NCFIC Conference

Posted by Timothy

On November 30-December 1, the Uniting Church and Family conference was held in Wake Forest, NC, about 10 min. from where we live. My father and I were 2 out of around 700 attendees. We met in a local church graciously lent for the occasion, and there we heard several well known speakers including: Scott Brown,

Voddie Baucham,

and Paul Renfro (an elder at Mr. Baucham's church).

One of the topics presented was: "Equipping Men to be Family Leaders." Paul Renfro started that session out with a paradox: There were these two lines of men waiting out side a building; there was a long line of men in front of a door with a sign over it: Men Who Are Not the Leaders of Their Families. The other line consisting of one man was in front of another door with a sign over it: Men Who Are the Leaders of Their Families. A man from the long line walked over to the man in the other line and asked: "What's your secret, how do you lead your family?" The reply was: "I don't know, I'm just standing here because my wife told me to."
Sad but true, this is modern America!
Another topic was: "Fathers and Sons in the Old Testament," by Dr. Andy Davis. He told a true story of a certain man who spent a day fishing with his son. His son, later looking back, wrote in his diary: "went fishing with my father, the best day of my life." The man later wrote: "went fishing with my son, day wasted."
Sad but true, this too is modern America!
The tribulations caused by Fathers not taking the lead in their families are great. On Sunday, December 2, Mr. Brown took his text from Romans 5:3-11.
3 And not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance;
4 and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope;
5 and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.
6 For while we were still helpless, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly.
7 For one will hardly die for a righteous man; though perhaps for the good man someone would dare even to die.
8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
9 Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from the wrath of God through Him.
10 For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life.
11 And not only this, but we also exult in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received the reconciliation.
God makes it very clear to us in vs. 3-4. There is hope!