Brokenness is a Good Thing, End of Year 2017

Coeur d'Alene Weekend to Remember

It was such a joy to be a part of the Weekend to Remember Event.  Here is just a glimpse of what happened during the weekend:

Coeur d'Alene Top Ten Comments

Weekend to Remember

November 17-19, 2017

Attendance: 756

Those indicating decisions below:

Salvation Decisions: 7

Prayed to be filled with the Holy Spirit: 106

Recommitted Family to Christ: 110

This Getaway really made us get to the core of the issues affecting our relationship…the first night after 25 years of hanging on to an incident in our marriage, we actually talked about it even though it was uncomfortable. It opened doors I never thought we could or would open. I am so grateful for this weight being removed that had been looming over us!

We’ve recently retired from the military after 31 years and have attended a few of their marriage conferences. Yours trumps theirs hands down!!! Thank you. married 29 years

I think we arrived as two broken individuals but are leaving with a hope that—Yes with God we can pursue our marriage passionately as ‘one’.  We have 3 teens, one battles drug addiction so our house has been in strife and turmoil for 6 years! I told our marriage counselor if [my husband] didn’t go with me to this weekend I was going to ask for a separation…we now are on the road to marriage recovery.  married 22 years

For the first time in 15 years, we are making a plan for our marriage, and making it a priority.

6 weeks prior to this getaway. We were contemplating separation after 29 years of marriage. God intervened and a miracle took place. This was the perfect way to start our new marriage. It restored and confirmed the tools we need to rebuild and protect our gift of marriage, we have been given a new start and you have given us great resources and tools to be victorious.

I am recommitted to respect and support my husband and make him #2 (God first), married 27 years

Before the getaway, I was having a hard time being open to forgiveness. This getaway opened my heart up to the process to forgiving my husband. married 11 years

We feel so blessed to have been part of this seminar. We have learned so much! And have felt God’s presence throughout this weekend! We can’t wait to apply what we have learned. married 3 years

[The Weekend to Remember] Saved our marriage and family.

It gave me the courage and the environment to transparently share things I was struggling with in our marriage and helped my wife know that…I was committed to her. married 24 years

The Clifton Family 

Serving with FamilyLife, a ministry of Cru 

“If we reach the family, we reach the world.” Dr. Bill Bright, founder of Cru 

What is FamilyLife? 

FamilyLife is a ministry of Cru that has been impacting families across the globe for 40 years.  We do this through weekend events, resources, radio and the website.  The needs of the family are an open door to the gospel.  Last year in the Pacific Northwest alone there were over 1,000 couples that attended a Weekend to Remember event and 70 made a decision for Christ and about 470 recommitted their lives and marriages to Christ!   The impact worldwide is even greater!  

Couples attending the Weekend to Remember 

Our Story 

We met in college and moved to Wenatchee to begin our teaching careers.  God used the challenges and devastation we saw happening in the lives of the children in our classrooms to put a burden on our hearts for marriages and families. In 1995 we attended a FamilyLife Weekend to Remember (marriage conference) where we heard on Friday night how a marriage falls apart, the steps to isolation.  On Saturday we heard about the steps to Oneness and God’s blueprints and plans for marriage.  The gospel message was shared and we began to wonder if this was a ministry to join.    On Sunday we went to find out what it would mean to join staff with FamilyLife.  When Laura heard, “raise your own support and move to Little Rock” she immediately tuned out.  The seeds God had already planted however were sprouting in Tom’s heart.  God was calling us to join staff as missionaries.  We raised our support and moved to Little Rock in 1999.  

The Story of the Family

Just like our family has a story, the family itself has a story.  God created marriage and family.  We were created to mirror His image, to have oneness, and to leave a godly legacy.  But unfortunately what God had created for blessing, the devil tried to destroy in the garden.  Through the temptation of Adam and Eve, sin entered the world and marriage and family, rather than being a blessing and a joy became a struggle.  

Struggles 

Families today face many difficulties:

• Stress
• Isolation
• Financial Pressures
• Busyness
• Threat of Divorce
• _______________ (I'm sure you can fill in the blank with other struggles too!)

