Rochester Weekend to Remember Update

Rochester, MN Top Ten Comments

February 13-15, 2015

Attendance: 370

Holy Spirit: 85

Recommit: 123

Salvations: 67

It impacted both of us a lot—we were getting divorced. Saved our marriage, gave us both a new outlook on how to treat each other and what we both need—came here as two single people and leaving like we’re starting over, like we started dating again—learning forgiveness and how to make our marriage right. A lot of help. Thank you.

Married 12 years

My husband and I came to the weekend discouraged with each other and our marriage. The weekend was full of so much wonder, encouraging marital advice that we even got the opportunity to use while on the weekend. We are leaving hopeful and overjoyed that we married on another.

Married 2 years

There were tons of practical advice/tips based on biblical principles & the speakers were very transparent and relatable. On date night we had an opportunity to put into practice what we learned earlier in the day—how to forgive one another.

Married 1 year

I came here with a marriage devastated by unfaithfulness, anger, hurt. We drove here in separate cars—almost not coming at all—with little hope, yet desperate for a glimmer of hope. I leave with two days of real, hopeful communication with my wife knowing there is a lot of work to do and a lot of healing to happen, but with a lot of hope.

Married 22 years

The weekend content was crafted in such a way that it somehow dissolved the walls I’d constructed regarding being open and vulnerable with my wife. I feel like the communication and connection we experienced in 3 days made up for a few years of gathering stagnation in our marriage.

Married 6 years

This is our 5^th year in a row at WTR. We love the time away and the opportunity to focus on our marriage. It continually amazes me how God teaches us something new each year and continues to strengthen our marriage in Him.

Married 13 years (wife of below)

This is our fifth Weekend to Remember. When we first went, 5 years ago, it transformed our marriage. We go every year now as a tune-up for our marriage.

Married 13 years (husband of above)

Things are a struggle at my house. I was contemplating leaving last week, but I knew this (event) was coming. It’s good to have some tools to realize my wife is not the enemy. Divorce is not an option. Through God, I can change. Through God, WE can change.

Married 9 years

We have struggled for almost 5 years starting with the premature birth of our triplets, a 9-week NICU stay, to one of the kids being diagnosed with brain cancer. The kids came first and we lost ourselves during this. Weekend to Remember has allowed us to remember why we got married and our purpose to glorify God together. We are not each other’s enemy after all.

Married 3 years

Before attending this getaway our marriage was in crisis. The getaway has given me many useful tools on how to move forward & work on repairing our marriage & given me continued hope.

Married 9 years

February 2015 Prayer Letter

Reaching Out to Pastors

How difficult must it be like to be a pastor or pastor’s wife? It is hard to fathom the stress and pressure their own marriage must endure. Many of our pastors spend considerable time counseling other married couples. So, when their own marriages are suffering from the strain what can  they do?

We have always encouraged and hoped our own pastors would attend a “Weekend To Remember”.  Now, Familylife is offering what we call  “Pastor Events”. Several of the events we’ve worked at in the past year have been such events. They have a special break out session just for pastors and their wives on Saturday morning.  One of the highlights about these break outs is the pastors and their wives see that they are not alone. They are in a room with other couples facing the same challenges. The interaction between the couples is very helpful.

FamilyLife is also developing a whole section of our website (familylife.com) just for pastors. If you enter “pastoral marriages” into the search field you will find all kinds of articles, broadcasts, resources, and a list of special “pastor events”. Please let your pastor and his wife know about the outreach.

We want to let you know of a new product that Barbara Rainey has created. It is found on her Ever Thine Home website: everthinehome.com  You may want to check it out.

             

It is called How Do I Love Thee? It is a great resource for using Valentine’s Day to consider the subject of biblical love with your family. Each of the 14 heart-shaped cards contains a short story illustrating the various characteristics of love found in 1 Corinthians 13. The cards can be displayed in your home with the Chain Garland for Valentine’s decoration. 

Thanks to everyone for your prayers and support of our ministry. If you have prayer requests please email them to us and we will be happy to lift them up to our Lord.

November 2014 Prayer Letter

 

God definitely showed up at our final I Still Do event in Washington DC! Check out these comments:

We had hit a plateau.  I think we just broke through today with a re-commitment to our marriage!! Married 20 years

It saved my marriage – THANK YOU!! Married 3 years

This event Inspired us to stay on the battlefield for others and to help other couples navigate through the greatest relationship on planet earth. Married 40 years 

This conference changed my heart toward my spouse – to be wanting to care and sacrifice for him, identified sin in our hearts, and gave us opportunities to ask for forgiveness. This gave us helpful tips on ways to improve our marriage, and to submit before God. Married 9 years

In the twenty one years of our marriage, this was the BEST DATE EVER!!! 

We are looking forward to working the WTR events in Dallas and San Antonio this month. We will share more life change stories after the first of the year. We will be very busy this Spring. Here are the TX cities where we are doing events:

Dallas (Rockwall)                         

Tyler            

Dallas (Frisco)                               

Corpus Christi                           

Houston                                       

Houston (Sugarland)                       

 

Our youngest son Erik, and his wife Amy are expecting a baby girl in March! We would so covet your prayers for a safe pregnancy and delivery of a healthy baby. Thank you!

  

 

Thank you so much for your prayers and financial support! We are so blessed to be able to continue serving the Lord at Familylife and truly love our jobs. That is only possible because of you. God is using you to introduce many to Jesus. He is using you to help restore many marriages and families!

October 2014 Prayer Letter

I’m too old and too busy to memorize Scripture

We have all heard recommendations that we should
memorize Bible verses. Kids do it in Sunday School right? But
adults, really? I knew there was no way I could ever accomplish
such a task. Then one day a co-worker had his sons come into
the office at lunch time. They were preparing for the “Bible Bee”
and needed some experience being questioned on stage. We all
went into our staff meeting room with our lunches and asked
these young boys to recite passages that we were handed on
small pieces of paper. It was incredible. They not only quoted perfectly
many, many different passages but several were 10 or more
verses long!
Well, that did it. I was so impressed to think these young
men were beginning their lives with the Word of God firmly fixed in
their heads! So at home the next morning while doing my boring
workout video I decided to turn down the volume and work on a
short verse as I marched along doing leg kicks, etc. It worked!
That was nine years ago. I’m convinced the only reason I have
managed to memorize Scripture at all is because God is the one
teaching me and fixing it permanently in my brain. Thank you
Lord!
For those of you who feel you’re too busy, or too old, or
just not able to memorize anything consider this; you know the
Pledge of Allegiance, the Star Spangled Banner, the Lord’s
Prayer, and many other things like phone numbers, addresses,
etc. There are probably a lot of verses you have nearly memorized
already. I encourage you to just start with one favorite verse
and go from there.
If I can do it anyone can. The additional benefit for me is it
encourages me to also keep up with a regular exercise routine.
(Even if it is a boring workout video.)

Weekend to Remember statistics
from our fiscal year end 8/31/14.

Number of events: 102
Number of attendees: 51,054
Number of salvation's: 1,989

God is Good!