The Family God Uses: Leaving a Legacy of Influence [Hardcover]

Tom Blackaby (Author), Kim Blackaby (Author), Henry Blackaby (Foreword)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 10, 2009

The divide between generations has never been greater. In The Family God Uses, the Blackaby family provides churches and families with a tool to intentionally bring families back together by challenging them to creative involvement in ministry and missions. Through the stories of Christian families who have accepted God’s challenge to be involved in His kingdom work locally and around the world, your family will be inspired to work together and serve together with Christ in the center. Your family will see the possibilities of what can happen through them as you seek the Lord together.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Tom Blackaby was born in California but grew up in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada where his father Henry T. Blackaby pastored Faith Baptist Church and developed the material for Experiencing God. He holds a bachelor of education degree from the University of Saskatchewan, an master of divinity degree from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, and a doctor of ministries degree from Golden Gate Baptist Theological Seminary. Tom has served as associate pastor of music/youth/education in four churches and most recently for seven years as senior pastor of North Sea Baptist Church in Stavanger, Norway. He served four years as national worship consultant for the Canadian National Baptist Convention and currently serves as director of international ministries for Blackaby Ministries International. Tom has coauthored The Man God Uses (trade book, youth edition, devotional journal), Anointed to Be God’s Servants, The Blackaby Study Bible, Encounters with God Daily Bible; has written four years of devotional articles for Home Life magazine; and most recently authored The Family God Uses together with his wife, Kim. They have three children and currently live near Vancouver, Canada.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 192 pages
• Publisher: New Hope Publishers - Impact (August 10, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1596692510
• ISBN-13: 978-1596692510
• Product Dimensions: 8.6 x 5.7 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,012,614 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4.0 out of 5 stars Inspiring Family Read, January 25, 2010

By 

Benjamin Potter "Loom & Wheel" (Mulberry Grove, IL USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Family God Uses: Leaving a Legacy of Influence (Hardcover)

Tom Blackaby is no stranger to participating in family ministry. He grew up in the home of Henry Blackaby who gave us Experiencing God. In that home he developed an attitude of service that has been played out in church staff positions, in Christian higher education, and ultimately in joining his father on writing projects and as international ministries director of Blackaby Ministries International.

With this background, Tom has now teamed up with his wife, Kim, to develop a book (and accompanying group study) that encourages families to work together in ministry. The book is designed to include illustrations from real-life examples - both from the authors' backgrounds and from testimonials from others who have participated in the activity of God as families.

The book is divided into six parts that provide a foundation and structure for families to join God in the work He is doing. The book provides excellent encouragement for families to go on mission together from all walks of life. The Family God Uses earns a whopping four out of five reading glasses.

I do see one major drawback to this particular book: the best audience for it is a Christian audience made up of regular people who want to live for Christ, but my fear is that the book will find a larger readership among "professional" Christians (ministers and preachers) who will place the book on their shelves without sharing it with non-minister types who just want to be effective Christ-followers. With that in mind, the good people at New Hope Publishers have provided me with a copy to give away. So, the first person to answer the following question correctly in the comment section at [...] will be awarded their own copy to read and be inspired by.

Give away question - I occasionally participate in clown ministry at home and while on missions trips. What is the name I have chosen for my clown personae?

--Benjamin Potter, January 25, 2010

"Become a New Hope Book Review Blogger. Visit [...] for more information."

4.0 out of 5 stars Review - The Family God Uses, January 16, 2010

By 

Kendra L. Grubinski - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Family God Uses: Leaving a Legacy of Influence (Hardcover)

Following the principles of his father's book "Experiencing God" Tim Blackaby, along with his wife Kim, share how your family can `see where God is working and join Him.' According to Blackaby, the `family God uses' a) has authentic faith, b) strives to live righteously and c) strive to seek and serve Him. Who doesn't want this for their family?

While I found many practical and helpful insights from this book, I did not find it easily readable at times. However, it is worth trudging through to get to those nuggets of inspiration and application so readily presented throughout the book. For example:
* "God's priority is for church leaders to be spiritual leaders in the home first and out of that, to be better able to lead God's people." (emphasis mine)
* "Families who take seriously their relationship with God and their involvement with His people will begin to incorporate the mission of the church as their family mission."
* "Families and churches work together to bring the good news of Christ's love and sacrifice to those who have not heard it."
* "There's no better way to demonstrate our love than when we serve. Every Christian should be service-oriented."
* "Service shows our gratitude to God for all that He has given us physically, spiritually, socially, etc., and demonstrates to others our love for them and for God at the same time."

The book concludes with ideas of how your family can serve together as well as some `family time reflection' starters. I do recommend "The Family God Uses" as a resource for the family that is seeking and willing to say YES to God's invitation to join Him in His work.

4.0 out of 5 stars Good but Offers Nothing New, December 20, 2009

By 

Lori Kasbeer (Florida) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Family God Uses: Leaving a Legacy of Influence (Hardcover)

In The Family God Uses, the Blackaby family provides churches and families with a tool to intentionally bring families back together by challenging them to creative involvement in ministry and missions. Through the stories of Christian families who have accepted God's challenge to be involved in His kingdom work locally and around the world, your family will be inspired to work together and serve together with Christ in the center.

Tom and Kim Blackaby share how God uses families through sharing stories from their own family. This book would make good discussion for small group study. Each chapter ends with a series of questions titled "Family Time Reflections." I am not sure this book offers anything different than any other books on Christian families, but it could be a great book to lead discussions within a bible study. Their goal is to show the possibilities how each family can be an influence for God.