Family Restoration Project offers hope

Dr. Jonathan (Jon) and Amy Claussen of rural Browerville are passionate about family, its role in the world and about helping others discover the joy and power of family in their own lives.

With eight children ranging in age from three - 19 years, family is definitely a priority for Jon and Amy. “We both came from strong family units and we’ve been blessed to see that continue in our marriage. It’s a gift from God,” Amy said during a recent interview.

The Claussens, who are Christians, believe the definition of family is based on biblical principles which  lay the groundwork for all relationships in life. 

Much of the turmoil in the world, they believe, stems from the breakdown of the family unit. Jon and Amy are hoping to be a catalyst for change in that area.

In 2012, the Claussens founded the “Family Restoration Project,” a ministry they lead by way of speaking, worship and writing.

As posted on their website, www.familyrestorationproject.com, “The project is about restoring family to what it was originally intended to be and releasing family as the means to bring restoration to the world.”

According to one of Jon’s online postings, “We have to get back to the basics and study how God intended us to be. If you don’t know what something looks like originally, how can you restore it?” he asked.

In today’s busy world, taking time for family needs to be intentional, something the Claussens understand all too well.

Jon is a family medicine physician at Lakewood Health System Hospital in Staples, a position he has held since 2001. “That was my first job after completing my residency,” he said.

Amy also has a background in medicine (she has a degree in nursing), but her full-time work has been as a mother and teacher to their eight children. “When Jacob, our oldest son, was small he had to have a liver transplant and I could not imagine sending him to kindergarten at that time,” Amy said, adding that she and Jon decided that home-schooling would be best for Jacob. “It was such a great experience that we just decided to home-school all of the kids.”

In addition to their respective jobs, the Claussens kept busy helping at church...first at Staples Assembly of God, then later at a revival center (based at their home) called the Glory Barn. Most recently, they have been helping plant Eden Encounter Church in Pillager, led by Steve and Penny Statema.

Although the ‘Glory Barn years’ were meaningful, there came a time when Jon and Amy were both compelled to take a step back. “We were very busy...doing a lot of stuff at that time,” Jon shared. “I went to the Lord and asked Him what He wanted me to do.”

The answer, Jon went on, was clear as a bell. “He told me to play board games with my kids.”

Amy had had a similar revelation and thus began “a beautiful season of just being,” she said, adding that their youngest, Sadie, was a baby at the time.

“We hunkered down and said ‘no’ to a lot of other things,” Jon said. “It was a time just for family. God was showing us His heart for family and what that means.”

They did indeed play a lot of board games during that season (Catan, Pandemic and Stratego are some favorites); and Sunday afternoons would often find the Claussens gathered in the family room cheering on the Vikings.

However, Dec. 7, 2012, would mark a change for the Claussens.

“It was the day after Lydia’s birthday,” Amy recalled, adding that she had been writing out her prayers in a journal when she sensed a shift in focus. “The season of change has come. The time of being is transitioning to a time of doing,” she recorded in her journal.

That same day as Jon was returning from work, he felt that God was giving him a message. 

“He came through the door and said, ‘We have to talk,’” Amy shared. “I said, ‘I know, God talked to me, too.”

The Claussens were compelled to take everything they had learned during their ‘season of being’ and share it with the world.

Thus, the Family Restoration Project was launched and since that time the Claussens have brought their message of ‘Restoring the Power of Family’ to camps, conferences and churches throughout the United States. At the end of January, Jon and Amy will be traveling to Holland...their first time to minister at a church overseas. 

Since beginning their ministry, Jon has transitioned from working full- time at the LHS clinic, to working part-time in the emergency room. “It allows me the flexibility needed for our family to do ministry,” he said.

In addition to their immediate family, Jon’s and Amy’s parents also are a part of the ministry. Don and Heather Claussen are from Prior Lake; and Larry and Wilma Rich are from Oakdale. They speak at various events (Don Claussen is a retired pastor) and write literature as well. “It’s been so powerful to be able to show people three generations of family that love each other. They see that it is possible.”

As their ministry schedule began to increase, it became clear that they would need to invest in a larger vehicle. “We got a phone call last fall from a pastor who said he believed we were supposed to get a motorhome,” Amy said.

It wasn’t what she had in mind. “I said, ‘Lord, you’re asking a girl who loves to be home to get out on the road and travel?”

The answer was ‘Yes.’

Shortly after, the Claussens did indeed purchase a motorhome which has become their “home away from home.”

“We love it,” 13-year-old Lydia said on behalf of her siblings. “We’ve gotten to travel to a lot of different states and see a lot of the country. I like meeting new people, too. I like to talk,” she laughed.

“My dad is 80 years old and he had never seen Yellowstone (National Park) until last summer,” Jon said. “We’re making a lot of memories as a family. That is priceless.”

Lakewood Health System has been incredibly supportive of the Family Restoration Project, Jon said.  Thanks to them, funding was provided for the ministry’s graphics to be painted on the motorhome. 

The Claussens have also been allowed to park their motorhome at the LHS Hospital parking lot in Staples during the farmers markets. “We are there to share with people about healthy families,” Jon said. “We don’t talk about anything religious, but we offer suggestions for strengthening families, such as playing board games and eating meals together.”

Yes, there is a lot of pain in the world regarding families, Amy said, adding that she believes it’s worth fighting for. “Do I think there is hope for restoring the family to what it was meant to be? Absolutely.”

For more information about the Family Restoration Project, visit www.familyrestorationproject.com.