Flat Creek Baptist Church will host the first-ever southside Atlanta Basic Seminar and Children's Institute with Bill Gothard, Sept. 21-26, where attendees will be taught how to apply the basic principles and the Character First program in the city, government, community, schools and families.

Past Basic Seminars have filled the Omni in downtown Atlanta with tens of thousands of participants and so far, the regional office of the Institute in Basic Life Principles reports over 600 are expected to attend the Fayetteville seminar.

The steps and principles taught by Gothard are Biblically-based that "teaches you how to get back to the basics, prioritize your life," according to Bud Bramblett with the regional office.

Gothard began his ministry, based in Illinois, in the 1960's while working with Chicago youth groups. He soon realized that to effectively help the troubled teens, he would have to work with the parents as well.

In the last 10 years, the ministry has grown internationally and encompasses more than just the average family, but also juvenile offenders and families in crisis.

The goal still remains the same, though. Based on Malachi 4: 6, his purpose is to "...turn the heart of the fathers to the children and the heart of the children to their fathers..."

The program, which has received international adoption, is the Character First program. It is used throughout secular organizations including public school systems and governments both locally and national.

Through this program, Gotthard said when he spoke at Flat Creek Baptist in July that the international problem of youth crime could be diminished by identifying some of the root problems behind the children's crimes.

He said by introducing the Character First program to the offenders and their families, they have seen amazing results. So far over 2.5 million people have attended conferences using this program.

In addition to the Basic Seminar, the Children's Institute will also will occur simultaneously, teaching children how to develop skills in attentiveness, accept 10 unchangeable features, learn to be obedient, maintain a clear conscience and more.

The conference will be held Monday-Thursday from 7 p.m.-10 p.m.; Friday from 9:30 a.m.-8 p.m. and Saturday from 9:30 a.m.-7 p.m.

For more information on the seminar, visit www.iblp.org. or call Flat Creek Baptist at 770-487-4890.

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