MARRIAGE BUILDERS SEMINAR
The family unit (i.e., father, mother & children)
is the building block of our society and culture, and
the Christian family is the very foundation of that
building. However, the entire family structure of our
society is under great assault, and the Christian family
in particular is being singled out as public enemy
number one by the secular humanism that is permeating
our society. All of this antagonism and opposition
to the family in general, and the Christian family
in particular is being orchestrated by the "god
of this world," Satan, through men and women whose
hearts and minds are hardened by his lies and deceit.
Thus, this is all the more reason why we as Christians
need to "focus on the family," and our own
family in particular. We can only be successful in
doing this by utterly relying and depending on God’s
grace and power so that our families will be blessed
by God’s covenant promises and our nation will
in turn be delivered and established in His strength
and might. Therefore, this seminar is focused on helping
to strengthen Christian marriages in particular, and
in turn, becoming "salt and light" in a decaying
and darkened world.
Janie and I have been married over thirty-three
years, and in the midst of our human failures and mistakes,
chiefly mine I might add, He has taught us by His grace
and truth how to walk with Him individually, as a couple
and with our children. We are very real people who
have encountered the very real problems and issues
that marriages are confronting today. However, those
things that God has made real in our lives that have
brought and are still bringing healing and wholeness
to our family go to the very core of our being. Many
of these changes are quite deep, and at times, quite
painful, but gloriously liberating in the end and produce
the "peaceful fruit" of His life and righteousness
within us (Hebrews 12:11). And that is what our life
in Christ is all about, that we be "conformed
to the image of His Son" (Romans 8:29). In addition,
we have the glorious promise that "that He who
began a good work in you will perfect it until the
day of Christ Jesus" (Philippians 1:6). We want
to be used of the Lord that He might bring real change,
real brokenness and repentance where needed and real
encouragement to couples that our sins and failures
in our marriage can be and are forgiven in Christ,
and we can begin anew in Him! In addition, we want
to show that through Christ, as a married couple, we
can now walk in the "newness" of His life
within us and experience "the new creation" He
has made us to be in Himself. We also want to make
it abundantly clear that as married believers we are
all in the process of "being transformed into
the same image from glory to glory (II Corinthians
3:18), and that "image" is Christ! Thus,
it is an ongoing change as a "new creature" in
Christ, and indeed, "new things have come" (II
Corinthians 5:17). Those "new things" in
Christ in our marriages are the things that we can’t
even imagine how wonderful they are until we realize
that it "it is no longer I who live, but Christ
lives in me" (Galatians 2:20).
If couples have been married for a number
of years, or if they are newly married, the things
we will be touching on in this seminar will be applicable
for both. The foundational principles are applicable
for both, and especially for newly married couples,
that they might be enabled to avoid the pitfalls that
are lurking in unsuspected places.
The following are the topics we will be presenting:
1. Our Personal Foundation in Christ
2. Old Baggage & a New Trip
3. Communication, Openness & Self-reflection
4. The Cornerstone of Forgiveness
5. Personal & Family Life
6. Child Rearing
7. Compromises, Consequences & Redemption
This is also a ten-hour seminar, and
for this particular seminar, it is best that it be
conducted over a weekend, versus over a prolonged period
of time, such as a five or ten week span, meeting one
night a week. However, we could do the latter, but
for this particular subject, continuity is very important,
and thus, the weekend setting would be the optimum.
Whatever is best for you, if you feel the direction
we are going in is appropriate for your flock, we would
be honored to serve you.
Janie and I would be honored to serve
you in any way we can. If you have any questions, please
do not hesitate to contact us, and may the Lord continue
to bless you in every way. Thanks for your consideration
of and prayers for us.
Sincerely in Christ,
Justin T. Alfred
Contact Information
Address: Justin T. Alfred,
39778 Daphne Dr., Murrieta, CA 92563-6538
Phone: (800) 219-2390
Cell: (951) 834-4814
Fax:
(951) 696-7140
E-Mail: jtamin@aol.com
