H7 Story: "Christ-Centered Marriage"

"Christ-Centered Marriage"
by Beth Anne Liebert
The last night of re|engage is always my favorite. Not because it means we’re done (although I won’t lie… having a break is nice!) but because we have a special dinner and a time for each couple to share what God has done in their marriage over the course of the previous four months. This last celebration dinner for the seven couples who participated in the fall session did not disappoint!
“Undertaking the commitment to participate in re|engage has been transformational for our 23 year marriage,”
Richard and Elizabeth Kyker said
“It provided a safe and nurturing environment for us to explore the areas of our marriage where time and life had taken their toll. While it has not made our marriage perfect,”
 they realistically added,
“it fostered conversations that have brought a better understanding of how we are to respect and love one another in a Christ-centered marriage.”
Jim and Joy Elliot reiterated that sentiment.
“Our marriage was not bad, but every marriage has areas that need work, and we are so thankful to have taken part in a program that helped us better communicate our needs and desires with each other.”
Danny and Sonya Ewell found that re|engage gave them tools in how to communicate effectively, adding that,
“We have had discussions that may have never happened or maybe not have happened as deeply as they have now.”
 A key benefit was learning how to communicate expectations whereas before, “they were not really verbalized but only hinted at.” They have realized that not only do they need to communicate about their past and why it has made them who they are today, but also the need to discuss their future expectations so they can make a plan of what they hope to accomplish together.

So how does re|engage work to bring about growth? Over the course of 16 weeks, couples examine God’s design for marriage and apply Biblical principles to their relationship. We firmly believe that transformation happens when we each submit to the Word of God and daily apply the gospel to our marriage through the power of the Holy Spirit. Therefore, the program is structured such that the first half focuses on heart transformation (love, grace, humility, forgiveness, etc. ) because as Proverbs 4:23 says, “Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life.” This then provides the foundation for the second half, which deals with the issues (such as conflict, communication, and intimacy), that bring couples to re|engage in the first place. And all this is done within the context of a safe, nurturing, and authentic small group environment with opportunities to hear from other couples who have experienced victory in the midst of their own struggles. This “total package” is what makes re|engage unique.
The Elliots especially appreciated the centrality of Scripture in the program and found that,
“not only did it bring us closer in our relationship, but it also brought us closer to the Lord.” 
And ultimately, that is the deeper desire of the marriage team: that each couple develops a deep and abiding walk with Jesus Christ, because it is this relationship that enables us to love our spouse well; which then, in turn, brings glory to God.
So whether your marriage is broken and struggling, or you just want to grow in oneness, we offer you hope. As the Kyker’s shared,
“In the company of strangers, that quickly became fast friends, we worked towards a better future for ourselves and our family by doing the rewarding, albeit, hard work that is the re|engage program.”
Will you join us?

Our next session begins Jan 9 but new sessions begin every January and August. Check out fccgreene.org/marriage for more information.
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