We’ve all seen a marriage in crisis.
We all know people who have struggled (or are struggling) within their marital relationship.
Maybe that someone is you.
Or perhaps it’s someone you love, like a son or daughter or your best friend from high school.
You can’t stand to see the marriage falling apart. You feel helpless.
When you ask, you’re told that everything that can be thought of has been tried.
Traditional counseling. A visit with the pastor.
Books have been read and prayers have been said.
And yet, these hurting husbands and wives find themselves on the brink of divorce.
Sadly, situations like what I’ve described happen every day. Speaking personally, my heart aches for them. So does yours.
There must be something that can be done.
I’m thrilled to announce today that Focus on the Family is embarking on a new initiative that has the potential to drastically lower the divorce rate.
What is it?
Offering real hope
Focus on the Family is joining with National Institute of Marriage (NIM) in a union that will bolster our ability to help keep marriages together – even those that find themselves in unthinkable situations.
Focus on the Family’s National Institute of Marriage, as it is now known, carries out highly successful marriage intensives led by licensed marriage therapists . These multiple-day sessions at its Branson Retreat Center allow couples to get away from daily life and concentrate on their relationship by taking part in the most effective treatment model known to the professional counseling world.
Think of it like an emergency room for couples.
Husband and wives come in with a marriage that is hurting and on life support. But by the grace of God and thanks to the proven marriage intensive model, the counselors are able to stop the bleeding and stabilize the couple.
The results are nothing less than a miracle.
Since 2003, NIM has helped more than 3,000 deeply troubled couples from all 50 states and more than 20 countries. Follow-up research indicates more than 84 percent of the couples who received help at NIM are still married two years later.
84 percent!
United by a common goal
Both Focus and NIM are motivated by a shared calling to save marriages and help them thrive. That’s why our joining forces makes so much sense.
Focus’ counselors are in regular contact with tens of thousands of husbands and wives in need. We’re in a perfect position to refer these marriages to NIM.
Conversely, once couples have “graduated” from one of the marriage intensives, the staff at NIM can refer them back to Focus so we can come alongside them with ongoing resources, materials and wisdom. We know our marriage-related broadcasts, family help specialists, and web-based resources will help these couples because God has used our efforts to help save more than 140,000 marriages in the last 12 months alone.
With Dr. Greg Smalley, one of NIM’s co-founders, now serving as Focus’ vice president of Family Ministries, these couples will receive excellent care that will help them for years to come.
Do you know a couple that could benefit from this exciting new initiative?
Do you know a couple in crisis?
To qualify for the program, couples must answer “yes” to one simple but profound question:
“If God were to do a miracle in your marriage, would you accept it?”
If you want to learn more about Focus on the Family’s National Institute of Marriage, please visit https://www.focusonthefamily.com/national-institute-of-marriage or call 1-800-A-FAMILY. Couples in crisis can access immediate help by contacting NIM directly at 417-335-5882.
Focus on the Family contributed to saving more than 140,000 marriages within the last year alone. Partner with our ministry and join Friends of Family to help us ensure that families have access to Christian counsel and Bible-based resources year-round.
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