Hope and Redemption

“But God…” In the midst of the difficulties God is there and He has a plan…it’s for redemption.  In the times of greatest need people are open to the hope of the gospel…and God is using it to bring people to Him. 

Changed Lives Stories

Here is just one example of a changed life story..."For every reason on God's earth we should not have come to this conference. We are divorced, our children have been shattered and our home destroyed. Satan had complete and total victory in our family. His destruction was thorough...or so he though. This conference has restored our relationship, our faith in God, and in His power to heal. We have given back to each other our heart, we have forgiven each other, we have set aside all the pain and the tumultuous history between us and we are moving ahead. We look forward to the joy of our family together, our hearts joined and to being married again. Thank you, Thank you, Thank you!!!"

Impact 

I love seeing the impact of 40 years of ministry for FamilyLife.  Over 3 million people have attended the Weekend to Remember events and 100,000 people have indicated first time decisions for Christ. (And these are only the ones we know about from people filling out and turning in evaluations at the events...imagine how many more people have been reached through the internet, the radio and resources and small group events.) 

Global Outreach

FamilyLife began in the United States as a way to help Cru staff marriages...and now it has a global impact.  FamilyLife has a presence in over 100 different countries and resources have been translated into more than 40 languages, including Arabic and Chinese! 

Partnership 

As full time missionaries with Cru/FamilyLife we are responsible for raising 100% of our ongoing monthly support.  After 20 years on staff we are in a season of change…we’ve had to step out of full-time ministry until June to focus in on full-time support raising.  We have until June to raise $2000 in monthly support.  We’d love your prayers during this time, and if you are interested in finding out how to partner with us, we would love to share with you!  https://give.cru.org/0467491


Thank you so much & many blessings!

Tom & Laura
Missionaries with Cru/FamilyLife 

Attend a Spring Event for Half Price

Today is the last day to "Buy One Get One Free"!  If you register for a FamilyLife Event today using the code "Saddlerock" you will save 50% off the registration price.

Find a Weekend to Remember Event near you 

Blessings,

Tom & Laura

https://give.cru.org/0467491

SaveSave

A Letter from Tom's Manager

A friend suggested we have Tom's manager share a little bit about Tom's role and the impact of ministry.  This was the letter we received to share with you:

Hi, my name is Jim Holmquist and I am the Western Region Manager.  I have the privilege of being Tom Clifton's manager.  As a Field Ministry Representative, Tom's job is to discover, train, equip and encourage local volunteers in Alaska, Eastern Washington and Idaho.  Tom is a valuable asset to my team and serves the Lord in this capacity with excellence! 

This past year three of his volunteer teams were near the Top 20 teams in the country.  

In Tom and Laura's over 20 years of ministry at FamilyLife, they have impacted countless couples with God's blueprint for marriage.  In just last year they played a major part in seeing 1,138 couples (that's 2,276 people) attend a Getaway to invest in their marriage.  At those Getaways, 70 made a decision for Christ for the first time and 469 people recommitted their lives and marriages to Christ.

Those are great numbers, but it is important to remember that those numbers reflect lives and legacies that will be impacted for generations to come. 

These are just a few of the many reasons that Tom is needed back in full time ministry.  As soon as he and Laura have their full ministry team in place he can return to active duty.  I challenge you to join their team and to be a part of the impact they well have in the coming years.

Jim Holmquist 
Western Regional Manager 

Thank you for your continued prayer as we move forward with building our team and returning to full time ministry!  We have about 20% of the support we need so far!  Thanks for being a part of making an impact in families for Christ.

Tom & Laura
https://give.cru.org/0467491

Thank You

Wow!  All I can say is "Thank you!"  God has used you in an amazing way to bless us and get us ready for January with our focus on raising support in an amazing way.  Thank you for your prayers, for reading our posts, and for contributing to our ministry with FamilyLife. You are a blessing!

We move forward with eager anticipation at the work God is going to do through this support raising process.  We have until June to raise $2,000 in monthly support to stay in full time ministry.  Would you pray that God would help us reach that goal quickly?  Thank you for your love, prayers, and support!

Blessings,

Tom & Laura

Missionaries with Cru/FamilyLife
https://give.cru.org/0467491