A Family Mission Statement

One of the biggest benefits of the last couple years and our journey through a global pandemic is that it has given us the opportunity to step back and really evaluate what is important. Whether you noticed it or not, when everything was canceled off your calendar, you began to see what you really missed and, in some sense, you were relieved when some things were gone. As we started to reassemble our lives, in most cases, we were more aware of what we allowed to crowd our time and drain our resources. Before we get too far from this new awareness, now is a good time to pause, take what we’ve learned, and create a family mission statement.

Why create a family mission statement?

Building a strong family unit begins with laying the proper foundation. Just as if you were building a house for your family, you would start with the foundation that would define the area and boundaries, as well establish a platform to build upon. A mission statement is a powerful document that expresses your family’s sense of purpose and meaning in life; it acts as a governing understanding by which your family evaluates decisions and chooses behaviors.

A family mission statement serves as a guiding force for how you prioritize the use of your family’s time and resources. It should define what you believe, and it should guide how you treat your family members and our community.

A family mission statement should answer your family’s “Big Why”

The Big Why (a 1970’s entrepreneurial motivations tool that encourages you to look at the intersection of  what you love, what you are great at, what the world needs, and what people pay you for) when applied to a family should define your family’s purpose and how you plan to navigate the world together.

“A mission statement doesn’t have to be some big, formal document. It can even be a word or a phrase, or something creative and entirely different such as an image or symbol.”

Stephen R. Covey

Here are a couple examples of family mission statements:

  1. Our Family Mission:
    To love God and put Him first in our lives
    To love each other
    To be kind and help others
    To support and encourage each other
  2. This family loves
    the good and the true and the beautiful
    Learning for discovery sake
    Following Christ and His Church
    Be present together
    Now and Forever
  3. Our Family Mission: 
    To love each other . . . 
    To help each other . . . 
    To believe in each other . . . 
    To wisely use our time, talents, and resources to bless others . . . 
    To worship together . . . 
    Forever. 

How to write a family mission statement that matters

Step 1: Start in Prayer

As you consider developing a family mission statement, spend time in prayer seeking God’s voice in your family.  Pray as a family that you will be open to God’s leading in the process. Pray that you and your spouse will come together in harmony in the process. Through prayer, commit to dedicate your family to God and His mission for your family.

Unless the Lord builds a house, the work of the builders is wasted.

Psalm 127:1a

Step 2: Study the Scriptures

Since we are laying a foundation, we need to start with components to our spiritual foundation. Spend some time researching qualities of biblical families and individuals you and your family can model. In 1 Samuel chapters 1 to 3, you’ll find amazing examples of parenting—both good and bad. You will find Elkanah and his two wives, Hannah and Peninnah, as well as the priest Eli. Also read the story of Abraham, father of Isaac, in Genesis 21 and 22. In each of these examples, we find flawed people following a God of grace and forgiveness.

Step 3: Plan a Family Meeting

Plan some time for you and your family to get together, like a special day at the park or a family night at home. Try to plan a date and place that will allow you to be flexible with the time and conversation. One family I know plans themed family nights every month; for example, they have done virtual trips around the world with food, costumes, and decorations. Another family has regular family meetings over breakfast-for-dinner.

If you don’t finish the discussion in one setting, that’s okay. Simply make plans to get together again.

Step 4: Establish Some Ground Rules

Set some rules that allow everyone’s ideas to be heard and help everyone feel safe to share.  I recommend the following:

1. Everyone Gets A Say. Make sure that no one (not even you as the parent) is monopolizing the conversation.

2. No Making Fun. There is no making fun of anyone’s thoughts or suggestions. We want this to feel like a safe place.

3. Every Contribution Matters. Your six-year-old may say that pizza is an essential part of their life. Your teenager may say that freedom should be a family priority. No matter how silly or uncomfortable those answers are to you, they mean something to them. Listen to your kids. That doesn’t mean that they should be the core of your family mission statement; it just means that every contribution matters and everyone deserves to have a voice.

Use our attached template to help you guide the conversation with your family, ask questions, and document answers.

Step 5: Create Your Family Mission Statement

As you work through the discussion questions provided in our conversation guide, compute key themes and ideas. These words and phrases will help you discover your family values. Each family will be unique, so it is important to focus on what is important to your family. It is fine for your family values to be aspirational, but if they are too far removed from how your family actually lives, they will not make the translation from paper to real life. Choose values that truly resonate and inspire each member of your family.

Now What?

You are going to want to test drive your mission statement for a bit. Talk about it regularly and see if it really fits, or if it was too aspirational or needs clarification.  I know word signs have gone out of fashion right now, but this might be one you want to make an exception for; you may want to post your mission statement in your home where you can refer to it in conversation or as a reminder as you are making a decision. If you have done your work right, your family mission statement should help you to make day-to-day decisions about how your family spends its time and resources.

For example:

  • What type of schooling should we send our kids to next year (homeschool, private, public, etc.)?
  • Can we afford a vacation this year, and if so, where should we go?
  • Should we participate in club sports this spring and summer?

Over time, families change, kids grow up, and circumstances change, so family mission statements may evolve with your family. But at the core, the values you hold dear should not change.

Download Free TODAY!

We have created a workbook to help you and your family create your own Family Mission Statement – download it today. 

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Additional Resources

If you are looking for a resource to print your family mission statement, here are a couple our team really likes on Etsy:

  • – Randy’s new frame design is a simple rustic frame encasing your family mission statement! Pick your own text and colors. Randy will take your text and create a unique, vintage-inspired, rustic design that will be a treasured keepsake for a lifetime.
  • – This is a solid wood sign, and the lettering is all hand-painted, handmade, and shipped from a shop in Oklahoma! You can customize your color and size options.
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