Greetings in the name of the Lord!
Biblical Families Retreat News:
Our final retreat of 2009 happened in Dallas last weekend – and some of us are still recovering, trying to get back to “regular life”. You can read some post-retreat comments here . If you didn’t get a chance to make a retreat this year (over 100 people did), now is the time to consider making plans for next year:
Tennessee or NC mountains: March 27th-29th, 2009
Campground/Cabin location in the mountains, currently being researched. We have people all over the East Coast, and this gives a central location for those families to attend without having to drive to Florida. Note that it is likely that Pastor Randy will not be able to attend this retreat.
If you like the idea of staying in cabins, this would be a more rustic retreat - although there should be hotel options not too far away. We will plan on doing cooking in a large kitchen, making for a more community-type event, rather than eating out. This will be a great way to get to know each other.
Does this appeal to you? Let us know: staff@biblicalfamilies.org, we should announce the location in November.
Orlando, FL: May 22nd-25th, 2009 (Memorial Day)
We are considering this our "signature" retreat for 2009. Pastor Randy and his family should be present and sharing. Perhaps you don't do "rustic" (our cabins retreat), or just want to come to Florida for the play-time (the kids always have lots of fun here). This will be our 4th Memorial Day retreat in a row - a "root" from which Biblical Families grew. The location is set in stone (10 miles west of Orlando, 6 miles north of Disney), and local hotel information is available now, write us if you'd like it or any other information. email: nathan@biblicalfamilies.org
The 2nd half of the year is tentative for now, but we welcome your input and suggestions:
West Coast
Perhaps mid-to-late September 2009 in Northern California (drivable from San Diego to Seattle), let us know what would work for you .
Open to feedback on location and date.
Dallas, Texas
Nov/Dec 2009 or Jan 2010
Open to your input on exact date - we will try for a non-hotel location next year, and settle on a date by mid-year.
Is after Christmas weekend good (Dec 26-28th)? Or should we wait until January?
Send us your input on these events: staff@biblicalfamilies.org
We’ve also posted 2009 retreat information on the site, and started a discussion page here.
Inspirational note from Todd Webb, Biblical Families Board member and Treasurer
Ecclesiastes 3:1
TS: “1. For every matter there is an appointed time, even a time for every pursuit under the heavens:”
KJV: “1. To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:”
One of my favorite verses of scripture is also one of the most appropriate for our cause in my opinion. I have always found this particular passage encouraging and at the same time giving hope and patience. There are many out there who do not accept us or see the truth of what we are doing both as individual families and as a community. But we can have assurance that for all things there is a time. I believe there will be a time when man will realize the truth of plural marriage and come to accept it. All of us will most likely be looked upon unfavorably for believing in the truth, but we can rest assured that there is a higher power who is in control and who has a plan. Our Heavenly Father will make all things come about in His time. We can find strength and encouragement in knowing that although we may not be in control of everything, we have a Father in heaven who will not leave us nor forsake us for believing and living the truth. There is a time for everything and we should diligently work towards that time and have patience for it to come.
More news:
It’s been a busy 8 months, and besides about 250 persons added to our mailing list, and nearly 2000 messages posted on the forums, we are contacted nearly daily now by those searching for the truth regarding Biblical polygamy, or those in need of counseling or other help, or someone looking for a media contact (Pastor Randy recently did a interview by phone for a UK radio station). We all work full time, and sometimes we don’t get to everyone or every response we’d like to. Please pray for God’s will to be done thru Biblical Families, we really don’t want to spend any effort in any direction that’s not from Him. Also pray about how He might have you participate – we could use help in several areas.
Also, as some of you have requested, we’ve recently made it possible for you to give from our main website – you’ll find a PayPal Donate button there. Any funds given at this time go mainly toward retreat and Internet expenses, though we’d like to be in a position eventually to start a fund to help plural families in need (legal or otherwise). Thanks for listening to God if He would have you help out in this way.
God bless you, and as always, let us know how we can serve you.
