This November, 3,000 scholars, policy makers, experts, and activists met in Salt Lake City, Utah for the very first World Congress of Families to be held in the U.S. The World Congress of Families could be described as the Olympics of the Family, as similarities are found in many areas including the atmosphere, optimism, pride in one’s country, and reverence for what takes place. This international congress represented 40 countries around the world and 25 states within the U.S. Over the 5 day congress, participants had the distinct opportunity to discuss a wide variety of fields related to the family, including sobering ones like pornography and human trafficking, as well as more optimistic ones like dating and integrating faith into marriage.
While the congress had to tackle challenging issues like a reaction to the recent redefinition of marriage in the U.S., the one child policy in China, and the status of women at the UN, the overall atmosphere of the congress was incredibly optimistic. The reason for this was the almost 300 young, aspirational, and passionate emerging leaders who came from every part of the world to participate. In an effort to engage the future of the pro-family movement, the World Congress of Families started a competitive scholarship program so that young people would be able to attend. These scholars competed for an opportunity to travel from around the world to Salt Lake City for the Congress.
Like the Olympics, they brought their talents, passions, languages, and cultures with them. While the congress was held to address very serious issues facing the family around the world, having had the distinct privilege of meeting and being one the world’s emerging leaders of the pro-family movement, I am happy to report that the future of the pro-family movement is in good hands.
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