Family Ministries

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Welcome to Family Ministries

“In every marriage, God puts in it the ability to succeed.” –Pastor Perry Jennings- Marriage is one of the first covenants God introduced in the Garden of Eden and among the only institutions to survive the Fall of Man. The South Atlantic Conference Family Ministries department has been put in place to edify local communities by strengthening the marriage and family bond. We seek to develop Christ-centered marriages using biblical principles as the framework for a successful family unit. Our conference believes that a strong family is one of the foundational components for a unified community and church. There is a great need for Family Ministries due to the overwhelming number of divorces in our society. The breakdown of the family not only affects those directly involved, but the church as a whole. Look at some statistics: · Australian statistics show that 50 percent of Adventists no longer attend church within three years of divorce. http://www.adventistreview.org/2002-1534/story3.html · Recent studies by the Barna Research Group reveal that 27 percent of born-again Christians have been divorced. That compares with 24 percent of adults who are not born-again. http://www.adventistreview.org/2005-1514/story5.html · An Associated Press story detailed how the United States is currently averaging 3.6 divorces per every 1,000 household. Such a low divorce rate has not been since 1970. http://www.totaldivorce.com/news/articles/society/us-divorce-rate.aspx Although statistics show an increase in divorces in the Adventist denomination and Christian Church as a whole, the overall divorce rate is at its lowest since 1970. This means there is hope for the 21^st century family. The South Atlantic Conference intends to

Family Reformation Begins With Sacrifice

A Family Reformation must begin with individual sacrifice. But sacrifice takes courage. It takes courage to confess and repent of sin. It takes courage to keep your wedding vows and uphold your biblical roles in the family. It takes courage to raise godly children in the midst of a godless culture. When every voice around you screams, "COMPROMISE!" "SURRENDER!" "TAKE THE EASY WAY OUT!", it takes courage to stand for the truth of God's Word. In the early 1970s, the Iraqi government arrested a group of American students on trumped-up espionage charges. The wicked regime of Saddam Hussein wanted confessions, and to elicit the desired admissions of guilt, they began torturing the students. The prisoners were told that if they confessed, they could go free. "Compromise the truth." "Admit to a falsehood." The promise of freedom became irresistible. One by one, as the pressures and the pain mounted, every prisoner confessed to crimes he didn't commit. Every prisoner except one. For this one man, the torture intensified.

A Family Reformation must begin with individual sacrifice. But sacrifice takes courage. It takes courage to confess and repent of sin. It takes courage to keep your wedding vows and uphold your biblical roles in the family. It takes courage to raise godly children in the midst of a godless culture. When every voice around you screams, "COMPROMISE!" "SURRENDER!" "TAKE THE EASY WAY OUT!", it takes courage to stand for the truth of God's Word.

In the early 1970s, the Iraqi government arrested a group of American students on trumped-up espionage charges. The wicked regime of Saddam Hussein wanted confessions, and to elicit the desired admissions of guilt, they began torturing the students.

The prisoners were told that if they confessed, they could go free. "Compromise the truth." "Admit to a falsehood."

The promise of freedom became irresistible.

One by one, as the pressures and the pain mounted, every prisoner confessed to crimes he didn't commit. Every prisoner except one.

For this one man, the torture intensified. The loneliness of isolation became unbearable. He came close to breaking.

Recounting his friend's story in The Wall Street Journal, Mark Helprin writes, "Then they announced that they were finished with his case, that he could simply confess or die. A confession lay before him as they raised a pistol to his head,cocked the hammer, and started a count down. He had heard executions from his cell. 'Sign your name,' he was told, 'and you will live.' But he refused. He closed his eyes, grimaced, and prepared to die. They pulled the trigger. When he heard the click he thought he was dead. The gun, however, had not been loaded."

Helprin's friend was eventually released. He discovered afterwards that every other prisoner who had confessed was hanged in the public square.

Only he survived.

The moral of the story is clear: Compromise represents a far greater risk than courage. As difficult as it is to stand for truth, it is much harder to live with the consequences of moral failure.

Nearly 500 years ago, a disobedient church held a "gun" to the head of a simple Augustinian monk. Faced with the choice between capitulation or excommunication, Martin Luther spoke the words that changed the course of history. "My conscience is captive to the Word of God," he said. "I cannot and will not recant anything, for to go against conscience is neither right nor safe. Here I stand. I can do no other. God help me."

My friend, when every voice around you screams "COMPROMISE!" "SURRENDER!" "TAKE THE EASY WAY OUT!"; when marriage is hard and parenting is harder; when your wedding vows could easily be broken: STAND FOR THE TRUTH!

God will reward your faithfulness.

America will be strengthened.

Melvin Preston, Family Ministries Director

Information on Parenting

“The cause of division and discord in families and in the church is separation from Christ.”
-Ellen White-

Christian-parents.net provides characteristics for successful parents.

Successful Parents are . . .

· Not perfect- They make mistakes, but observe and learn from both their own and the mistakes of others.

· Personally involved- with teaching and training their children. They know God holds only the parents solely responsible for overseeing their child's moral and spiritual development.

· Praying and studying- for the job of parenting! They form their ideas about child discipline from a disciplined and prayerful consideration of Bible principles -- not from popular but unproven humanistic ideas.

· Refusing to delegate- their God-given responsibilities for their own children to the state, the church, or others.

· Taking personal charge- of their children's spiritual education to make sure they receive proper Biblical instruction.

