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