It's Almost 2025!

 I don't know about you but 2024 went by so quickly with both blessings and challenges.  

As 2024 draws to a close I'd be honored if you'd consider my ministry with Cru/FamilyLife with your end of year giving. Thank you and many blessings to you on the arrival of 2025! 

https://give.cru.org/0467491

End of Year 2024 Letter

September 2024 Prayer Letter

It's Almost 2024!

As 2023 draws to a close, if you've been wondering about your end of year giving, we'd be honored if you'd consider us and our ministry with Cru/FamilyLife. Thank you and many blessings to you on the eve of this new year! 

https://give.cru.org/0467491

End of Year Letter 2023

September Prayer Letter

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

A Time to Rebuild

Do you have things around your house that need repair?  

After 7 years of living in Wenatchee there are some things in our home that noticeably need some attention.  But more importantly after being on missionary staff with Cru for close to 20 years we are seeing it is time to rebuild our team.  We’ve had partners in ministry that have been with us since we started raising support back in 1997 and we’ve had others come and go over the years.  Over the past few years we’ve seen our support level drop but we’ve “made do” with the “leaky faucet” of declining support.  But now it’s time to give attention to raising support so our whole focus can return to ministry once we are back where we need to be financially. 

So beginning January, we will be out raising support full time.  It’s the chance to retell our story, how God called us to walk with Him in what He is doing in lives and families through FamilyLife.  It’s a time to trust God in a new way, as we daily rely upon Him to meet our needs and raise up people who have a passion to make an impact in lives and families for God’s glory.  It’s also a time for our hearts to be renewed and refined in this process.  

Would you pray for us as we begin this process of rebuilding our team?  Would you prayerfully consider hearing our story and consider joining our support team to see how You can make an impact for eternity in lives and families?  Or perhaps you would consider giving an end of year tax deductible donation to help us start out the year stronger and equipped to begin the rebuilding process? 

You can mail a donation to our home address or give online at https://give.cru.org/0467491

Thank you! 

Clifton Family 2016 Update

Seattle Weekend to Remember Comments

Such a blessing to hear about how God impacts lives through the Weekend to Remember.   Here are a few comments from the weekend.

Seattle (Bellevue), WA Top Ten Comments

April 12-14, 2013

Attendance: 621

Holy Spirit: 115

Recommit: 103

Salvations: 11

My husband is leaving for active service in the US Navy. So we relished the opportunity to spend a weekend together, working toward oneness before this long separation. This weekend has been the definition of quality time. We both committed our lives and family to Christ a few months ago, but his weekend we asked Jesus into our hearts and did it together. We will take on our next journey united as Christians for the first time.

Wife, married 3 years

My husband and I are separated.  We are here because of our youngest son who asked us if we were coming after he saw the promo video.  I feel this weekend God has opened a window.  I am so open to God changing me and then seeing what he does in our marriage.  

Wife, married 15 years

I came with no expectations, but desiring to see God move through our lives, marriage. I am leaving with hope and faith.  We received tools, love and time to be "one".  That so often gets placed on the back burner.  I came with the man I call my husband, I leave with my best friend.  

Wife, married 3 years

It was a complete turn around.  We were on the verge of a divorce, this was a love effort by our pastor which has paid off.  We are committed now more than ever to make our marriage work.  We have decided that our love and family with God can and will survive.

Husband, married 6 years

Before the weekend we thought we had a good marriage but not great.  We saw this as a maintenance or a check-up.  We didn't realize the things, hurts, lies, bitterness that had come to effect our marriage.  This weekend provided us the culture and environment to be honest about our failures and ask for and give forgiveness.  This enabled us to trust each other again at a deeper level.  Our marriage relationship has gone to the next level and has been rejuvenated! Thank you!

Wife, married 6 years

We were pretty much at the isolation stage of our marriage.  This weekend has opened the doors of communication and physical intimacy.  Thank you!!!  I have been very bitter in our marriage we had a lot of forgiveness this weekend.  

Husband, married 16 years

Wife’s comment below

We had drifted toward isolation for years.  Daily life demands had steamrolled us and pulled us apart as a couple.  Almost all of our communication related to the business of running our household, but never was deep or with affection.  While we had read a ton of marriage books over the past 16 1/2 years, nothing has stuck and truly changed habits.  We feel encouraged that we have been equipped to make a change that is permanent and impactful.  

