christian family a commitment to a common purpose that can shape their daily lives and positively impact the outcome of those actions.

Here are five simple steps to start crafting your mission statement:

1. Have a family discussion

Gather your family together and invite them to discuss certain traits or activities that represent their values. Get a whiteboard or a notepad to jot down any words, phrases, or ideas discussed. This phase’s focus is on encouraging contribution more than weeding out ideas, so remember to listen to all perspectives and insights, ensuring everyone is equally heard and represented. This is a group effort.

2. Draft a vision statement

Based off common themes from your brainstorming session, decide on several sentences that will encompass what you and your family want to be. Some examples are: “May our first word be adventure and our last word be love,” “We bring people together in order to reflect the same way Jesus ministered,” “We demonstrate unconditional kindness to others and within our family,” or “We are committed to believing the best in others and also calling out the best so people can thrive according to God’s purpose.”

3. Visualize the dream

Let each family member share their thoughts of how they hope to embody these big objectives. With younger ones, try creating a poster board with cut out pages from magazines, coloring, or drawing pictures. Teenagers and young adults could save articles or images of causes they value, people they respect, or quotes that reflect these goals. Jot down ideas and identify common themes that could shape your actions.

4. Establish your final mission statement

After visualizing the objective and talking through everyone’s thoughts, determine the steps your family can take to achieve their vision. These steps are the foundation of your mission statement. You can also provide achievable, smart goals to help your mission come to fruition. You may decide on one all-encompassing family mission statement, or each member may want to have their own individual contribution. Remember, you are not looking for perfection but something that represents your family’s unique personalities.

5. Put it on display

Display your family mission statement in a place your family will see it often. If you are creative, you may want to write it on a chalkboard or canvas. For others, you can simply print the statement and frame it. However you choose to share your statement, it will be a reminder of a fond memory and aid you in becoming a family devoted to serving Christ and his kingdom.

Remember, this is a process. Draft, discuss, start over from scratch if needed, and know that it’s ok to take time in the planning process. This is not an overnight project.

This blog was originally published on December 7, 2018.

 

More reading:

https://www.artofmanliness.com/articles/creating-a-family-culture-how-and-why-to-create-a-family-mission-statement/

https://www.ibelieve.com/food-home/10-ways-to-create-a-family-vision-and-mission-statement.html