Family Encouragement Weekend 2010

Last weekend we had the opportunity to attend the fourth annual Family Encouragement Weekend. It was started by the Wilkes family whom we had met a few months ago at a hymn sing in Northern Virginia. One of the chronic disappointments my family has is the small number of like-minded godly families in our area so we were thrilled to see the invitation to the "FEW."  

Contrary to the conference's acronym, there were about 200 people in attendance--quite the crowd!  It was great to meet so many different families from Virginia, West Virginia, Maryland, North Carolina, and Georgia.

Before we began on Friday night, we sang a lot of hymns, led by the homeschooled orchestra!

Both on Friday night and all Saturday, there were several different speakers, including an overview by Mr. Wilkes, "Family Oneness" by Mr. Hynes and "From Completeness to Maturity" by Mr. Neely.

It was encouraging to taste this spiritual food. I think it is great for even godly, committed Christians to hear continual exhortation toward spiritual maturity and growth. Personally, I know it is easy for me to lapse into Christian Autopilot Mode and not actively seek Christ more.

In addition to spiritual food, there was physical food as well! The doctrine of cookies was well expounded upon, to the edification of all.

There were also multiple times throughout the weekend in which families were arranged in 3 or 4-household groups for mutual prayer. Family members prayed for each other, families prayed for other families, and everyone prayed for those in authority over us, especially our federal government. These were great times; Mr. Wilkes shared, "This is the best part of the Family Encouragement Weekend."

What could be better than preaching of the Word, prayer, singing, and fellowship with like-minded believers?

~Jonathan

Comments

[Kathie]

What a wonderful post! It makes my heart sing to see so many wonderful countenances. PTL We, too, have a hard time finding likeminded families, which is why I enjoy my blog friends so much. Thanks for this post, Jonathon. I can't wait to share it with my children.

[victoria]

Amen to Kathie's post. It's a small world. We met the Neely family at the NCFIC road trip. They are good friends with some friends of our's. The FEW is a great idea. My husband and I have often discussed doing something similar in our area.

Victoria

[Angelina Fracchiolla]

Hello, Hello..Girotti Ladies..I am so thrilled to be able to get a glimpse into your daily lives and Worship..the children were ooohing and aaaahing as we looked around..in the top photo they were all so excited because the young girl in the Kakhi skirt..( the one fulling showing ) looks exactly like are exchange student Miriam that we hosted from Germany....I was also excited to see your Marie-Madeline button..I was just in contact with them again today..they will be hosting or launching I guess you should say A big giveaway for my business blog that is being built right now..I do have a personal blog I just started Pioneer Beauty..that is huge for me,,as I am not computer savy AT ALL!! I am more of "Buy,Click and Send" kind of girl..Well I don't want to eat up your whole comment section..but thank you again for your kindness in taking pictures of the first home and your generous hospitality torwards my husband Clete..I do hope you'll come and visit with me as well at Pioneer Beauty and please make sure to say hello while there..I have written a hanful of post and there is a couple of pictures of my daughters there as well..I also hope to see you at the giveaway as it looks to be you enjoy them..as I have been getting my feet wet with them as well...I think I was more excited just to put my name in,,this is all so knew to me..Oh I do have a link to a giveaway on my blog currently I hope you click on it....Okay, Okay I just keep rambeling..when I said I was going to say goodbye..We are so very hungry for fellowship so Lord willing will get to meet in person,,soon..Clete has his Certification test next week so please keep that in prayer and we were just shown another house today,,an old farm home very pretty outside of Staunton..Oh yes okay goodbye,,,Oh and please say hello to Granny Clete made sure to tell me that..And she looks so delightful and nothing like a Granny at all she has wonderful Genes and should bottle them and sell them...Praise the Lord for His wonderful gift of Technology..
Lords Blessings upon you this weekend and your time of sweet fellowship..Longing to be there..
Blessings.
Angelina
Oh yes don't forget to stop by and say hello..at Pioneer Beauty

[Angelina Fracchiolla]

Oh Sorry it's me again,,, :)

I forgot to mention how sweet the one photo was where Hannah and Sarah are at the table fellowshiping and when you look down the table you see Tom and how though they are not sitting together they are all holding their hands the same... : ) we thought that was very sweet..and very telling of a close and loving family..

Okay this is really goodbye ( for now at least )

Oh goodness can you imagine if He should bring us to Va. I have years of lack of fellowship bottled up in me....and I am already giddy with excitement and this is just cyber space..

Goodnight and Lord Bless
Angelina