Couples Attend Love & Respect Marriage Conference

Couples attend Love & Respect Marriage Conference at Walnut Creek Downtown on October 10 & 11.

One way Walnut Creek Church supports strong, Christ-like marriages and families is by hosting a couple’s conference every year. This year, the conference hosted 115 couples for a Love & Respect video conference on October 10 and 11.

Based on the groundbreaking principles taught in Dr. Emerson Eggerichs’ best-selling book Love & Respect, the conference taught couples how to achieve a brand-new level of intimacy as they learn to stop the crazy cycle of conflict, initiate the energizing cycle of change, and enjoy the rewarded cycle of new passion.

“My car needs a tune-up every once in a while. So does my marriage,” said Russ Cross of Walnut Creek South, who has been married to his wife JoDee for 32 years.

“It’s good to refresh,” JoDee added. “The Love & Respect conference is wonderful; very enlightening.”

Jeremy and Ashlyn Oberg of Walnut Creek Downtown have been married for three and a half years. They agreed that it’s important to set aside time to focus on their marriage, especially with having two young children and a hectic lifestyle.

“It’s good to listen to someone walk through examples and experiences who is well rooted in scripture,” Jeremy said. “What he’s writing about isn’t some secular author’s or psychology’s new fad. It’s God – the author of life and marriage – what he’s said the whole time.”

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By Tim Laehn 

Walnut Creek Downtown

Tom Short Addresses "Five Crucial Questions" at Fall Conference

Campus evangelist Tom Short challenged students to believe God and live lives of faith at the 2014 Fall Conference.

Campus Fellowship welcomed campus evangelist and pastor Tom Short to speak at the 2014 Fall Conference held this past weekend at Jordan Park Camp.

Tom spoke five times throughout the weekend, addressing the questions from his book, "Five Crucial Questions about Christianity." Tom ministers full-time to students, traveling around the country to evangelize and engage in conversations on college campuses. The week of the conference, Tom spent a few days at Iowa State University doing just that.

"There is something more important to God than for us to be perfect–to receive His love and love Him back," said Tom. "Discover what God says and by the grace of God live it."

Campus Fellowship students from Drake, Grand View, DMACC, and AIB attended the Fall Conference as well as students and young adults from Ames and Cedar Rapids. The three-day conference offered students an opportunity to take time away from work and school and focus on hearing from God and His word.

"Since I have been involved in Campus Fellowship, I have really been able to see what it truly means to live out your faith and what the life of a Christian looks like," said Stephanie Gaub, a sophomore at Drake University. "The Fall Conference was the climax of all the growth that I have experienced since coming to Drake. It got me so pumped for Jesus."

The conference challenged students to think about who God is and strengthen their foundation of faith. Students also enjoyed bonfires, a flag football tournament, sand volleyball, and free time to fellowship with one another throughout the weekend.

"At the Fall Conference we saw a lot of new people–Christians and non-Christians. Tom Short did a great job answering the questions that come to Christians on a college campus. People were strengthened in their faith," said Jacob Van Sickle, Campus Fellowship Director.

Visit tomthepreacher.com to learn more about Tom Short and view his resources on faith, apologetics, and evangelism.

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By Jackie Wallentin 

Walnut Creek Windsor Heights