With over 45 families registered and close to 300 in attendance, this year’s Australian Annual ATI Family Conference was a special time of fellowship. Peter Lim, ATI Australia Director, gratefully noted that many families gave of their time and effort volunteering to help make the 2015 Family Conference a wonderful experience for all.

Chris and Anne Hogan came from Illinois to speak at the conference. Their messages encouraged families in that all-important relationship with Christ that leads to harmony and oneness in their homes and marriages. Chris also shared the ATI ministry team’s vision towards family discipleship under the Living Word.

Brent and Becky Keilen, from Michigan, encouraged the young and not-so-young Australian folks. The brother and sister team was well-received. Mr. Lim said, “It is wonderful to have the ‘next’ generation share with us insights from their time in ATI and wisdom they have gained on their journeys. We have adopted them into our Aussie ATI family, and we hope they might return sometime soon!”

One lady from Melbourne also reported on the young ladies’ program called  “Renew.” She and several others designed the program and took it to various places in Australia to reach out and encourage younger women in their faith. Another highlight of the conference was the testimonies from families sharing some of the trials and struggles, as well as victories, during their journey through the year. Though some families had suffered losses or setbacks, they came from around the country to encourage one another at the Family Conference, which many said they look forward to attending each year.

Older children participated in “Pathfinders,” in which they explored the many ways God leads us in our lives. The younger children were also cared for by older siblings in the “Sunbeams” area. Following the regular conference, team leaders and teachers who had tended the young ones during general sessions attended special student sessions designed for them.

There was great excitement about ATI Australia having four new families join during the conference. Many saw this as further confirmation that the Lord is leading into a new era for the Australian IBLP organization. Mr. Lim wrote, “We were especially blessed to have Tim Levendusky join us, and we all agreed that his kind, gentle confidence in the Lord gives him and our organization an incredible strength and hope for the future. His honesty and transparency about the challenges and opportunities ahead gave many a real hope and sense that the Lord is indeed directing and leading this worldwide ministry.”