Blended and Blessed set for Saturday

by Havre Daily News staff

A Hi-Line Church is holding an event Saturday to share ideas on how to have a healthy stepfamily relationship.

Jim Erickson, pastor of Community Church in Gildford, said he wanted to participate in the live-streamed “Blessed and Blessed” event because many people in the church and in the region are blended families, stepfamily couples, single parents, dating couples with kids and people who care about blended families.

The event will be livestreamed to communities throughout the nation, although Erickson said only a few locations in Montana are participating Saturday.

Food and childcare will be provided at the church in Gildford, allowing people the chance to participate all day in the event, which runs from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Presenters will live stream presentations on five key points; listed on the program website: “Key #1 — When God Redeems Your Story — To overcome a difficult past and press into an unknown future, trust God to redeem your story and make sense of your family’s future. Your family story isn’t over. There’s more to be written. 

“Key #2 — A Dynamic Marriage — A healthy marriage is like gravity; it pulls all things toward it. Parenting is better, bonding is more likely, and “familyness” grows. Even when the pieces of your stepfamily are flying in different directions a strong marriage invites them back and welcomes them home.

“Key #3 — Compassionate Parenting — Parenting is tough. Parenting and stepparenting in a stepfamily is exponentially more difficult and requires a strange mix of teamwork, self-awareness, effective parenting skills, grief counseling, and heart-felt compassion. But unlock this one and it’s likely that your family will thrive. 

“Key #4 — Get a New You —The more you become like Christ, the better parent, stepparent, and/or spouse you grow into and the stronger your family becomes. Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts so your family can be at peace.

“Key #5 — Dedicated to the Journey — Healthy stepfamilies are stubbornly persistent. They refuse to quit. Learn what it means to be committed to the process of becoming family and gain inspiration to keep going.” 

For more information and to register, people can visit http://www.blendedandblessed.com: