A family service organized in 1975 and functioning as a service organization of the world church, with headquarters in the General Conference. In 1985 its activities were merged with those of several other departments in the new Department of Church Ministries.
Home and Family Service came into existence as a direct result of the increasingly urgent need to build stronger, more stable Seventh-day Adventist homes. Although Seventh-day Adventists have always promoted strong marriages and successful Christian families, the influences of the rapidly deteriorating social conditions in the 1960s and 1970s caused increasing concern among SDA s. It became apparent that new tools, approaches, and methods were needed.
HFS traces its roots back to 1913. Ellen White convinced Arthur Spalding to commit his life to work for families. The Home Commission began its work in 1922 under Spalding’s leadership. Books, courses, and study materials were developed, and by 1942 Spalding’s efforts had successfully established recognition and acceptance of family life education within the church both in North America and overseas.
During the next three decades, marriage and family life programs were promoted through the Education Department by such leaders as Archa Dart and John Cannon.
In late 1974 a committee was set up under the leadership of W. Duncan Eva to study the current problems of the SDA home and to search for solutions and develop recommendations. Betty Holbrook, a member of the committee, designed a plan called Home and Family Service, which was accepted by the General Conference session in Vienna in 1975.
A few months later Delmer and Betty Holbrook were asked to organize and lead the new effort for SDA marriages and families. The original team of the Holbrooks and their administrative secretary, Wanda Tate, was joined in 1980 by Ronald and Karen Flowers. Delmer Holbrook served as HFS director from 1975 until 1982 and was succeeded by Betty Holbrook as director until 1985, when HFS was merged with Church Ministries.
During its 10-year existence before becoming a part of Church Ministries, HFS produced a variety of instructional manuals and materials that covered a broad spectrum of family life issues. Topics included parenting, marriage preparation, marriage enrichment, singleness, single-parent families, family finance, family worship, sexuality, self-worth, communication, conflict resolution, and temperaments.
A Bible and Spirit of Prophecy base for family life education was developed. Both an understanding of family needs and an awareness of the principles and methods of Adventist Family Life training were widely accepted throughout the world church. The development of several specialized approaches to marriage and family ministry were also fostered by HFS-including Marriage and Family Commitment, developed by John and Millie Youngberg; Seventh-day Adventist Marriage Encounter, founded by Albert and Betty Brendel; and Adventist Marriage Enrichment, established by Edward and Letah Banks.
The Holbrook and Flowers team organized and conducted training seminars for administrators, pastors, and laity in every world division.
Throughout its history the Home and Family Service cosponsored annual training seminars with Andrews University (Family Life Workshop began in 1975) and Loma Linda University (Family Life Workshop West began in 1978). An infrastructure of family life educators and conference, union, and division directors began to develop throughout the world field.
During the short period of 10 years Home and Family Service achieved a remarkable measure of success in reaching the varied cultures of earth with the SDA answers to the worldwide breakdown of family life. The goal of raising the consciousness of the church toward the needs of its families was achieved, and an ongoing program of SDA family life education was set in place.