Why Am I So Excited About 2011?
My job is to minister to families. It’s also one of the passions of my life. So when parents and married people discover God’s plan for their homes and begin to experience true joy and victory there, it gets me very excited.
Sometimes there is a season when a lot of great opportunities are in place for those breakthrough moments to happen. That’s why I am excited about early 2011.
The HomeLife Ministry at Johnson Ferry has put together a number of critical events and ministries in the New Year that are each designed to help your family life to thrive. There will be more details in the coming days, but I wanted to give you a chance to get them on your calendar.
Let’s Talk About Sex…
January 16, 23 & 30
“A three-session, Sunday morning workshop for parents of teens and tweens on handling the issues of dating, sex and other unmentionables.” 9:50 for H.S. Parents; 11:15 for M.S. (and younger) parents.
(Yes, I expect you middle-aged people to be humming the Salt-N-Pepa song right now.)
We live in a highly-sexualized culture. So as parents, our temptation is to demonize sex. But God wisely designed it for our good, so that isn’t an option, even with out kids.
I know this sounds a bit odd, but decisions, behaviors, and attitudes about sex in the teen years have a HUGE impact in adult life. In fact, most of the sexual struggles that adults have in their marriages are birthed when they are younger. Therefore, parents must be diligent NOW to prepare their kids to eventually experience sex in the way God intended.
Our three sessions on Sunday mornings will include Biblical truths, very practical information, and a lot of time for questions and answers.
Father/Daughter Dance
February 10 (4th grade and up)
February 11 (4 years - 3rd grade)
This is an annual tradition at Johnson Ferry designed to provide special memories for dads and daughters. The evening includes dinner, dancing, and tons of special extras created to help daddies make their daughters feel like the princesses that they are.
Tickets will be available online starting on January 9. They go fast and space is limited, so make your plans now!
Parenting Vision and Strategy Conference
Friday and Saturday, March 11 and 12
The Student Center at Johnson Ferry
When the team at the National Center for Biblical Parenting went looking for a location to host a regional conference in the south this spring, I was quick to jump on it. In addition to Turansky and Miller, two of my favorite people will be leading plenary sessions: Rob Rienow is incredible at helping parents grasp a vision for what their kids are becoming. And Kirk Weaver is the master at developing practical tools for parents to disciple their kids.
In addition to four great large group sessions, there will be more than 15 breakout options to explore that address your specific parenting needs. Parents with kids from 2-18 will be radically inspired and powerfully equipped as a result of this event.
Registration is being handled through the NCBP website. Go to Biblical Parenting.org for more information. Be sure to spread the word and invite your friends.
Johnson Ferry Family Camp
April 4-8 (Spring Break)
Held during Spring Break at the beautiful Riverstone Resort in the Smoky Mountains, this “vacation with a purpose” is perfect for families with preschool and elementary aged children.
The facilities are incredible, the location is pristine, and the people you get to hang out with are some of the best in the world. We’ll have a little bit of programming and a whole lot of time for you to enjoy your family and create some memories. The best part is, the price for Family Camp is quite reasonable. Registration begins in early January so start making plans now.
Hopefully, you can see just why I'm so excited about the new year. It's going to be incredible! For details on any HomeLife event, call 678-784-5230 or go to the Marrieds and Families page at www.johnsonferry.org.