Biblical Families.org Staff
Biblical Families Retreat News:
Our final retreat of 2009 happened in Dallas last weekend – and some of us are still recovering, trying to get back to “regular life”. You can read some post-retreat comments here . If you didn’t get a chance to make a retreat this year (over 100 people did), now is the time to consider making plans for next year:
Tennessee or NC mountains: March 27th-29th, 2009
Campground/Cabin location in the mountains, currently being researched. We have people all over the East Coast, and this gives a central location for those families to attend without having to drive to Florida. Note that it is likely that Pastor Randy will not be able to attend this retreat.
If you like the idea of staying in cabins, this would be a more rustic retreat - although there should be hotel options not too far away. We will plan on doing cooking in a large kitchen, making for a more community-type event, rather than eating out. This will be a great way to get to know each other.
Does this appeal to you? Let us know: staff@biblicalfamilies.org, we should announce the location in November.
Orlando, FL: May 22nd-25th, 2009 (Memorial Day)
We are considering this our "signature" retreat for 2009. Pastor Randy and his family should be present and sharing. Perhaps you don't do "rustic" (our cabins retreat), or just want to come to Florida for the play-time (the kids always have lots of fun here). This will be our 4th Memorial Day retreat in a row - a "root" from which Biblical Families grew. The location is set in stone (10 miles west of Orlando, 6 miles north of Disney), and local hotel information is available now, write us if you'd like it or any other information. email: nathan@biblicalfamilies.org
The 2nd half of the year is tentative for now, but we welcome your input and suggestions:
West Coast
Perhaps mid-to-late September 2009 in Northern California (drivable from San Diego to Seattle), let us know what would work for you .
Open to feedback on location and date.
Dallas, Texas
Nov/Dec 2009 or Jan 2010
Open to your input on exact date - we will try for a non-hotel location next year, and settle on a date by mid-year.
Is after Christmas weekend good (Dec 26-28th)? Or should we wait until January?
Send us your input on these events: staff@biblicalfamilies.org
We’ve also posted 2009 retreat information on the site, and started a discussion page here.
Inspirational note from Todd Webb, Biblical Families Board member and Treasurer
Ecclesiastes 3:1
TS: “1. For every matter there is an appointed time, even a time for every pursuit under the heavens:”
KJV: “1. To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:”
One of my favorite verses of scripture is also one of the most appropriate for our cause in my opinion. I have always found this particular passage encouraging and at the same time giving hope and patience. There are many out there who do not accept us or see the truth of what we are doing both as individual families and as a community. But we can have assurance that for all things there is a time. I believe there will be a time when man will realize the truth of plural marriage and come to accept it. All of us will most likely be looked upon unfavorably for believing in the truth, but we can rest assured that there is a higher power who is in control and who has a plan. Our Heavenly Father will make all things come about in His time. We can find strength and encouragement in knowing that although we may not be in control of everything, we have a Father in heaven who will not leave us nor forsake us for believing and living the truth. There is a time for everything and we should diligently work towards that time and have patience for it to come.
More news:
It’s been a busy 8 months, and besides about 250 persons added to our mailing list, and nearly 2000 messages posted on the forums, we are contacted nearly daily now by those searching for the truth regarding Biblical polygamy, or those in need of counseling or other help, or someone looking for a media contact (Pastor Randy recently did a interview by phone for a UK radio station). We all work full time, and sometimes we don’t get to everyone or every response we’d like to. Please pray for God’s will to be done thru Biblical Families, we really don’t want to spend any effort in any direction that’s not from Him. Also pray about how He might have you participate – we could use help in several areas.
Also, as some of you have requested, we’ve recently made it possible for you to give from our main website – you’ll find a PayPal Donate button there. Any funds given at this time go mainly toward retreat and Internet expenses, though we’d like to be in a position eventually to start a fund to help plural families in need (legal or otherwise). Thanks for listening to God if He would have you help out in this way.
God bless you, and as always, let us know how we can serve you.
Biblical Families.org Staff