Kent and Barbara Hughes suggest the following to built family affection: 1. “The best possible foundation for building affection: love for God…We are able to love God and others through the reception of God’s love. Loving God is what makes other loves endure. This discipline, the day-to-day empowerment to live out this love for people who aren’t always “lovable,” is what fosters the ongoing growth of affection.” 2. “It is essential, then, if a family is to develop the bonds of affection, that the children have the assurance of their parents’ love for one another.” 3. “An obvious place to enhance family affection is at the dinner table. That is the single best daily opportunity families have for all gathering together…We encourage you never to surrender that choice time, for it is an unsurpassed opportunity to build family life.” 4. “Family vacations were at the heart of building the Hughes clan’s affections…we made disciplined investment in family vacations…Sometimes brief, spontaneous mini-vacations can (also) have important results in developing family unity and affection.” 5. “Mutual interests builds affection…Wise parents know this and look for a common interest or adopt their children’s interests as their own.” 6. “Families that learn to appreciate their points of uniqueness and to chuckle at their idiosyncrasies pull together in affection rather than apart in irritation.” 7. “The home is the place to be sentimental, corny, even weird for the sake of affection.” 8. “Wise parents who wish to enhance familial bonds will do their best to keep up the communication with grandparents and spent time with them if possible. Few things can be more elevating to family than loving affection extended across generations.” (Kent and Barbara Hughes).
Other Authors

Dallas Franklyn Billington

Dallas Franklyn Billington

Dallas Franklyn Billington
1903-1972
Dallas Billington was born in a log house in west Kentucky. Although his parents were devout Christians and his formative years were spent in a Christian environment, he did not respond personally to the Gospel until the age of 21, in a tent meeting in Paducah, Kentucky, to which he had been invited by his fiancee, Nell Stokes.

In 1927, having moved to Akron, Ohio, to gain employment, he answered God’s call to preach during a serious illness of his infant son, Charles. In June, 1934, he was invited to preach for a small group of people who were meeting in Rimer School. There, with a congregation of 13 and an offering of $1.18, the Akron Baptist Temple was born. Under his ministry during the next 38 years, the church grew to 16,000 members, with physical assets of several million. The outreach of radio, television, and missionaries contributed to its worldwide ministry, in addition to aiding the establishment of hundreds of independent Baptist churches across America.

Dr. Billington’s ministry was unique in that his messages were plain, simple, and to the point. A master in the use of illustrations and always preaching with the invitation in view, he was used of God to win thousands of men to Christ. His compassion for people, his integrity and spotless example as a man of God will long be remembered.

Having suffered heart trouble since 1941, he died August 26, 1972, at the age of 69. His only son, Charles, having served with his father for 24 years, succeeded him as pastor of the Akron Baptist Temple.