After the Conference, Next Steps

The Weekend to Remember conference may be over, but applying the biblical principles you learned during the weekend is just beginning.

For most people, the Weekend to Remember conference is a time of hope and encouragement. But back in the real world, your marriage faces relentless obstacles. Over time, it’s not easy to maintain the vision for oneness that was so clear at the conference. That’s why it’s important to follow a plan.

The first step after coming home is to capture the ideas and principles that stood out to you during the conference.  If you attended a Weekend to Remember recently, you may already notice areas where you need improvement or perhaps you are beginning to see for the first time how following God’s principles really make a marriage work. 

Those eye-opener moments have the potential to shape and strengthen your marriage for years to come.  In fact, why not take a clean sheet of paper, a note card, or a page in your journal, and list the key points in your own words?  Now is the time to revisit and reinforce these ideas.

Second, if you’re not already connecting with your spouse on a spiritual level, let us encourage you to start praying with your spouse on a daily basis.  This is your starting point for growing deeper in Christ together.  FamilyLife offers many resources to help you grow, including two devotional books designed for you and your spouse, the best-selling Moments Together for Couples and the sequel Moments With You. 

Third, if you’re not already an active member at your church, start attending this Sunday.  Being a part of Christian fellowship will give you the accountability and encouragement you need when facing challenging times in your marriage.

Talk to your pastor.  Tell him about your experience at the Weekend to Remember.  If you’re dealing with issues in your marriage that cannot be resolved, seek his help.  If you’re marriage is already strong and healthy, ask him how you can be involved in marriage ministry in your church.  He’ll appreciate the help.

Last, join a small group Bible study that focuses on your marriage.  Many churches are already using FamilyLife’s HomeBuilders Couples Series®.  Studies in the series, such as, Building Your Marriage and Growing Together in Christ will help keep your marriage strong and healthy.  If your church doesn’t offer a small group or Bible study like HomeBuilders, order a kit to start your own group.  Each study comes with leader’s notes that make it easy for anyone to facilitate.  

The key to long-term success in marriage is to build reinforcements into your daily schedule, and we’re here to help you reach that goal. We’ve developed dozens of resources to help you develop your own plan for continued growth throughout the days to come. Browse FamilyLife.com to find free streaming audio from FamilyLife Today, free devotionals and e-newsletters that come straight to your inbox, and articles on marriage and parenting that help with everyday life.

Here is a list of some of the resources we offer.  Please take a moment to decide which ones would best help you in your marriage and family.

Daily resources

• Listen to FamilyLife Today daily radio broadcast
• Begin each day together with a couples devotional
• Read the Marriage Memo