At Karis, we regularly refer to the church as a family.  From a social science perspective, the family social unit has the primal function of providing for its members.  Just as parents bear the responsibility of meeting the needs of their children, the church has a weighty responsibility for her members. When we commit to becoming part of this rag-tag family of Karis, we are saying, “Your needs are my needs.  My needs are your needs.”  There is so much responsibility there.  But, oh by grace, there is also comfort and security.  This is the Church; the way God designed it to be.