The Thoughts of a Young Preacher

At the church where I am employed as a minister I can honestly say that we understand that idea of a church family. We know how to love and help each other. How to reach out to one another. We are small enough so that we notice when someone has been away for awhile. We notice we someone seems to be down and out. All of these things are good but there is one part of all of this that I have really struggled with. What do you do when family issues outside of the church cause problems in the church family itself. I guess in the long run maybe you can't separate the too when you have a tight nit church family. I am frustrated by this sometimes. Just when we really start gaining some momentum it seems that so bad choices cause a division in a family that in the long run has nothing to do with the church and yet really it is always part of the church. As I write this I know that I am not doing so in a very clear manner. So what about some advice for some of you that are more experienced? How do you deal with outside family issues when they becomes church family issues?

P.S. For the first time in my life I am watching the world cup and while I know nothing about soccer I am actually enjoying it, although the US just got beat 3-0.