Marriage Encounter

What is Marriage Encounter?

Marriage Encounter is a weekend away from home, family and responsibilities. Here, in a comfortable, secluded environment, a couple is guided in the discovery of a new way of communicating that will help them know each other better.

It is not a retreat, but a program designed to give couples the opportunity to examine their lives together, their strengths and weaknesses, and their attitudes toward each other and their families.

Assemblies of God Marriage Encounter is based on the belief that the marriage relationship is the most significant, most intimate relationship on earth.

What happens during a Marriage Encounter Weekend?

Sessions begin Friday evening and run through Sunday afternoon. At each session a husband and wife team and an Assemblies of God clergy couple give an informal talk on various aspects of marriage. Time is set aside following each presentation for couples to discuss privately, away from the group, their relationship as it relates to the topic presented. The Weekend is structured, orderly, and informative.

What it is not -

The Marriage Encounter Weekend is not a marriage clinic or a sensitivity group.

It is not a problem-solving workshop. Couples do not disclose their problems to the group or team couples for discussion or criticism.

Who is Marriage Encounter for?

Marriage Encounter is for any couple who desires to enrich their relationship and improve their communication. Since every marriage can be improved, even the best marriages can find new meaning and deepened joys through the Weekend.

Marriage Encounter is open to couples of all ages who have been married for at least a year. Couples married for only a few years as well as couples married more than 40 years have attended and found the Weekend rewarding.

The Marriage Encounter Weekend is conducted from an Assemblies of God perspective but couples of all faiths, or no faith at all, are welcome.

What does a Marriage Encounter Weekend cost?

A non-refundable registration fee of $45.00 is required to ensure a reservation. Marriage Encounter is entirely self-supportive. At the close of the Weekend you will be given the opportunity to make an anonymous donation, sharing in the cost and support of Marriage Encounter. However, no one is ever refused the opportunity to attend an Assemblies of God Marriage Encounter Weekend because of lack of funds.

Who puts it on?

Assemblies of God Expression of Marriage Encounter, Inc. is a non-profit organization. Each Marriage Encounter is conducted by three or four Assemblies of God couples, including a minister couple, who are trained to present the Marriage Encounter Weekend.

Comments from those who have attended Marriage Encounter

Outstanding testimonies are always the order of the day after an ME Weekend. Marriage Encounter makes strong marriages stronger. It saves weak ones. May God bless its ministry to our great church. - A District Superintendent

One of the greatest values of the Encounter weekend is that its emphasis will "float" to where the need exists between the husband and wife.

Shirley and I believe every couple should attend a Marriage Encounter Weekend at the earliest opportunity.
- James C. Dobson, Ph.D., President, Focus on the Family

That three days did for us what we have been trying to do for 15 years. It has really enriched our lives. We've never communicated better. - Lonnie and Nancy, Illinois

Our Marriage Encounter Weekend helped us to realize how much we love each other and how close we came to maybe never finding this out. - Jim and Darlene, Ohio

Our Marriage is a good one and has endured the tests of nineteen years, but it was totally enriched by Marriage Encounter. God used this Weekend experience to minister, in a very real and special way, His love to us. - Don and Jan, Missouri

I feel Marriage Encounter is the most spiritually uplifting and psychologically sound program in the Christian world today. - Medical Doctor, Missouri

The communication tools we were given helped us to set our course straight, giving us the assurance that we could maintain our strong ministries without sacrificing our marriage and our love for each other. - Pastor, New Jersey

ASSEMBLIES OF GOD MARRIAGE ENCOUNTER
PO. Box 10633
Springfield, Missouri 65808
800-366-2104 Toll-Free

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Assemblies of God Marriage Encounter

Call the 800 number above for other dates and locations.

Request registration form for Assemblies of God Marriage Encounter

Date: Mon, 13 Jan 1997
From: Mark and Becky Rhoades
Subject: Marriage Encounter gives new hope and restores romance!

We went to a marriage encounter weekend 17 years ago. We came away with a strong motivation to see other couples rekindle their romance, have restored hope, and experience God's love and acceptance, just like we did on our weekend. It was the beginning of a dream.

15 years later the dream has vanished. In its place, stand almost 25,000 couples who have gone on an ASSEMBLIES of GOD Marriage Encounter weekend. We give the LORD THANKS and PRAISE for His continued favor on all who are diligently serving other couples along with us.

We are, only by His grace,
Mark and Becky Rhoades

From: Joe and Sally Edghill
Date: Mon, 25 Nov 1996
To: cronkra@erinet.com
Subject: Thanks for our marriage encounter

DEAR DICK AND CAROL:

WE JUST WANTED TO SEND YOU AN E-MAIL THANKING YOU FOR YOUR CONTRIBUTION TO OUR M.E. WEEKEND IN COLUMBUS. SALLY AND I ARE STILL DIALOGUING AND WE FEEL LIKE WE HAVE OUR MARRIAGE BACK.

WE HAVE TOLD OTHER COUPLES THAT IT WAS THE NEXT BEST THING TO OUR CONVERSIONS TO CHRIST.

GOD BLESS YOU!

JOE AND SALLY EDGHILL
(FROM THE ROWDY DINNER TABLE)

Date: Fri, 30 May 1997
From: Richard Cronk
Subject: Pentecostal Evangel Article

Hello Folks,

Check out the article on page 7 of the June 15 issue of Pentecostal Evangel Magazine. There is an article titled: "Mike McManus Tells How To Nurture Your Marriage". It starts out by saying that Mike McManus recently visited Ken Horn, managing editor of the Pentecostal Evangel. It then goes into a series of questions and answers between Ken and Mike. The last 2 paragraphs of the full page article state:

"Marriage Encounter is a weekend retreat designed to show the participants the necessity of a God-centered relationship in marriage. Some 15 versions of the program exist that support their respective religious doctrines.

Assemblies of God Marriage Encounter began in 1981."

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