The family is God’s smallest unit in the battle for the soul of any nation. He designed the family as the birthplace and residence of Christianity. It is the place where the knowledge, fear, and love of the Lord are taught by parents and learned by children… If the soul of America is to be restored, it will be done one home, one family at a time, and in the church, we assist that by proclaiming God’s truth for the family. We need a ‘family reformation.’ Just as the Protestant Reformation restored vibrant faith to the soul, so a family reformation can restore spiritual vitality in our homes, communities, and nation…
– Dennis Rainey, Building Strong Families, (Wheaton: Crossway, 2002), 16-17.

I was convinced that he was right and that the reformation must start with pastors and with fathers. Since God has made elders spiritual heads of churches and fathers the spiritual heads of households – without a radical reformation in their practices, there will be no reformation.