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Marriage 911: First Response
by Joe and Michelle Williams
National Institute of Marriage

An important, and largely missing, component to an effective marriage ministry within the church is a well organized first response to people experiencing marital crisis. This lay-based program provides all the church needs to create and maintain a powerful First Response ministry, so that any individual or couple that contacts the church for help will be met with a ready response that can calm, refocus and restore hope in a critical time of need. Resources include a Workbook, Support Partner Guide and Leader's Guide.

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Why Marriages Don’t Mend
by Mona Shriver

We are part of the “Reconciling Troubled Marriages” focus group for AMFM. It is a privilege to be able to take what God has done for each of us personally and give back to the body of Christ. Each member of this group has had a marriage that required reconciliation. We have walked that path with God as our guide and found it to be a journey that is not only possible but also worth everything it took. This is the message that we believe God has called us to proclaim to those out there in troubled relationships.

Ministry Team Summary

What is your church’s first response to someone whose marriage is in crisis? Couples in crisis, or a person who is suddenly separated need a “First-Response Team” who will help those in crisis to focus on reconciliation and provide them with

Applicable and immediate help
Hope and support from others who can who can relate to their circumstances
Resources to keep them focused on God
Biblical tools to reconcile their troubled marriage

The Reconciling Troubled Marriages Ministry Team is comprised of couples whose own marriages were reconciled. They are wholeheartedly dedicated to helping churches build “First Response Teams” for troubled marriages or for those individuals who find themselves suddenly separated. Pastors cannot tackle the rising rate of divorce on their own. This ministry team has combined their years of lay-ministry experience, written resources, and teaching materials to support and equip pastors and leaders with easy-to-implement methods for reconciling troubled marriages in their churches. The work and ministry efforts of this ministry team are available at www.amfmonline.com, on their individual websites listed below, and at the AMFM Marriage and Family Ministries Annual Conferences.

	Robert Paul National Institute of Marriage Hollister, MO www.nationalmarriage.com

	Linda Rooks Broken Heart on Hold, Surviving Separation Winter Park, FL www.brokenheartonhold.com

	Gary and Mona Shriver Hope and Healing Ministries Denair, CA www.hopeandhealing.us

	Joe and Michelle Williams International Center for Reconciling God’s Way Modesto, CA www.reconcilingGodsway.org

Monday, July 31, 2006

West Coast Highlights

Please let us know if you stopped by our Reconciling Troubled Marriages booth at AMFM West and if we can be of further service to you!

Resources for Reconciling Marriages

What resources have you or your church used to help reconcile marriages in crisis?

When a Couple is in Crisis, What is Your First Response?

The initial response given to a couple whose marriage is in crisis is essential to getting the relationship on the road to reconciliation. When an individual spouse or a couple contacts your church or ministry because of a crisis in their marriage, how do you respond? Do you know how to direct the spouse or couple to get the help they need?

Please add your comments to this blog and share with us:

- How you or your church handle a couple in need?
- Share your tips and ideas with others?
- What needs to be done in the future?
- Ask other bloggers for support or connect with AMFM.
- Anything else you feel like posting.

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