Family Conference Report

Dear Friends,

We wanted to update you on just a little of what is going on in DNA and with the family:

"Many of us were concerned about taking such a big step with our first church-wide family conference, but God really used the weekend to touch us all" were the words of Cheryl Henderson, one of the organizers. "It was probably the best short course in Christian living I’ve ever heard" said another participant.

Riverbend sent a packed-out crowd to White Oak, South Carolina over Labor Day weekend where Susy and I together with Paul, Anna, Joshua and Susanna, spoke seven times on topics including: God healing broken relationships, how to effectively discipline your children, God’s way of dealing with peer and parent relationships, giving your family a vision for changing the world and a love for God’s word, sexual purity for men only, women’s workshop on marriage, and a call to commitment to making disciples in your home, neighborhood, church and community. Matthew, who had already left for college, made a cameo appearance by video-tape discussing the practical aspects of disciplining your children in a godly way.

Nina and Don Mitchell, Chairman of the Board of CBMC International, brought three of their children, their spouses, six grandchildren, and a couple they are discipling with their children.  They commented:

"It was a great opportunity for us to have many of our family members and friends from four states attend the Riverbend Family Conference. We all learned so much about family relationships and child rearing according to God’s Word.  The Downers shared openly with us what works and what doesn’t!  The evidence of living out godly principles is seen in the lives of the children – all of them!  Many in our family were so thrilled with what they heard and learned, that they want to attend another Family Conference next year – for a whole week!"

Mike Austin, Senior Pastor, said, "This was more than a weekend family conference. It was a life-changing experience." Sixteen  people prayed to receive Christ on Friday night after Susy’s and my testimony, and on Sunday morning over 170 people came forward to the podium, knelt and asked God for one person to disciple over the next year. Larry and Grace Hamrick, long time CBMC friends, helped direct the organization of the family conference. We are thrilled with what God did and are excited to see what God will do in the future through the lives changed this last weekend.

We have just confirmed doing a week-long family conference next summer on these issues and many more, mentioned by Don and Nina above.  We would love any of you to join us August 29 – September 3 at Maranatha Bible Conference Center in Muskegon, Michigan.  Email us if you want details.

Joshua and our whole family have been thrilled and humbled by his appointment as a Page to the United States Senate.

On our State Senator David Fowler’s recommendation, Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist appointed Joshua as one of the thirty United States Senate Pages to spend September through January in Washington, D. C.

Joshua is up at 5 am, in school from 6:15 to 9:30 and then on the Senate floor until it adjourns for the day.  Evenings are spent studying for the very rigorous courses.  Joshua is working hard and grateful to have the opportunity to see our government work from the inside out.

Below is the article Joshua wrote right before he left, as a Youth Reporter for our local newspaper, the Chattanooga Times Free Press, which he has done periodically over the last year.

Matthew went to Cambridge a week early to work on dorm crew, cleaning Harvard dormitories to earn some extra money.  Susy flew up the next weekend to help move him in.  He loves his new roommates, Chris from Wisconsin and Evan from Boston.  This week is the shopping period where he is able to attend as many classes as he likes and then will choose the ones he wants for the semester on Monday.

Please pray for both Joshua and Matthew as they begin a new season of life.

Also, please check the website (www.DNAministries.org) for the many places I will be this fall.  I would love to see you!

Because He lives,

Phil

By Joshua Downer

It was hot, it was humid, and it was miserable. It had been an hour since I had loosened my tie and rolled up my sleeves. I resisted the urge to ditch my shirt and tie altogether and head for the pool. It was a typical summer day of campaigning for my chosen gubernatorial candidate in August of 2002. As I went door to door handing out literature and talking about the issues my candidate championed, I couldn’t help but think about how out of place I must have looked. "What does that 15-year-old high school student think he is doing?" were the words I supposed were going through the heads of the people to whom I talked. The answer is pretty simple. I was going from yard to yard talking to the good people of my home town about issues that I found important. There were more relaxing activities for a summer day, but I knew that I was doing something significant which could have unanticipated results.  

One of the unanticipated results came when I got a call from State Senator David Fowler, someone whom I have known for several years and is aware of my political activism. He said that he had learned of a position for which he wanted to recommend me, and asked if I were interested. Senator Bill Frist, the Senate Majority Leader, was for the first time going to appoint a page. Knowing little about the program, but excited about the opportunity, I immediately sent in my application for the fall session.

I soon learned that this is one of the most unique programs in the country. There are thirty pages for each Senate session during the year. The pages live in a dormitory two blocks from the Capitol, attend the Page School there in the morning, and serve on the Senate floor the rest of the day. A page’s responsibility consists of delivering legislation within the Congressional Complex, calling members who are in session to the phone, and carrying bills and amendments to the members’ desks. But beyond that, every day pages have a chance to talk to, interact with, and serve the men and women in the "greatest deliberative body in the world."  

I received a call several weeks later that Senator Frist had appointed me to the page position for the September through January session. It was one of the most humbling phone calls I have ever received. I was going to serve as the Majority Leader’s representative with twenty-nine other high school juniors in the center of the political world.

It is certainly going to be different than the only political world I have been exposed to – the doorsteps of Chattanooga. Instead of getting grass stains on my black shoes from walking through your yards I will be getting back aches from having to bend over to hand senators pieces of legislation. But in many ways, I know it will be the same. I will be immersing myself in issues that determine the future of my life and the lives of my fellow citizens.

But I am also going to witness first-hand the making of our laws. I will be able see what public servants do when the chips are down and it’s time to vote on a controversial issue. My political involvement started out as a vague ambition of making my voice heard in the public square. But now I know that it can be that and so much more. Our city needs young people to step up, get out of our comfort zone, and make a difference. I may be the first page for Senator Frist, but I won’t be the last. As we come into an election year, it is a great time to get involved. If you want to get started, call up your party’s local chairman and volunteer.