The Art of Marriage Keeps on Trucking!

Selected Host Stories and Responses:

• The event went amazingly well.  We had about 240 people registered for the event.  On Sunday, we had an optional vow renewal during the church service.  I was thinking how it would be nice for 5 couples to renew their vows.  Tears came to my eyes as I saw 30 couples come forward.
• The greatest news to report is that 27 people accepted Jesus Christ as their personal savior at The Art of Marriage!!!!   Praise God!   He did amazing things.  It was such a blessing to be part of this.  It was no doubt one of the most rewarding things I’ve ever participated in.  Thanks for making it available to us.
• Our event was a huge success. 25 couples came together for a glorious weekend. We had 3 engaged couples and the remainder were married. We had two couples express to my husband and myself, who were the coordinators of the event, that this was their last ditch effort to save their marriage. The husband came into the event expressing that he did not want to be there. However, Saturday morning, both couples returned, together. The husband had a completely different countenance. He was open and willing to receive. At the end of the event all the married couples including those who were at their wits end, recommitted their marriages to the Lord. One of the couples said the most powerful statement for them was learning that the marriage union is to be a reflection of God’s truth. WOW!!! So many of the couples wished they had seen this as they were preparing to marry.

• Thank you so much for all the time, effort and money you put into this event. It has changed the lives of not only the couples present but their children and their children’s children. Who knows, a foundation may have just been laid for a generation’s game changer.
  P.S. As we are a predominantly African-American Church, we applaud your efforts in diversity. However, the Spirit of God was coming through so powerfully that we were truly color blind to event speakers.

• I just wanted to drop you a note with a few comments and stories from our event:
  One gentleman approached me the next day in church with tears in his eyes and said, “I can’t say enough about the conference. In prayer time with my family last night I begged their forgiveness for my selfishness.
  Another man had my wife and I witness his and his wife’s Legacy Pledge and said that this conference had literally prevented them from pursuing divorce.

• The videos and conference were AMAZING. 90 couples attended, and 9 individuals indicated that they had received Christ. Praise the Lord!
• Our overall impression was: AWESOME!
• It was very well received and God obviously worked through it. Of the 54 couples in attendance, we know of 3 that were separated or on the brink of divorce that were reconciled and 4 that were saved, 3 of whom asked the church for follow up. The evaluations overall were very positive. In addition, we are aware of 4 couples in attendance who would like to take AOM back to their own church.

• (from a radio station) We can’t say enough about the resource & how grateful we are for the tool you have produced for us to use. We could fill 2 pages with adjectives about how great AOM is. We had expected about 50 couples and ended up having 91 couples!

  The best story was a couple in their late 20’s-early 30’s who paid for her Mom & Dad to come. The parents have been married 40 years and were on the verge of calling it quits. They left the weekend with HOPE.

  We are already looking for another church to partner with to host AOM again.

• (from a radio station) Great job to the whole gang there on really putting together such a powerful tool in the AOM. I’m sure you are getting all kinds of stories pouring in from all over the country (& world). I’m convinced this past weekend was the beginning of something huge for God’s glory. For us, we sold out at 176 couples only because we ran out of books and didn’t have enough time to order more. Even so, an additional 5 couples showed up just hoping that they could register at the door. Due to some sickness and a couple of no-shows, we were able to fit in those additional couples too. God knew exactly who needed to be there.

• “Over the top,” “Incredible,” “Life changing,” “The best marriage seminar I have ever seen anywhere,” is just a small sampling of the feedback we received following The Art of Marriage held at our church this weekend. Providentially, the grand premiere fell on the final weekend of our annual spring marriage Series and we used it as the grand finale. And it was GRAND! We had over 180 attendees, including several other local marriage ministry pastors checking it out.
• Our heart and passion has always been to equip the local church to build strong marriages… Thank you for making our dream come true and helping us build strong marriages!!!!!!!!!!!

