This year’s 2nd National Uniting Church and Family conference was a time of great refreshment and hope for the many precious families in attendance. A family that has been a great source of encouragement to the Phillips’ is the Morton family, pictured above with their twelve children. The Morton boys are a team of strapping colossi. Mr. and Mrs. Morton have encouraged a spirit of humility, gratitude, and hunger for truth with their children. During breaks in the conference when the families would gather to have meals, these boys would come and ask if they could just sit in and listen to the men discuss the Scriptures. Similarly, their eldest daughter went out of her way to share heartfelt gratitude to the speakers for their ministry. What a difference it makes when our sons and daughters have genuinely grateful hearts.

Another blessings of this conference was the opportunity for families, friends, and young men to gather to discuss matters of substance and importance to the Church. Of course, it’s just great to be with like-minded families. These boys enjoyed a sweet time of fellowship.

Peter and Rebecca, two of the ten Serven children, accompanied their father (and OPC pastor) Marcus Serven to this year’s conference. Marcus is a deliberate and careful student of Scripture who pastors a church that emphasizes sound doctrine and sound orthopraxy, and, consequently, honors the biblical model of family and church jurisdictions.

Kelly and David Brown pose with their grandfather Bill Brown, who is one of the featured Iwo Jima veterans in Vision Forum’s up-and-coming film Faith of our Fathers.

This Missouri State Senator and his wife were among the home schooling families in attendance. Their very precocious (and literate) eldest daughter brought her liberty doll and engaged me in a delightful conversation.

The Stinett family is very dear to Vision Forum. You may remember that some of them were featured in our catalog dressed as Pilgrims.

The Hart daughters enjoyed listening to their daddy, Texas attorney and Vision Forum board member Don Hart. Don provided a vigorous defense and explanation of the necessity that local churches not apply for 501(c)3 incorporation status with the federal government.

Honor Phillips smiles for the camera during a dinner break on the streets of good ‘ole St. Louis.