Recently I have found myself working with a lot of couples who are preparing for marriage. When I first began my ministry I realized that it was important that I use the unique opportunity of officiating a wedding to also be an entry into ministry. Since 1999, I have been a trained PREPARE/ENRICH facilitator. This program is designed to help couples gain awareness of their relationship strength and growth areas. The program uses a Relationship Assessment as the center of the sessions. The PREPARE/ENRICH Assessment is an online survey that you take with your partner to help you identify the unique strengths and potential growth areas of your premarital or married relationship.
PREPARE/ENRICH assesses these areas of your relationship:
12 Relationship Scales — communication, conflict resolution, roles, sexuality, finances, spiritual beliefs, and more
5 SCOPE Personality Scales
4 Couple and Family Scales
4 Relationship Dynamic ScalesPREPARE/ENRICH helps couples:
Identify strength and growth areas
Explore personality traits
Strengthen communication skills
Resolve conflicts and reduce stress
Compare family backgrounds
Comfortably discuss financial issues
Establish personal, couple, and family goals
The aspects of the program that I like the most is that it’s not intended to be a solution for issues. As a Pastor I’m not equipped to be a professional counselor nor do long term relationship counseling. The PREPARE/ENRICH program allows me to work with couples to gain awareness and focus areas both positive and negative in their relationship.
Some people laugh when I tell them that when Sheila and I were engaged I found a PREPARE/ENRICH facilitator to lead us through the program. I personally found it to have a positive impact in our life and would do it again.
I have found this program to be so helpful that I have recently become a trainer for the program. This will allow me to help pastors, counselors and others who work with couples to use this tool.
I share all this information to make you aware that this resources is available to our congregation. It is intended for anyone preparing to marry or is already married. You don’t have to have “trouble” in your relationship for the program to benefit you. It’s focus on strengths and growth areas means that even the most “healthy” couple can gain insight.
If you would like to take advantage of this ministry, please call or email me. There is a $30 administration fee paid to the company that provides that assessment. Other than the administration fee, the program is free and after a few feedback sessions you will have enriched your relationship and maybe learned a few new skills to make your marriage even more intimate and loving.
If you are a Pastor of other professional looking for training in premarital work please contact me for information about upcoming trainings.
