This year, Family Ministries celebrates their 100th year anniversary. For this reason, the family ministries departments from the Chinese-speaking territories of the Northern Asia-Pacific Division (NSD)—China Union Mission, Hong Kong-Macau Conference, and Taiwan Conference—came together for a conference at the Taiwan Sanyu Health Education Center from April 17 to 20, 2019. About 35 leaders attended; they reviewed the history of family ministries as well as participated in seminars and workshops.
The speakers for the conference were Dr. Willie and Elaine Oliver, General Conference (GC) family ministries directors; Dr. Lisa Clouzet, NSD family ministries director; and Dr. and Mrs. James Wu, the CEO and manager of the Sanyu Health Education Center. They talked about essential elements in today’s families, including emotional, spiritual, relational, and physical health. The family ministries leaders were inspired by the lectures and practices the speakers presented on becoming intimate allies with their spouses as examples in their local churches. Only when couples receive Christ into their hearts and homes will they experience long-lasting marriages, peace, and happiness. It is an art to keep marriages fresh and beautiful. This kind of relationship in marriage and in the home is a representation of our wonderful, heavenly home.
The participants enjoyed the beautiful environment as well as the healthy and delicious meals prepared by the health center. Unforgettable memories were made through worshipping, learning, and fellowshipping together.
Here are some of the comments and thoughts of the conference attendees:
“I am grateful for the seminars. I learned the essentials that make a house a home. Only when the presence of Christ is in the family will it turn into a happy Garden of Eden. It is my hope that every Adventist home would be a heavenly home. I believe that God will do miracles in every home.”
“I experienced the love and good care of God in this event. He knew my thoughts and listened to my prayers. God granted me messages from the excellent speakers. Last, but not least, I am grateful for the diligent reading of the Bible and for the chance to listen to the instructions of God.”
“I was so happy that I had the chance to participate in the seminars and workshops of the Family Ministries centennial event. To me, the most memorable words the speaker said were, ‘marriage not only makes us happy, but it also makes us holy.’ We learned a lot of skills on how to maintain a wholesome marriage, but the main one is to build our marriage on Jesus, the Rock.”
“I give thanks to our Heavenly Father for providing this good opportunity for us to join in the event. May our Father bless each of us to have a healthy and happy family, and to help our homes become little lights to shine into the families that surround us.”
As Ellen White once wrote, “Out of the heart are ‘the issues of life’; and the heart of the community, of the church, and of the nation is the household. The well-being of society, the success of the church, the prosperity of the nation, depend upon home influences” (The Adventist Home, 15).
The family and its influence is so important! We praise God for His blessings and guidance during the past 100 years!
News Article by Christine Luk, HKMC Family Ministries Director
The participants enjoyed the beautiful environment as well as the healthy and delicious meals prepared by the health center. Unforgettable memories were made through worshipping, learning, and fellowshipping together.
Here are some of the comments and thoughts of the conference attendees:
“I am grateful for the seminars. I learned the essentials that make a house a home. Only when the presence of Christ is in the family will it turn into a happy Garden of Eden. It is my hope that every Adventist home would be a heavenly home. I believe that God will do miracles in every home.”
“I experienced the love and good care of God in this event. He knew my thoughts and listened to my prayers. God granted me messages from the excellent speakers. Last, but not least, I am grateful for the diligent reading of the Bible and for the chance to listen to the instructions of God.”
“I was so happy that I had the chance to participate in the seminars and workshops of the Family Ministries centennial event. To me, the most memorable words the speaker said were, ‘marriage not only makes us happy, but it also makes us holy.’ We learned a lot of skills on how to maintain a wholesome marriage, but the main one is to build our marriage on Jesus, the Rock.”
“I give thanks to our Heavenly Father for providing this good opportunity for us to join in the event. May our Father bless each of us to have a healthy and happy family, and to help our homes become little lights to shine into the families that surround us.”
As Ellen White once wrote, “Out of the heart are ‘the issues of life’; and the heart of the community, of the church, and of the nation is the household. The well-being of society, the success of the church, the prosperity of the nation, depend upon home influences” (The Adventist Home, 15).
The family and its influence is so important! We praise God for His blessings and guidance during the past 100 years!
News Article by Christine Luk, HKMC Family Ministries Director