Journey - October 2006

October 2006

On a wind and rain swept Saturday in October, parents from all ages and stages of parenting gathered at Newton Presbyterian Church to receive instruction and encouragement related to Biblical parenting. Though diverse by culture, age, size of family, and experience, all were united with a common desire to increase their understanding of how to raise their children according to God's design and principles.

If only there were a formula!

In God's infinite wisdom, there isn't. Rather, He draws us into His Word and into His heart as we recognize that our only hope for raising our kids for Him is by being in Him. Though we have access to a vast amount of resources regarding parenting, and some of them are very good, none will give us the depth and breadth of wisdom and guidance found in His Word and translated for us through His Spirit.

And so we taught Biblical principles regarding plans, protection, proactivity, purposes, and prayer related to parenting. We shared ideas which had worked in our family, and some which had not worked. Together we laughed and cried as we reflected on our parenting journey and related lessons learned by two who are farther down the road than most of those attending the conference.

As the day ended, we prayed for these precious, well-meaning, committed parents, and sent them off with a vision of hope. Hope not based on themselves or on what they had learned, but hope based on the reality that the sovereign God of this universe is with them on the sometimes challenging, oft times exhausting, and by God's grace sanctifying and delightful adventure called parenting.

The conference couldn't have happened without the incredible support of Pastor Delianne Koops, associate pastor of Newton Presbyterian Church, and Rev. Rob Perkins, senior pastor. Newton Pres. also provided a great team of child care workers, which made it possible for many to attend. Additionally, Jim, Sue, and Matthew James Martis prepared and served a delicious and welcomed hot lunch of homemade spaghetti, while Kimary Pomphrett served as book table coordinator, and Barbara Steele took care of everything else. How grateful we are to be surrounded by such a competent and cooperative team.

Parenting has been a consistent theme of talks we've given these last two months. We have been privileged to partner with GracePoint Church in Andover by teaching at one of their Family Nights in late September. Most recently, Paul filled the pulpit on a Sunday morning, preaching a sermon entitled "Don't Mess With My Kids," using Mark 10:13–16 as the text. We've also spoken at Mom to Mom gatherings at Free Christian Church in Andover, St. Michael's Church in Bedford, and at Grace Chapel in Lexington. Partnering for the fourth year in a row with Park Street Church in Boston, we've recently launched a five-night series on parenting. And, forging a new partnership with Boston Chinese Evangelical Church, we began a parenting/marriage series at their Newton campus. It's so encouraging to partner with local churches in equipping families.

Also in New England, we've been privileged to speak at a couple's night at Medway Community Church, to Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary's annual couple's night, to a Saturday marriage conference at Christ Church in Hamilton, and to Boston Fellowship's Pastor's Conference in Chatham on Cape Cod. We've also begun our seventh season with the New England Patriots, leading their couples study every Thursday night. Don and Yanette Davis are hosting the study and a consistent, eager group of players and their wives attend weekly. What a great opportunity to speak into the lives of young couples genuinely seeking to understand God's call on their lives, on and off the football field. Marriage counseling and mentoring young families has filled in the gaps between these events.

October 8th was the long awaited launch of our "Church Partnership Program." Forty participants from eight churches gathered at the Weston home of Doug and Julie Macrae for three hours, beginning with dinner and followed by teaching on marriage and family. The vision? To equip leaders in the local church to better meet the needs of the family. The church will only be as healthy as its families and marriages and sadly, many churches are failing to address the real issues contributing to increased brokenness in these relationships. We are thrilled to have the commitments of eight local churches who do want to respond proactively to this obvious need.

Outside of New England, in early October we converged as a family in Littleton, CO, to do a "True Love Waits—Family Edition" conference as well as a marriage conference. Dave and Kathleen Sherman of Front Range Christian School did yeoman's duty preparing for the conferences and both were well attended and received. It was a special joy to have Kari, Lisa, and Julie join us for this teaching opportunity and as usual, their words and perspectives were in much more demand than ours. The next weekend found us at the Evangelical Free Church in Fresno, California, speaking for a marriage conference. What a warm, welcoming congregation! Paul had spoken to their men's conference back in March, which God used to seed the soil for a most responsive audience at the marriage conference. Detroit, Michagan, was another destination as we met up with a former Patriots couple who are now with the Lions. It was exciting to see the amazing work of God in their life, as well as attend the Lions couples' study.

We’re constantly aware of how privileged we are to be living out our passion, professionally as well as personally. Our own family milestones these past two months have included Virginia spending two weeks in Europe with Julie on her "21st birthday rite of passage journey," as well as time in California with Kari, making wedding plans for her February 9 date at the altar with Gabe Garcia. Paul's book, Letters to my Daughters, has been extremely well received and the second printing is now on order.

Thank you for your interest, prayer, and financial support. Without your partnership we could not do what we do. May God bless you and encourage each of you as you seek to reflect his Glory and live out His design as individuals, couples, and families.