Our Calling
Our journey to help Christian marriages succeed and flourish began when Ken was
called out of the business world after 30 years of service. Reviving a college
interest in counseling, Ken attended a lay counseling training program where God
called him to help preserve marriages. Sadly, Ken and Stephanie have witnessed
the effects of divorce on local churches. Ken and Stephanie have been married
for over 30 years and have two grown children and a daughter-in-law. They have
devoted themselves to work together in the cause of preserving and strengthening
Christian marriages. We believe the following verse describes our calling: "I
have become its servant (the church as the body of Christ) by the commission of
God gave me to present to you the word of God in its fullness." Colossians 1:25
The Need
Marriage and divorce effects much more than the bride and the groom. It also
effects the parents of both and especially the children, if so blessed. But the
effects of divorce on the children is both sad and significant. "Children of
divorce are three times as likely as those from intact homes to be expelled from
school or to have a baby as a teenager, five times as apt to live in poverty and
are 12 times more likely to be incarcerated according to the Heritage
Foundation" Most divorces are preventable. Barna research reports that the
divorce among born-again Christians is as high as among non-Christian families
(Sept, 2004). Since 86% of all weddings take place in churches (Peter Hart,
2003), the church is the proper venue for marriage education. Married 4 Keeps
trains pastors and leaders to prepare and protect marriages.
Our Vision
We strive to make divorces among Christians almost non-existent and instead
replace them with vibrant healthy marriages starting with our county and
expanding through our state and country. The importance of marriage and family
is evident throughout the New Testament's description of both the Godhead (Jesus
as the Son of God and God the Father) and the church (the bride of Christ). We
believe marriages and families should be glorifying to God to the extent that
others desire to know God and want a similar relationship with their spouse and
family.
Our Mission
Married 4 Keeps trains teenagers, single adults, married adults, pastors, and
leaders how to form, enrich, sustain, and
protect relationships so that their marriages or their congregation's marriages
will be happy, healthy marriages.
Above all, we want relationships and families that glorify God and are godly
examples to others.
Did you know that divorce costs
everyone?
Besides the cost to the children and families who
have been victimized by divorce, divorce creates a huge financial burden on
society. According to Logan, UT: Utah State University, the average total
cost of divorce (including direct and indirect costs) is $30,000. In
Orange County we have approximately 1000 divorce filings per month. That is potentially a cost of $30 million
per month (including child support enforcement, Medicaid, TANF funds, food
stamps, public housing, correctional facilities, unwed child bearing, drug
problems, delinquency, criminality, and other social problems associated with
divorce).
What can be done
We are trained marriage educators using the most
effective and most researched marriage intervention program. In 16 hours,
some studies have shown that, the program we use can increase marital
satisfaction an average of at least 50%. Community
Marriage Initiatives have been shown to reduce the divorce rate by 50% in seven
communities and has nearly eliminated divorce in some churches.
Testimonials (see Engaged Couples,
Leadership Training, Pre-marital Prep)
