In 1984, Anne Marie Ezzo wrote a four-page paper "Parent Controlled Feeding". In 1985,Gary Ezzo received his Master of Arts degree emphasizing Christian Education from Talbot;. Subsequently, the Ezzos continued to investigate early parenting and with five other couples formed Growing Families International (GFI), organizing as a non-profit in 1987 and becoming a for-profit in 1989. Based on the earlier paper the Ezzos wrote a Christian parenting guide for GFI: "Preparation for Parenting: Bringing God's Order to Your Baby's Day and Restful Sleep to Your Baby's Night". The book was published in 1990. Grace Community Church was initially supportive of the Ezzos and their parenting ministry, but in 1997 after four years of discussion, the church reversed its position, criticizing them for creating a divisive atmosphere between parents following the book's practices and those who favored demand feeding for infants, sleeping with their infants, and sling-type carriers for babies. The church elders banned the books for "stifling the mother's desire to comfort her children", for ascribing Biblical qualities to the concept of scheduled feeding, and for failing to address the church's concerns regarding theological issues . The Ezzos left the church along with a few sympathetic families.