1. Super Saturday 2003 Covenant Marriage Becoming a Covenant Marriage Church

2. Super Saturday 2003 Why do people marry? Identify 5 unhealthy reasons people marry? Identify 5 healthy reasons people marry?  

3. Super Saturday 2003 A Christian Marriage Is… a total commitment of two people to the person of Jesus Christ and each other. It is a commitment in which there is no holding back of anything. a school, a learning and growing environment in which (if everything is as it should be) both partners can grow and develop. The relationship grows along with them. H. Norman Wright

4. Super Saturday 2003 What Does a Covenant Marriage Church Affirm? Believing that marriage is a covenant intended by God to be a lifelong fruitful relationship between a man and a woman, we vow to God, each other, our family, and our community to remain steadfast in unconditional love, reconciliation, and sexual purity while purposefully growing in our covenant marriage relationship.

5. Super Saturday 2003 believe What does your church believe about marriage?

6. Super Saturday 2003

7. A Holistic Approach To Marriage Ministry OutreachPrevention EnrichmentIntervention Health

8. Super Saturday 2003 Did You Know The federal government issues thousands of reports on nearly every dimension of American life,…But it provides no annual index or report on the state of marriage. Americans today tend to see marriage as a couples relationship, designed to fulfill the emotional needs of adults…People now expect their marriages to be a spiritualized union of souls. The State of Our unions 2003 The National Marriage Project

9. Super Saturday 2003 Did You Know Marriage is a fundamental social institution. It is central to the nurture and raising of children. It is the “social glue” that reliably attaches fathers to children. It contributes to the physical, emotional and economic health of men, women and children, and thus to the nation as a whole. It is also one of the most highly prized of all human relationships and a central life goal of most Americans. The State of Our unions 2003 The National Marriage Project

10. Super Saturday 2003 Did You Know About a third of all children and more than two- thirds of African-American children are born out of wedlock. Since 1960, there has been an 850 percent increase in the number of cohabiting couples who live with children. The State of Our unions 2003 The National Marriage Project Roughly a million children each year experience parental divorce and its aftermath.

11. Super Saturday 2003 Did You Know Compared to married fathers, men who are not married to their children’s mothers are significantly less likely to be consistently and positively involved with their children during their growing up years. In reality, marriage is the social glue that holds fathers to their offspring. Marriage encourages regular and routine father involvement. The State of Our unions 2003 The National Marriage Project

12. Super Saturday 2003 Did You Know Unmarried cohabiting fathers fail to show as much warmth or put in as much time or money in the care of their biological children as do married fathers. Cohabiting men who are living with nonbiological children pose a risk of physical or sexual abuse to such children. The State of Our unions 2003 The National Marriage Project

13. Super Saturday 2003 Consider …the new soul-mate ideal may create unrealistic expectations for intimacy that, if unfulfilled, may lead to disappointment, estrangement and even a search for a new soul mate. The State of Our unions 2003 The National Marriage Project

14. Super Saturday 2003 How will your church respond to couples? Soul-Mate Ideal Biblical Ideal

15. Super Saturday 2003 The Marriage Ministry Umbrella Relationship Skill Development Premarital Counseling Marriage mentoring Marriage Enrichment and Education Marriage Strengthening and Rebuilding Divorce Recovery Ministry Children’s Ministry Prepare Inventory Paring Newlywed Couple with Mentoring Couple RetreatsReferral List of Local Professional Counselors Divorce Care Video Series and Support Group AdolescentsFOCCUS Inventory Outline of Mentor Qualifications Workshops and Seminars Retrouvaille Retreats KidsHope Seminars for Children Young AdultsDISC Personality Inventory Clear Expectations and Definition of Mentor Relationship Enrich Inventory Marriage Support Groups and Bible Study Groups Single Parent Family Ministry Adults Series of Focused Couple Sessions Prayer Ministry REFOCCUS Inventory Sermon Series and Testimonies Follow-Up Care Resources

16. Super Saturday 2003 Do You Have a church developed and approved marriage policy? Provide at least 3 marriage preparation sessions in addition to the ceremony planning session? Do You

