On a leisurely walk one day, Azusa Pacific President Jon Wallace suggested to HomeWord founder Jim Burns that his organization should partner with the university. The longtime accountability partners discussed the benefits of the church and family-focused organization teaming up with the school. Five years later, the success of the HomeWord Center for Youth and Family reflects a thriving partnership between HomeWord and APU, including an annual marriage conference held in Azusa Pacific’s own Felix Event Center.
Couples gather in Felix Event Center to listen to speakers present at the HomeWord's 2013 Refreshing Your Marriage Conference.
APU Vice President of University Relations David Peck, the school’s HomeWord liaison, explained that the partnership offers the chance to influence a culture that works against the ideas of intentionality and provide a biblical base for marriage and parenting.
“I think the noise of culture from a negative standpoint is pervasive, and so this provides an opportunity for the university to set itself apart,” Peck said.
Founded in 1985 by APU alumnus Jim Burns ’75, HomeWord began as an organization which mainly specialized in ministry among children and teens with an emphasis on cultivating leadership skills. However, a widespread trend in Christian ministry, which Burns termed a “paradigm shift,” ushered forth a new emphasis on the involvement of parents as a key element in youth ministry. HomeWord adjusted its focus accordingly.
“I saw an incredible need for helping kids and for helping parents,” Burns said, as “HomeWord’s job is to come alongside the church.” The organization offers an abundance of resources for churches, including seminars, devotionals, radio broadcasts and blogs that feature biblical teachings regarding family and culture.
In 2007, APU recognized an alignment of family and marriage values with HomeWord and the university began to sponsor the organization and became involved in its radio and website services. Two years later, APU and HomeWord officially partnered to establish the HomeWord Center for Youth and Family.
HomeWord President Jim Burns and senior Director of the HomeWord Center Doug Fields speak at the 2013 Refreshing Your Marriage Conference at Felix Event Center. Courtesy of The Homeward Center for Youth and Family.
The name of the organization reflects its defining value of building a healthy home environment centered upon the Word of God. HomeWord focuses on fostering four specific elements of a Christian family, including “strong marriages,” “confident parents,” “empowered kids” and “healthy leaders.”
This year, Peck said, the HomeWord Center for Youth and Family is focusing predominantly on marriage, emphasizing its “Refreshing Your Marriage” conference and “Getting Ready for Marriage” campaign.
Peck explained that the opportunity for APU to help counter the nation’s ever-increasing divorce rate will also benefit the university.
“For the university to proactively not only research but then provide materials that help marriages and help parenting to continue to grow and thrive — I think is critical for success of our future,” Peck said.
Held annually in the Felix Event Center, the “Refreshing Your Marriage” conference began as an event with 200-300 couples, but it is expected to attract 700-800 in 2015, including APU faculty, staff and alumni. The conference website offers a number of testimonials praising the positive effects it’s had on marriages.
“The RYM conferences inspired us to continue to focus on our relationship as a couple, to slow down a bit in this busy pace of life, … keep Jesus central to all we do … and really made me appreciate all of the positive in our relationship,” reads a statement by conference attendee Michele Perez.
The 2015 conference will be held March 13-14, focusing on values such as “essential balance,” “effective communication” and “promise and commitment.” Speakers will include Holly Wagner, Jim and Cathy Burns, Doug and Cathy Fields and Albert and Larosa Tate.
The “Getting Ready for Marriage” campaign is based upon a recent book by Jim Burns and HomeWord Center Senior Director Doug Fields. It offers guidance for couples to begin their marriage with a strong foundation and maintain a healthy relationship. The text is supplemented by other materials including workbooks and an online app.
Burns and Fields are also adjunct professors for the APU master of arts in youth ministry program.
Currently, the HomeWord Center for Youth and Family generates all its finances through fundraising. However, Peck hopes that in the future the center will be endowed, enabling Fields and Burns to travel and speak around the world.