WVIW Marriage Seminar Recap

     This Past Weekend we had the honor of being at the Jester Unit in Rosenberg near Houston. We invited almost thirty wives who were approved by the prison to attend with their husbands and about twenty five responded. The prison imposed a limit of twenty wives due to the room capacity so we had a handful of wives who immediately went to a waiting list.
     We had a few wives who had to cancel their reservation for the seminar and with the waiting list  filled with eagerly awaiting wives the spots were very quickly replaced. Several wives who had no way of attending were now in the final count and on their way along with several other wives and 17 volunteers.
     Our weekend Marriage Seminars are always a huge rush of excitement and anticipation and this past seminar was no exception.
     From the volunteers to the wives there seemed to be an extra special attention being paid to every detail and anxious anticipation of what the weekend would provide.
     You can read our earlier posts on Friday and Saturday here
     We spent Sunday in a very reverent attitude and really focused ourselves on what would be one of the most fruitful and exciting days of the weekend.
     Saturday night we had 14 individuals pray to accept Christ into their lives as well as several who recommitted themselves to God in the presence of their spouses. So Sunday was extra special because now the couples could stand before the room and share what God had done in their lives and in their marriages over the past 48 hours. Many shared how they had renewed their relationship with Christ because of having the time to really discuss God and life matters with their spouse for the first time ever. In regular visitation wives have only two hours a week to speak with their husbands and many do not even have that many hours due to distance and other factors. That means that this past weekend during our seminar many couples had more time together with their spouse than in a year of visitation. That is a huge imbalance but this weekend made all the difference for them and they ALL took advantage of it!
     One wife even said that even though she has already believed in God and known Jesus, she has not had the opportunity to REALLY see Jesus until this weekend. Now here and her husband have a new foundation on which to build their NEW life with each other and with God.
     Several wives have already contacted us about finding a church and plugging into a strong and faithful community NOW while their husbands are still incarcerated so that when he is released they can already be a part of a strong body of believers and have a solid place to worship together.
     If you would like to be a part of our next Seminar which will be held in November, please click here and fill out our WVIW Team Member Application online. If you have volunteered with us before or have already filled out our Application then you do not have to do again, but please email us and let us know your interested in attending in November.

WVIW Ministry Update by Johnny Moffitt

"Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. I thank my God every time I remember you. 4In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, 6being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. It is right for me to feel this way about all of you, since I have you in my heart; for whether I am in chains or defending and confirming the gospel, all of you share in God's grace with me. God can testify how I long for all of you with the affection of Christ Jesus.” Philippians 1:2-8

     Recently WVIW conducted a “Marriage Seminar” in the Jester III Prison with twenty couples.  From the very beginning, I knew God had something special planned.  For one thing the devil was coming against it every way he could.  Our communication director, had car trouble on the way to the unit, and had to leave his car to be repaired.  Five registered wives had to cancel for one reason or another.  One of our team member’s son unexpectedly passed away during the seminar.  One wife’s mother was rushed to the hospital.  Another’s two children were so emotionally troubled by their mother being gone for three days that the wife had to return home Saturday night.
     Through all of this, God moved.  There was a waiting list, so the ladies who had to cancel were replaced by other couples.  The team member whose son passed away decided to stay and finish the seminar.  The mother who was rushed to the hospital was treated and released, and is doing fine.  The wife who returned home Saturday was ministered to and the children are fine.  Praise the Lord!
     Although the devil always tries to stop these seminars, he always fails.  One couple stated their marriage was over, but as a result of this seminar they decided to stay together.  All twenty couples renewed their commitment to each other and the marriage.  Fourteen people prayed to receive Christ.  One man who was an elder in the Wicca Church, Satan worshipers church, received Christ.  Sunday morning we had a service where several others renounced all past involvement in similar lifestyles .  It was a tremendous time.
     We need your help to continue this type of ministry.  Please consider making WVIW a part of your regular giving to the work of God.  WVIW is reaching the neglected and forgotten peoples of the world.  
     Right now, will you write out the best check you can to WVIW, or go to our web site, www.wviw.com, and mail your gift or give on line.  All those who are saved or ministered by our teams are credited to your account in heaven.   
     Thank you for all you do.

Your servant,

Johnny Moffitt, D.Min.
Director         

WVIW Marriage Seminar Saturday Update

Saturday is the longest of the three day seminar and always proves to be one of the most rewarding adventures of all! We always have so much to fit in and even with the long hours (7a-830p) we sometimes wish we had even more time to get more done. Today was an incredible example of this statement.

It started out with a fantastic breakfast followed by teaching by Betty Moffitt. We learned about communication and how to listen as well as really hear our spouses when they talk to us. It is up to all of us to pull the bits out of the seminar that will be of specific help in our relationship. 

After the teachings we had ample opportunity to key in and focus on the teachings and spent the time connecting with our small groups. 

Typically small group time is one of the most adored and sought after times. This is a time when you can really soak up what has just occurred and really dig in to some issues that may be clouding our relationship with our spouse. Each person can take as much or as little of the time to discuss and work through some of the challenges that are being faced. 

After lunch we had more time to learn and glean from each of the teachers through a portion called Split Session in which we take the men to one room and the ladies to another for female specific an male specific discussion time. It seems ironic to divide up the rooms by gender when this is a Marriage Seminar, but this time really benefits each couple more than they would expect. This affords each individual the opportunity to listen to their spouses side of the story without censorship through the voices of the opposite sex via our Team Members. We have several Team Members who have been in the exact same situation as the couples and have volumes of information ready to be poured into their lives. The men Team Members speak into the female participants lives, while across the building, the female volunteers accomplish the same. At the end of this session the participants are encouraged to ask ANYthing they want to of the Team Members and they DO! It is a great time of openness and honesty. 

After more small group time, we had the opportunity to hear several life altering testimonies as well as a powerful take on the story of Jonah taught by Johnny Moffitt. 

Several people responded Saturday night by accepting Jesus into their lives for the first time as well as several who decided to recommit themselves to God in front of their spouses for the first time. 

It gives our Team great joy to spend the time here with the couples and many of us have made serious bonds with the couples this weekend. 

Sunday will be another hard hitting day so please stay tuned and keep us in your prayers. We will be posting more updates and more pictures as the day progresses. Thank you ! 

WVIW Marriage Seminar Encouragement

Here is a letter we recieved using our Mobile YouVersion online Marriage Seminar minisite hope your blessed!

My wife and I wish so much that we could be there for our fellow couples tonight. If we were we would tell them that God will see them through this. We know the obstacle in front of each of those individual lives and marriages can seem insurmountable at times, but with God's direction and help, they are going to make it. Just like we did! May the rest of this weekend be a time for healing, sharing and growth, and may each couple experience the love that can only be found in our Lord Jesus. He can carry their burdens through this difficult time in their lives. And when they reach that glorious day of parole, they will look back and see that this weekend was one He gave to them to share as a couple. Enjoy this moment and please know that life out here together, which is what we all are wanting, is made even sweeter after overcoming the obstacle of incarceration. God bless each of you ladies for your courage, your determination, and your heroism. Your husbands are coming home to a blessing that only God could provide. And thank you volunteers for giving of your lives to some of the most incredible people you will ever meet. Couples affected by, but still overcoming incarceration.
Now that is LOVE!
Greg & Melissa Alvis

WVIW Marriage Seminar Friday Update

Thank you all, first and foremost, for being such faithful supporters of our ministry and for following along each and every time we have a marriage seminar. You have touched us deeply and you give us much to be thankful for. We are blessed as a ministry because of our partners like you who continually "show up" in such an incredible way. 

Todays opening was a great success. I think that by all accounts the consensus would be that today really marked a special and unique time for all. There are so many lives being impacted this weekend even from just being here one day. We never doubt the presence of God, but today was an especially blessed and anointed day. 

We started out at our team meeting and gave special instructions to all of our team members to do nothing this weekend but let God work. We believe we are called to be servants and not take this time for self promotion but for God promotion. Everyone has there own special relationship with God, and if all we are used to do is to set the stage for His show, then we have been used mightily in the Kingdom and are eternally grateful. 

We heard powerful testimonies, moving songs, and a stirring word. It is safe to say that everyone in the room connected in a profound way and are all anticipating the blessing coming in the next two days. 

We are posting a gallery of photos here as well as a Short YouTube "highlight reel" of the day that we hope you will enjoy. We would love to hear your comments and would love to pass along a prayer from you to our couples. If you have something you would like to share please fill in the comment section below or leave a comment at facebook.com/wviwonline

WVIW Marriage Seminar Team Member Dinner

     Wow what a great day.
     Our team is all here in Rosenberg getting ready for the marriage seminar that starts tomorrow. The stories of seminars passed and time served have already began. Dinner is almost served and our team is getting comfortable with each other through all the varied conversations. There are not many places that are better to spend a weeknight.
     We are blessed to know so many selfless, honorable and giving people. One of the best parts of WVIW is our volunteering Team Members. Without this group of individuals our ministry would not be nearly as effective and not at all this fun.
     We hope you will stay in touch this weekend and follow along as we update on our progress.
     If you would like to be a part of our next seminar please fill out our Team Member Application here http://bit.ly/missionsapp

     Thank You for your prayers and participation.