It's at that point when most families fall apart. But bringing people together into meaningful communities can be difficult. Mike Nelson, pastor of the Vineyard Christian Fellowship in Raleigh, thinks that sometimes the modern world conspires against strong families. People move more frequently than they have before. Nuclear families often lose their connection to extended kin.
Companies feel less loyalty to their employees.
These things, he says, make for isolated families. He's also noticed that people don't spend time developing intimate relationships. They abandon relationships when things get difficult. They don't want to take the time. Without external support, families that seem strong often fall apart under pressure, especially when they're struggling to make ends meet.