Selected Guest Stories and Responses:

• My wife and I enjoyed every moment of it. We have been married for 25 years, have two fantastic sons that are grown now and are working desperately to reconnect. Just a few months ago we were separated due to our unhappiness together. We were already back together before coming to the conference but have still been struggling. We plan to go back thru the workbook and continue to work on our relationship.
• After 48 years of marriage, I learned some things for the FIRST time!
• Would I invite someone to attend The Art of Marriage? No, I would invite TWO!
• I enjoyed how “everywhere” it was. I am very ADD and I was able to focus and understand everything.
• Loved it! It was like watching a real life movie, but applied to me.
• Practical and biblical – REAL.
• This was the best $50 we’ve ever spent!
• This was the best marriage enhancer we’ve been to.
• This past weekend my husband and I went to The Art of Marriage conference. I know that I cannot adequately communicate the depths of what I wish to say, so I won’t try. The conference far exceeded any expectations I had… Thank you, thank you, thank you for weaving the Gospel throughout the entire six sessions (yes I believe even Love Sizzles had the Gospel in it). As a believer it is good to be reminded of the foundation on which a Christian should be building their life, including marriage. However, I was even more appreciative of the Gospel being presented because my husband is not a Christian. When we got married neither one of us was Christian. God used a long series of events to call me into a relationship with Himself, yet my husband chooses to continue in unbelief. Although my husband did not come to Christ this weekend, we had a thirty minute conversation about spiritual matters and he expressed interest in learning more about Christianity. This is a monumental step for my husband! When I first became a Christian seven years ago he was a hardened atheist who was not even willing to discuss spiritual matters. Slowly, over the years he has softened a tiny bit, but this weekend was an important crossroad in his life. God used this conference to confront my husband with facts about God and His plan for His creation. I know this weekend wasn’t just about my unsaved husband hearing the Gospel in a powerful way. I know there must have been hundreds of unsaved spouses being confronted with the most important truth they will ever hear. The place at which we attended the conference (at my church home) three people committed their lives to the Savior! Though I would have loved for my husband to be among them, I rejoice with God and the angels over these three precious souls. FamilyLife accomplished much more than just putting together a Biblically-based, deep, hard-hitting, humorous, instructive, artistic, technically flawless marriage conference. You introduced people to the Savior. You have impacted and furthered the Kingdom of God to the praise and honor of Him whom sits on the throne. Thank you once again!
• I wanted to say thanks for putting on the Art of Marriage. It has really helped not just us but heal the relationship between my spouse and my Mom, and that has been a huge blessing. Thanks again.
• This helped so very much to break the ice in our frozen relationship.
• I think it is a life-changing experience. It was very entertaining and not, as most men expect, ‘boring’.
• I believe any couple would benefit regardless of where they are in their marriage relationship.
• As we left the parking lot my husband’s statement was, “That’s the best $45 we’ve ever spent on our marriage!” I reminded him that we also had to add in the $100 for babysitting, but we both still agreed that it was a bargain! The books alone are amazing – so much work and what a great resource! … We LOVED it and will look at hosting one also (not sure what all that entails, but something to think about/work on). I am so glad we went and it’s just the great reminders of why you married in the first place, saying the things that we so often leave unsaid, and addressing some of the things that we might otherwise just let slide!
• Many couples feel that if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. There is not any reason why the happiest couple to the one in the most trouble should not attend….this was a Do or Die weekend for my marriage – I have been truly blessed!!
• The Art of Marriage possibly saved our marriage.
• I enjoyed the last 2 days. I think it really helped me realize how much I love God, my wife and my kids and family.
• This was the best $40 Christmas present we have ever given each other. Thank you!!!
• This event was a do or die for our marriage. I had enough, which is HUGE, because I have been so super committed to keeping us together. This conference has been a catalyst for healing for 2 people at the ends of their marriage ropes.
• This has made a difference in my life and it probably saved our marriage. I’m so very thankful for that. I will fight for her and our family. THANK YOU!!
• After my bible, it is this guide (Art of Marriage Manual) that I will look to and learn from.
• This conference helped me to see the big picture that God has a much bigger plan for me and my marriage and it gave me the tools to help get there.
• We had a lot of the same information in our pre-marital counseling. The most important thing we learned is how much we had forgot!
• The video was very insightful and realistic. There were many situations that I related to. This conference helped me grow my relationship with Christ and to put my trust in Him. I really enjoyed the workshop and definitely learned a lot.
• Overall, this was hope-renewing. I learned that the power of the resurrection applies to strained marriages.
• I learned that my husband is undoubtedly the best gift God has given me outside of salvation and the Holy Spirit. My husband adds the colors to my life that I would never have chosen, yet can’t imagine my world without.
• I enjoyed the sessions… The video was entertaining and well done. Just when I was getting antsy to move, the video asked us to fill out a page – perfect timing.
• Asked my husband to forgive me.
• This has given me a new perspective to marriage because my marriage is just 2 months old. I believe this will help us greatly.