Building a Stronger Christian Family Culture: Reflections from the Faithful Families Retreat

"We will tell the next generation the praiseworthy deeds of the Lord, his power, and the wonders he has done. He decreed statutes for Jacob and established the law in Israel, which he commanded our forefathers to teach their children, so the next generation would know them, even the children yet to be born, and they in turn would tell their children."

- Psalm 78:4b-6

In mid-September, something special happened at the Omni Orlando Resort. Families from different places, with different stories, gathered together for one shared purpose: to pause from the busyness of life and refocus on what matters most—growing closer to one another and closer to God.

From the very first evening, there was a sense of excitement in the air. Families laughed as they joined in quick activities designed to break the ice, and parents found themselves connecting with other families who shared their same desire for intentional living. That first night, every family—no matter the size or stage of life—sat together and began dreaming about what their ideal family world would look like. Parents and kids alike picked up crayons, markers, or pens. Little ones sketched pictures, older children scribbled words, and together families began to put language to the kind of home culture they longed to build. We closed the night in a spirit of gratitude, giving thanks to God and praying together as families.

Saturday morning began with worship led by Mikey and Emily Krill from HisWay Band. Their music filled the room and prepared hearts for Dr. Chap Clark’s message. Chap, co-author of Sticky Faith, spoke about the power of family culture in passing down faith to the next generation. It was a message that hit home for many parents, and afterward, each family took time to reflect on where their current culture stood—and where they wanted it to be if they were going to live out their vision of following Jesus together.

One parent later shared, “The interactive family activities gave us the tools and language to reflect on our family culture in ways we haven’t done in the past.”

After lunch, it was time for rest and play. Families enjoyed the pools and sunshine at the resort—a reminder that time away to simply be together is just as important as the sessions themselves. That evening, we gathered again for family worship, and then capped off the night with our Family Fun Night talent show. Kids took the stage with songs, gymnastics, and talents of every kind, while the rest of us laughed, clapped, and cheered them on. One dad summed it up beautifully: “I loved the experience. The talent show was a super fun addition!”

Sunday morning, we worshiped together one last time and then dove into some of the most meaningful work of the weekend—talking about the daily changes families could make to move from their current culture toward their ideal family culture. It wasn’t just parents making plans; kids were part of the process too. As one family put it, “The Family Culture exercise was so great, because kids could contribute. We could have open conversation about the reality of our family. We could consider ways to change.”

Finally, Chap closed the retreat with a blessing, sending each family out with renewed vision and encouragement for the journey ahead.

Throughout the weekend, families expressed their gratitude for the experience:

• “The activities, presenter and music were all wonderful.”

• “This conference was a gift to us that we feel will change the course of not only our family culture, but also our marriage. It certainly will be a mile marker that we can look back on and note the breakthrough.”

• “Family activities made us have conversations.”

• “I really appreciated that kids could be running around the room, while we were working on our family culture diagram and even while the speaker was sharing. I appreciated the intimate atmosphere. The venue was fantastic! The food was incredible. The free time on Saturday afternoon was so good.”

When all was said and done, the retreat wasn’t just a weekend away—it was a sacred pause. It was a chance for families to slow down, reconnect, and dream together. Parents and children alike left with a clearer vision of what it means to follow Jesus together in their everyday lives. They were reminded that family culture isn’t something that just “happens”—it’s something we can prayerfully shape with God’s help.

For many, it was the conversations, the laughter, the prayers, and even the simple act of sitting together at a table with crayons and paper that will be remembered most. One dad summed it up well when he said, “All in all, I thought it was so great!!!”

The first Faithful Families Retreat was truly a weekend to remember. More than that—it was the start of something we believe God will continue to grow in families for years to come.

Watch a highlight video of the retreat on YouTube here.