By Pastor Dick McKinley
There are few monumental moments in life which don’t require some sort of training.  To drive a car you must go through weeks of classes and hours of driving with an instructor, to graduate from High School or college you must pass the required courses and to become licensed at just about anything requires a test of knowledge and/or a demonstration of proficiency; yet for around 60 dollars (Cash only) you can get a marriage license and skip gleefully into one of the biggest decisions of your life without a class, course, or qualified instructor with his own emergency brake pedal.

Having been married for 22years and having been a couple who did not have the privilege of an instructor, class, or course, the value of what the pre-marriage class has to offer engaged couples is priceless.  We will discuss topics like, the purpose of marriage, roles within marriage, finances, communication, conflict resolution, and family from a biblical perspective, helping couples think past their wedding day and into the future reality of what life as a married couple can and sometimes will look like.

“One of the best wedding gifts God gave you was a full-length mirror called your spouse.  Had there been a card attached, it would have said, “Here’s to helping you discover what you’re really like!” – Gary and Betsy Ricucci

Why does a young couple “In Love” look so differently than a godly couple who have been married 5, 15, or 30 years?  Experience.  The experienced Godly couple has served with an open heart and have humbly been served.  They have given when they wanted to take and have received the most unexpected gifts.  They have forgiven much and have been forgiven of much. They have lived through separation and the joy reconciliation.  They have sacrificed self for the other and felt the assurance of redemption.  They have built the foundation of their marriage on the rock and reflect the glory of Jesus which is exactly what we want for each and every couple who attends the Pre-marriage class.

“Marriage is the greatest test in the world… but now I welcome the test instead of dreading it.  It is much more than a test of sweetness of temper, as people sometimes think; it is a test of the whole character and affects every action”  T.S. Eliot

PRE-MARRIAGE CLASSES BEGIN THIS SUNDAY (APRIL 26TH) AT MARS HILL SHORELINE DURING THE 11:15AM SERVICE.  THE CLASS WILL BE LOCATED IN THE JUNIOR HIGH LOUNGE AT THE TOP OF THE RAMP IN THE JUNIOR HIGH BUILDING JUST NORTH OF SCHIRMER AUDITORIUM.