17. Super Saturday 2003 Do You Provide any additional follow up sessions during the first year of the marriage? Provide on-going prayer ministry for nearly and newly married couples? Do You

18. Super Saturday 2003 Do You Provide a marriage mentoring ministry for nearly and newly married couples

19. Super Saturday 2003 Do You Provide at least one annual marriage strengthening retreat-workshop-seminar? Provide an annual sermon series on relationships, marriage and family? Do You

20. Super Saturday 2003 Do You Provide media resources for individuals, couples and families: books, magazines, tapes, videos? Provide Bible studies for youth focusing on relationship building, choosing a life partner, handling emotions, marriage and family? Do You

21. Super Saturday 2003 Do You Provide marriage and family testimonies and journey-sharing during worship services? Have a referral network? Do You

22. Super Saturday 2003 Relationship Skill Development Areas of Focus Couple Closeness Couple Flexibility Communication Personality Compatibility Conflict Resolution Sexual Relationship Leisure Activities Family and Friends Financial Management Spiritual Beliefs

23. Super Saturday 2003 Relationship Skill Development I am very satisfied with how we talk to each other. YesNo We are creative in how we handle our differences. YesNo We feel very close to each other. YesNo My partner is seldom too controlling. YesNo When discussing problems, my partner understands my opinions and ideas. YesNo

24. Super Saturday 2003 I am completely satisfied with the amount of affection from my partner. YesNo We have a good balance of leisure time spent together and separately. YesNo My partner’s friends or family rarely interfere with our relationship. YesNo We agree on how to spend money. YesNo I am satisfied with how we express spiritual values and beliefs. YesNo Relationship Skill Development

25. Super Saturday 2003 Marriage Mentoring

26. Super Saturday 2003 Marriage Mentoring Purposes guide encourage toward healthy, growing To guide and encourage nearly and newly married couples toward healthy, growing marriage relationships.

27. Super Saturday 2003 Marriage Mentoring Purposes intentional marriage mentoring relationships mutual support, growth, encouragement enrichment. To enlist and equip select lay couples to minister to nearly and newly married couples through intentional marriage mentoring relationships that focus on mutual support, growth, encouragement and enrichment.

28. Super Saturday 2003 Marriage Mentoring Objectives To provide a support ministry to nearly and newly married couples in developing healthy relational skills and in building spiritual, emotional and physical intimacy in marriage. To provide ongoing training to equip select couples to serve as marriage mentors to nearly and newly married couples. To provide regular group meeting experiences that focus on support, growth, enrichment and fellowship for couples participating in the mentoring ministry.

29. Super Saturday 2003 Mentors are Not Perfect Counselors or Therapists Experts Final Authorities Rescuers Parent Replacements Intruders/Meddlers Long Term

30. Super Saturday 2003 Mentoring Responsibilities

31. Super Saturday 2003 Mentoring Responsibilities Walk alongside the nearly-newly married couple Provide healthy, realistic role modeling Identity Resources

32. Super Saturday 2003 Mentoring Responsibilities Describe their own marital journey difficulties and solutions discovered “Normalize” disagreement and conflict Provide male and female perspective

33. Super Saturday 2003 Getting Started Ask What is God saying? Where is God working?

34. Super Saturday 2003 Getting Started Ask What are the needs? What are our resources?

35. Super Saturday 2003 Getting Started Ask What are our objectives? How do we invite and involve?

36. Super Saturday 2003 Getting Started Ask What actions are taken by whom and when? How do we celebrate?

37. Super Saturday 2003 Getting Started Ask How do we evaluate?

38. Super Saturday 2003 Covenant Marriage Covenant Marriage Resources Covenant Marriage Sunday is the third Sunday in February www.covenantmarriage.com Covenant Marriage Congregational Kit Available Posters,a 38 page Congregational Booklet with information on how to become a Covenant Marriage Congregation and how to prepare to celebrate a Covenant Marriage Sunday in your congregation, Covenant Certificate, Sermon & Bible study Helps, Covenant Marriage Movement Brochures, Covenant Marriage Couple's Brochures, Facts sheets, Commitment Cards, Bulletin Inserts, Resource Sheet/Order Form

39. Super Saturday 2003 Covenant Marriage Becoming a Covenant Marriage Church