Wife, married 16 years

Becca and I experienced a level of transparency and intimacy that we have not experienced in years.  I was empowered to repent and confess extramarital sins of the heart (i.e. lust, fantasies), and we committed to a life of prayer and encouragement, in order to overcome the things that hinder our spiritual/emotional/marital life together.  We have been deeply blessed. I am inspired to become a man, and to leave a godly legacy for my children.  

Husband, married 4 years

Help melt my hardened life, a life consumed with hate and satan controlled.  My life has been changed by information I already know/had!  This is not about a slide of hand or smoke in mirrors, its about reconnecting with God!  It's truly that simple.  Thank you for leading my back to the light, we were about to end God's reunion known as God's gift.  

Husband, married 1 year; together 6 years

Wife's comment below

I am so thankful to God for bringing us here.  We put our house for sale last week and divorce were almost done.  This weekend fell in our laps...everything...date, location, cost.  I knew it had to be God's will that we attend. I didn't feel certain it was His will that we stayed married.  For the first time in six years we prayed together.  That is because of God and all you do to teach us and to help us get better perspective. Because of what we heard, learned and open our hearts to this weekend, we have decided to not get divorced, and to try living our life God's way instead of our fleshly, selfish way.  It will not be easy to rebuild what we have demolished...with God all is possible.  Thank you God for those you have sent to share your work and through that, give us hope in you, God, and hope for our marriage.  

I cannot explain how hard and rewarding this weekend was.  I am so grateful!!!

Wife, married 1 year; together 6 years

Spring Weekend to Remember Events

Spring seems a long way off now that winter has arrived but it's time to mark your calendar for the Spring Weekend to Remember Events. 

In April and May there are three Events to choose from in the state of Washington:

• Bellevue Hyatt Regency, April 13-15, 2012
• Pasco Red Lion Hotel,  April 20-22, 2012
• Redmond Marriott Town Center, May 4-6, 2012

Remember, if you register with the group code "thecliftons" you save 50% off the cost of registration! 

Also, if you are a partner in ministry and you have misplaced your gift certificate, please contact us and we'll get one in the mail to you ASAP.  Your rate is even better than the 50% off price...just a little way to say "thank you" for standing by us in ministry!  

If you would like to attend a WTR in another state check out the dates and locations at www.familylife.com

The Art of Marriage

FamilyLife has produced a video-based conference called The Art of Marriage. It is different than any other video conference I have ever seen. It is also very different than the FamilyLife Weekend to Remember. You can see clips from The Art of Marriage here
View Video Clips from The Art of Marriage - FamilyLife.com.
Check it out and let us know what you think. We'd love to help you get this resource into your church or community. The world premiere for this event is February 11, 2011. If you have questions or would like to register we'd be glad to help you. Remember, check out the videos above!

When Life is Changed Forever

I am amazed at God's work in the lives of people. We just had the awesome opportunity to serve together at the Portland Weekend to Remember. If you read the comments in a previous blog you saw some lives that were impacted. But I want to share how God moved on the hearts of three different couples to move them to a different Weekend to Remember.

Three couples were registered to attend the Bellingham conference and decided at the last minute to change their registration to the Portland event. None of the couples knew each other, but God knew them dearly and knew they needed to be at the Portland event instead. You see, each of these three couples had lost someone dear to them during the past year...a grandson, a granddaughter, a sister. Their losses were great, and because of His tender love and mercy, He put it on their hearts to be at the conference where Rick and Judy Taylor were two of the speakers.

In case you are not familiar with Rick and Judy's story, they lost their son Kyle to drowning when he was five years old. Kyle drowned trying to save his younger brother. Their story and their struggle to deal with their loss is written in their book When Life is Changed Forever.

Whenever Rick and Judy speak at an WTR event they share their story. God has used their story to minister to the hearts of so many who are dealing with loss. Loss isn't something you get over. It changes you and it changes life. I would encourage you to read their story and share it with others who may be walking through a crisis. Their story is lived out in the following verse from 2 Corinthians 1:4

"Praise be the the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort,
who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble
with the comfort we ourselves have received from Christ."

The Art of Marriage - FamilyLife.com

During our FamilyLife Staff Conference we had the opportunity to preview a new resource called The Art of Marriage. Check out this new DVD based conference. The Art of Marriage - FamilyLife.com The world premiere for this event is February 11, 2011. The hope is to get 1000 churches sponsoring an event on 2-11-11.

This new tool is very different than the Weekend to Remember conference. It is a Friday evening, Saturday event that can be hosted almost anywhere. On the website you can find out more information about hosting an event and also see segments from The Art of Marriage. You can also register online to host an event for the World Premiere. Check it out and let us know what you think!