‘Marriage, Family and Life’ Conference Will Bring Important Issues to Forefront

TUPELO, Miss.—Wil and Meeke Addison are the modern definition of a “power couple.” The two leaders for Urban Family Communications (UFC, www.urbanfamilytalk.com), a division of the American Family Association (AFA, www.afa.net), are strong voices within the Christian and urban community.

The married couple are vocal pro-life, pro-family advocates and host the popular daily radio program, “Airing the Addisons” on the American Family Radio network of stations.

In just a few weeks, the Addisons, UFC and AFA will host the second annual “Marriage, Family and Life Conference” with the goal to motivate the Body of Christ to engage our culture boldly with truth. The conference will bring many current hot-button issues to the forefront, including abortion, religious freedom and the need for conservative Christians to lead within their homes, churches and communities. And these issues cross all color barriers.

“I think we have a tendency to gravitate toward people who sound like us,” Wil Addison, director of Urban Family Talk, told AFA Journal.

But over the years, the Addisons have found that cultural topics matter to everyone—of every race.

“We are really just speaking truth and relating it to cultural issues bombarding us as Christians,” Addison said. “People are wrestling with these things, and they’re asking, ‘How should we live as Christians in a world that is hostile to God?’ I think Urban Family Talk has served as a bridge to bring more hosts to the table. We can all speak about the same issues with a different voice and perspective. And we all learn from that.”

The feedback from last year’s inaugural conference attended by over 300 adults was overwhelmingly positive.

“Last year, the speakers were amazing, and I think the panel discussion was one of my favorite moments,” said Brian from Mississippi.

Added Ken from Alabama, “My wife, four kids, and I had a wonderful time at the conference last year. It’s so important for believers to have a Bible-centric perspective on issues facing our culture, and this conference does this type of equipping.”

The June 20-22 conference will explore how the Church can successfully navigate the rapid decline of our culture and will address the following questions:

• Marriage: Is it still relevant? Does the Church have a vested interest in it? How do we restore those that are broken?
• Family: How can we defend it if we don’t properly define it? What makes the biblical standard of family the only standard?
• Life: What must the Church do to glorify God in the midst of a culture of death? How do we navigate new norms regarding not only sexual ethics but also sexual identity? 

“(Last year’s) conference was an amazing picture of the body of Christ coming together,” Addison said. “It really had a family feel to it, and we hope this year’s conference does as well.”

The 2019 “Marriage, Family and Life” Conference will also bring together some of the top voices of truth to speak to the most pressing issues of our day. Besides the Addisons, speakers include apologist and faith investigator J. Warner Wallace and his wife, Susie; Danielle Parker of Students for Life; Bishop Vincent Matthews; Bishop E.W. Jackson; Stephen Black of First Stone Ministries; Laura Perry, contributing blogger for AFA; and Ed Vitagliano and Abraham Hamilton III, both leaders within AFA.

Sessions and breakouts will delve into topics such as “Gospel, Culture and Politics,” “Millennials: Cultural Issues and the Church,” “Pro-Life Window” and more. The conference will open with a 6 p.m. concert Thursday, June 20, with Flame, POR, C-Micah, JWil Music and Cam. A separate Youth Apologetics Track for ages 4 through 13 is part of the conference as well.

The Marriage, Family and Life Conference is set for June 20-22 at Hope Church at 2094 McCullough Blvd. in Tupelo. Rooms for conference attendees have also been blocked off at La Quinta Inn & Suites, 1013 North Gloster Street, Tupelo; call (662) 847-8000 for hotel reservations. Visit urbanfamilytalk.com/conference for more information or to register.

View the media page for AFA here. For more information on American Family Association, visit www.afa.net or follow AFA on Facebook or on Twitter @AmericanFamAssc.

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To interview a representative from the American Family Association, contact Media@HamiltonStrategies.com, Jeff Tolson, 610.584.1096, ext. 108, or ext. 100.