The present is the only chance to build our family as a domestic church.

Bring them up with the training and instruction of the Lord.
Ephesians 6:4

Missionary Parenting

Cultivating the 6 Key Relationships Essential

to Your Domestic Church

Missionary Parenting is About Relationships...

Christian parents sincerely desire to raise their children in the Faith. Desire alone, however, is not enough. Parents must have a vision for their family, with a clear picture of what it can become or ought to be. The domestic church, which is the family as the first faith community, is such a vision. At its core are relationships into which married couples deliberately integrate faith, hope, and love.

Missionary Parenting presents six essential relationships centered on Jesus Christ that, when developed and cultivated, actualize a domestic church. More than a how-to or self-help book, this book provides parents with a clear description of God’s design for their family. It provides parents with genuine hope and confidence to pass the Faith to their children. Although the book is written from a Catholic perspective, the vision is applicable to Christian parenting in general.

About the Authors

Bob and Nannet Horton are members of St. Thomas Aquinas Church and Catholic Student Center in Ames, Iowa.

They strive daily to live out their marriage vocation as faithful Catholic disciples. There are seven children and thirteen grandchildren (so far) in their family.

Bob is a Distinguished Professor of Soil Science at Iowa State University. Nannet is a homeschool teacher, a Family of the Americas Natural Family Planning teacher, and a Catechesis of the Good Shepherd catechist.

They serve on the Marriage and Family Life Advisory Committee of the Archdiocese of Dubuque.

Praises for Missionary Parenting

— Father Scott Traynor Vicar for Lay and Clergy Formation Diocese of Sioux Falls

“Readers will find in these pages a rich and encouraging road map to respond with greater generosity and confidence to God’s plan of love for their family’s life.”

— Ralph Martin, S.T.D. President, Renewal Ministries

“Bob and Nannet Horton are making the wisdom gained from many years of marriage and family life available to all of us. An inspiring couple and an inspiring book.”

— Jason Simon President, The Evangelical Catholic

“Catholic parents will be on surer footing in raising solid disciples of Jesus if they read this book.”

— Steve Wood President, Family Life Center International

“The main challenge for Catholic parents is raising children to persevere in the Faith. This valuable book shows parents how passing on the Faith is done.”

— Matt Selby Director of Marriage and Family Life, Archdiocese of Dubuque

“As a spouse, a parent, and one who works in marriage and family life ministry, I found this book to be a tremendous guide and resource for fostering missionary discipleship within the family.”

— Jon Leonetti Catholic speaker and best-selling author

“A must-read primer for every Catholic family. Once you read it, put it back on top of the list and read it again!”