The weather outside was frightful. On January 24 six couples braved snow and zero degree (Fahrenheit) temperatures to attend the Shawnee RPC’s second annual marriage retreat. The one-day event was sponsored by our Mentor Moms group, which seeks to encourage young moms and connect them with experienced moms through mentoring and friendship. This retreat, however, was open to not just young moms, but any couple who wanted to take a bit of time to nurture and invest in their marriage.
Pastor Derek Moore led our time using a curriculum called PREP. While PREP is not an explicitly Christian program, the insights reflected in it demonstrate God’s common grace, and Pastor Derek has used the material several times in his counseling experience. He added God’s biblical wisdom throughout to make it a helpful time for us. We covered four units:
- The Three Keys to Success
- Fun and Friendship
- Danger Signs and Time Out
- The Speaker Listener Technique
Pastor Derek’s wife, Clara, was also there to share insights, offer wisdom, and hold the baby that was being passed around. Another couple from our congregation, Stephen and Sarah Parnell, served us energizing snacks and a delicious lunch to help fend off the frost.
Barry particularly enjoyed the Fun and Friendship lesson, where we were reminded to take time to do something fun with our spouse regularly. Doing fun things always sounds like fun to me! These experiences help glue our hearts together and reflect the joy anticipated in the wedding feast of Christ and His church. The Speaker Listener Technique struck Engela as a particularly powerful and beneficial tool that we will be able to use for those perhaps not-so-fun, yet necessary, conversations that all couples must have throughout their marriage.
We recognize that some couples may be going through very hard things that need more serious, focused counseling, but this marriage retreat was a helpful way for many couples to gain skills to keep their relationship healthy. We pray that the watching world would see in Christian marriages a picture of the love and affection between Christ and His church. In contrast with the cold outside, may our marriages be strong, warm, and delightful.
How beautiful is your love, my sister, my bride!
How much better is your love than wine,
and the fragrance of your oils than any spice!
-Song of Solomon 4:10
Thanks to Barry and Engela Viss for putting together the article. They are both members at Shawnee RPC, and Barry serves as a deacon.