Article on the Family
“Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart form it” (Prov 22:6)

The South Atlantic Conference Family Ministries not only works to mend broken families, but also helps to maintain strong Christian families. Below is a link to an article of a young man reflecting on his Adventist upbringing and how it has impacted his adult life:

http://adventistreview.org/article.php?id=428

Married Lovers' Retreat

South Atlantic Conference

MARRIED LOVERS’ RETREAT
February 18-20, 2011
(Click here for flyer)

Dr. David & Teresa Ferguson
Intimate Life Ministries
Presenters

Dr. Wesley & Stephanie Knight
South Atlantic Conference
Devotional Speakers

LOCATION:
Legacy Lodge & Conference Center
Lake Lanier Island Resort

Come and take your marriage to a higher level.

REGISTER AT:
www.plusline.org
Event Registration
SAC Married Lovers’ Retreat
(CLICK HERE TO REGISTER)

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:
South Atlantic Conference
Dr.

Prepare Enrich

PREPARE & ENRICH COUPLE CHECKUP

One of the best ways to help you maintain a healthy and happy relationship is to invest time and energy in it. We highly recommend at least once a year, perhaps on your wedding anniversary, you take the online Couple Checkup. Just click on the Couple Checkup picture above. The online Couple Checkup is built on the foundation of Prepare/Enrich, and provides you with a Couple Report (15-20 pages) as well as a Couple Discussion Guide - both of which help you build a stronger marriage.

The Family Ministries Coordinator

Download Family Ministries Coordinator Description

The strength of the church is based in the spiritual life of its members and families. God expects families to have mutually satisfying relationships (Mal. 4:6). He desires that husbands and wives experience unity (Matt. 19:5, 6); that parents “do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord” (Eph. 6:4).

The guiding principles of the Bible direct that Christians nurture the spiritual, physical, intellectual, emotional and social needs of the individuals, couples and families who constitute the fabric of fellowship in the church. When the church ministers to the needs of families as Christ did, they are restored to wholeness. Families who feel complete, and have harmonious relationships, are more likely to be dedicated to God’s goals (Col. 2:10).

Family crises cannot be the only motivation for family ministry. Healthy family functioning is a primary goal. A family should provide for the transmission of values, and be a witness for God in the world of His power to unify and engender the happiness of each person. The family is the ordained place where human beings can experience love to its fullest extent—romantic love, friendship love and redemptive love.

Families need to be taught the meaning of love. Love fosters health and decreases stress. “Better a meal of vegetables where there is love than a fattened calf with hatred” (Prov. 15:17). Families need to develop stable relationships patterned after God’s relationship with us. He has declared, “Never will I leave you, never will I forsake you” (Heb. 13:5). God’s love is unconditional, enduring and responsible.

The family is probably the best illustration God has of what He is like. A family that is spiritually healthy will manifest characteristics of humility, patience, hope, and loving acceptance.

Stages of Marriage

According to Michele Weiner Davis, author of numerous books including, the Divorce Remedy, marriages go through five predictable stages:

1. Passion Prevails

You are head over heels in love with your mate. This is when you finish each other’s sentences and when annoying things pop-up, they are usually overlooked. At no other time in your relationship is your feeling of well-being and physical desire for each other as intense as during this period.

2. Reality Sets In

This stage tends to be the most difficult because this is when couples experience the greatest fall. Reality sets in. Little things start to bother you. You argue about everything. When you remind yourself you made a life-long commitment, you start to understand the real meaning of eternity.

3. Your Spouse’s Way and Your Way

This is the stage where couples are convinced they've tried everything and where some even give up.

According to Michele Weiner Davis, author of numerous books including, the Divorce Remedy, marriages go through five predictable stages:

1. Passion Prevails

You are head over heels in love with your mate. This is when you finish each other’s sentences and when annoying things pop-up, they are usually overlooked. At no other time in your relationship is your feeling of well-being and physical desire for each other as intense as during this period.

2. Reality Sets In

This stage tends to be the most difficult because this is when couples experience the greatest fall. Reality sets in. Little things start to bother you. You argue about everything. When you remind yourself you made a life-long commitment, you start to understand the real meaning of eternity.

3. Your Spouse’s Way and Your Way

This is the stage where couples are convinced they've tried everything and where some even give up. They tell themselves they've fallen out of love or married the wrong person and they divorce. Other people resign themselves to the status quo and decide to lead separate lives. But there are still others who decide that it's time to begin to investigate healthier and more satisfying ways of interacting. The latter option requires a major leap of faith. Those who take it are the fortunate ones because the best of marriage is yet to come.

4. Acceptance

In stage four, couples come to terms with the fact that they are never going to see eye-to-eye about everything and they have to figure out how to live more peaceably. They look to others for suggestions; religious counsel, close friends and family, marriage seminars, self-help books, or marital therapy. Couples more readily forgive hardheadedness and recognize that neither party is exactly easy to live with. When disagreements occur, they make more of an effort to put themselves in each other’s shoes. They recognize they have to accept the good with the bad. Fights happen less frequently and when they occur, they're not as intense or as emotional as in the earlier years of marriage.

5. Full Circle

Tragically, half of all couples who wed never get to this stage, says Weiner Davis. Since you are no longer in a struggle to define who you are and what the marriage should be, there is more peace and harmony. You start "liking" your spouse again. You have a shared history. While you'd both agree that marriage hasn't been easy, you feel proud that you've weathered the storms. You appreciate your partner's sense of commitment to making your marriage last. If you have children, they're older and more independent, allowing you to focus on your marriage again, like in the old days. You realize you have come full circle.