A word from Dave McDonald about preparing a couple for marriage…

Dear brothers,

Yesterday I took the wedding of a couple at church. It was a special occasion, pointing to God’s love in the gospel. We enjoyed celebrating this day with them all the more because we had spend a number of evenings with the couple over the past few months preparing them for marriage. Not simply preparing the wedding—but preparing for marriage. Fiona and I use the Prepare/Enrich material to gain insights into the couple and assist them to prepare for a life together.

It’s not enough to prepare a great day, we need to be preparing for a lifetime. Two single selfish individuals need guidance and support with communication, conflict resolution, managing finances, preparing for intimacy and sex, encouraging each other spiritually, and much more.

What do you do to prepare your engaged couples for marriage? Can I strongly suggest that you take a number of meetings with the couple to focus on what a Christian marriage is all about, and to explore the particulars of building a new family. Have some good books that you can share or give away, such as Married for God by Christopher Ash or What did you expect? by Paul Tripp.

Get trained in using the ‘Prepare’ material. This gets the couple answering questions separately, collates their answers, and highlights strengths and work areas to maximise your particular investment in the couple.

Preparing for marriage is hugely important, so don’t sell the couple short. You get well prepared so that you can help them to be well prepared. Prepare training is available throughout Australia.

www.prepare-enrich.com.au/upcoming-workshops

Dave