FamilyLife Marriage Conferences Continue to Encourage U.S. Couples
Thousands of couples gathered in various cities simultaneously across the country almost every weekend for decades at FamilyLife’s Weekend to Remember® conferences.
"For 28 years now, the event has helped husbands and wives communicate more effectively, resolve conflict, develop greater intimacy, and renew excitement" (FamilyLife.com).
FamilyLife focuses on teaching Biblical Scriptures on marriage and relationship, such as forgiveness, unconditional love, open communication, and the roles of husband and wife. Couples then go through exercises to apply what they learned.
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Within the two and a half days, couples hear sixteen Biblically centered messages, "but it's a lot more than that," says Bob Lepine and Dennis Rainey, President of FamilyLife, who talk through "A Guided Tour of the FamilyLife Marriage Conference".
"It's a fun weekend. Couples laugh. A lot of them have never been in a Christian setting where they have as much fun."
"Couples begin to realize what's their responsibility for making a marriage work, and they get their eyes off the other person and on themselves and what God's called them to do."
Friday night, the session deals with oneness or isolation. Actually according to the hosts of the audio tour, the entire theme is "how to achieve oneness in your marriage relationship and how to defeat isolation."
The "world's plan" is a "fifty-fifty performance," the hosts say, however, after a period of time, "both people think that they're the ones doing the giving."
On Saturday morning, speakers talk more from the Bible to answer "crucial questions," such as "Why did God make marriages?" and "Where do two people get the energy and the strength to make this commitment work?"
Saturday afternoon has four sessions on communication, such as "how to be a better listener, how to explain effectively," and how to talk about issues in sex. Saturday then culminates in an event called "Date night."
"Love is an attitude of unconditional acceptance," said a speaker during a session on the guided tour.
The couples go through a session of resolving conflict, and how to apply forgiveness in their relationship, say the hosts. "They need to hear about how to apply God's messages."
The conference ends with a challenge to couples to have their marriage really make a difference not just in their homes but in their neighborhoods, communities and for the next generation as well.
"By God's grace, we'll rise up spiritual strength… for succeeding generations."
"Your marriage is not just for you. God has you married as a couple so you can have an impact, not only your family but the world around you" the hosts say.
98% said the conference met or exceeded their expectations, and 99% said they grew closer to their spouse.
According to the hosts, one conference attendee said, "This information has identified problems and step to make changes. We were beginning to think the sparkle was gone forever."
"They leave the conference armed with Scriptures. They're going to hear...more about what the Bible has to say about marriage and family than most people have ever heard in their entire lifetimes."
“Our marriage was in trouble—we had been to three different counselors before we attended our first Weekend to Remember conference. This conference opened everything up to us; we finally were able to really understand one another. FamilyLife saved our marriage!” said Tony and Tammy Midlam of Cincinnati, who are now volunteering with FamilyLife to encourage other couples.
FamilyLife provides practical, biblical tools for couples through the FamilyLife Marriage Conference, I Still Do a one-day conference and works to strengthen marriages, and the HomeBuilders Couples Series.
Founded in 1976 as a division of Campus Crusade for Christ, FamilyLife is devoted to developing godly families, one home at a time. Four million radio listeners tune in weekly to “FamilyLife Today” radio broadcasts, and 1.2 million people have attended regional FamilyLife marriage and parenting conferences last year in 98 countries.
