Out of the Clear Blue!

Last night we had dinner at the house of some new friends.  We talked about what their role might be as TBI volunteers.  As we looked over some awesome material they have developed as next steps for couples who complete Intimate Encounters under their leadership, we talked about the need for mentor couples (to walk with pastor/leader couples into marriage health), for ministry couples (to help begin marriage ministries), conference couples (to go with us and lead small groups at conferences or retreats), and encourager couples( to help participants take next steps for continued progress after attending a conference). 

They asked great questions and offered helpful insights, we got to know their stories and how God brought them together, and they showed us more material she had developed.  Carol and I were excited to see their passion and the excellence of the work they had done.  I knew that this couple may, by God's direction, be instrumental in several capacities, but one for sure will be to help TBI develop great follow up plans, evaluations, and materials helping couples and churches keep the process of marriage growth alive and well.  We've needed this aspect of marriage material to be developed and implemented strategically for a long time. 

Alongside our mentoring and ministry-development model, a simple follow-up plan will be a welcome addition.  We actually launched our first attempt at follow-up this very day! 


Jeanne and I worked hard to email our first installment of the 52-Week Plan.  We hope to help couples review the Top Ten Relationship Needs and practice effective communication skills on the road to an even more intimate, God-honoring relationship.  By the grace of God these small steps will one day result in 1000's of couples building new legacies and handing a more Christ-honoring, loving heritage to future generations.  The Church needs revival one person at a time, one couple and family at a time, one church and community at a time until The Church is prepared for the return of King Jesus.

Another God-story happened yesterday when a friend gifted our ministry with a check for $500.  (I think some folks do this just to watch a grown man cry. :)  He did not know how critical this money was and how timely the gift, since just a few hours before I had paid over $1400 to get major repairs done to one of our cars.  He did not know, but my Father did!