‘For You Miami’ to sponsor family life conference March 5-6

JACKSONVILLE (FBC) — Building stronger traditional and single-parent Christian families is the focus of the Family Life Encounter Conference, March 5-6 at First Baptist Church, Perrine.

Florida Baptists will receive biblical teachings for family growth based on three of the Seven Pillars of a Kingdom Family emphasis developed by keynote speaker, Tom Elliff, pastor of First Southern Baptist Church, Del City, Okla. The conference relates to the Southern Baptist Convention emphasis to grow and strengthen "Kingdom Families." Elliff’s book is the programmatic statement for the emphasis.

"The goal of ‘Family Life Encounter’ is for families to leave committed to being a Kingdom family, pledging to honor God and each other," said Gary Nichols, associate director of the Florida Baptist Convention Discipleship and Family Department.

As a part of the "For You Miami strategy," the conference is strategically designed for participants of all ages and families of various ethnicities. Seminars focusing on "Honoring God’s Authority," "Exercising Moral Purity" and "Using Time Wisely" will be offered in English, Spanish and Haitian-Creole.

Families will experience worship, drama and recreational activities as they learn to relate to each other, reach out to their communities and become involved in their churches.

"Often times church activities —even family activities—separate family members," said Nichols. "This conference will have activities and seminars designed to involve participants as a family group and will provide specific helps for maintaining healthy relationships, open communication on moral purity and daily habits that prioritize family."

Though the conference is related to "For You Miami," it is open to all Florida Baptist families. Conference times are Friday 5-10:15 p.m. and Saturday 8 a.m. - 3 p.m. Cost is $5 for individuals or $10 per family. For more information contact the Discipleship and Family Department at 800-226-8584, ext. 8191.