A game to encourage family conversation about their experience of the ministry.
Divide your family into two teams. One team uses the X symbol and the other uses the O symbol for their team. On a large piece of paper, draw a tick-tack-toe form and number the spaces one through nine. Below are two sets of nine questions. If your team wants to make their X or O in a space, someone on your side must answer one of the questions that correspond to that number. Play until one team has three symbols in a row like a normal tick- tack-toe game. Agree how many games you will play to determine the victor.
1. Describe a time this past year when you were glad that you were part of this family.
2. What is a pressure you feel because the minister of the church is (you) or a member of this family?
3. Share something that happened at the church this past year that made you proud to be part of the church.
4. Describe something that either did or would make you angry if it happened at the church.
5. Identify either a person or a situation at the church for which you think the family should pray.
6. Was there a time this past year when the congregation needed the pastor and some family plans needed to be changed? How did you feel?
7. Whether you are the pastor or a family member, name four things that are good about being a pastor.
8. Name four things that make being a pastor difficult.
9. What are a couple of things that you think the church expects of the pastor’s spouse or children?
1. If you were to pray for one thing to change in your family, what would it be?
2. What are some fun things that you like to do with the family?
3. Name something new and fun that you would like to do with your family.
4. Describe a time when school activities and ministry created a scheduling problem. How did it make you feel?
5. How would you describe the different attitudes in your family towards the church?
6. How does the lack of a two or three day weekend affect our family?
7. How would you describe what it is like being a child (teenager, spouse) in a pastor’s family?
8. If you would not get caught, what type of prank would you like to pull off at the church?
9. How are Christmas and Easter different for a pastor’s family?
