| |
|
|
Day of week: |
Sunday |
|
Time: |
5:30 p.m. to
7:00 p.m. |
|
# of Sessions |
Twelve |
|
Dates: |
Fall 2008 classes are Sunday, September 14 through November 30, 2008.
Spring 2009
classes begin February 8, 2009 to April 26, 2009. |
|
Class size: |
Limited to the size of the room (the maximum class size has been 55 couples) |
|
Presentation style: |
Lecture, small discussion groups, each couple has multiple opportunities to discuss
specific issues together during class time on Sunday nights. The
class is designed to be a relaxed, learning situation. No one is
called on directly or speaks in front of the class unless they volunteer
to do so. |
| Topics covered
|
| -Biblical Marriage |
-Roles |
| -Cohabitation facts |
-Personality differences |
| -Expectations |
-Communication |
| -Conflict resolution |
-Forgiveness |
| -In-Laws |
-Spiritual oneness |
| -Finances |
-Physical oneness |
| -Family of origin |
-Male/Female differences |
| -Decision making |
-Mentoring |
|
|
Homework:
|
Each week the participants are assigned to read a section in the main
book and answer and discuss with their fiancé questions about the
topic(s) for the week. |
|
Mentors:
|
Each of the couples who attend Grace
Church regularly and who are usually being married by a Grace pastor are given
the opportunity to have a mentoring couple. The engaged couple and
mentoring couple are asked to meet three times to discuss expectations,
roles and conflict resolution. |
|
Relationship
Inventory:
|
Grace couples who are seriously dating or couples not from Grace Church who are engaged or seriously dating are given the opportunity to have a
coach couple. The engaged or seriously dating couple take the FOCCUS inventory
and discuss the results with a coach couple.
|
|
Books used: |
Saving Your Marriage Before It Starts by Les and Leslie
Parrott
Getting Your Sex Life Off to a Great Start by Cliff and Joyce
Penner |
|
Who attends:
|
About
50% of the couples are engaged and plan to be married within nine
months. Approximately 25% of the couples have quick marriage plans, get married
between class cycles and attend class after their wedding date.
About 25% of the couples are seriously dating and want more input before
the engagement decision. The class is open to
couples throughout the Twin Cities and 60% to 75% of the participants
are not affiliated with Grace Church. Most couples are in their
20's, 30's, or 40's. |
|
Materials received:
|
Each person receives a 3 ring notebook with
tabs to organize all handouts by topic. Weekly, approximately 16
pages of questions and notes are distributed. Each couple receives
one copy of Saving Your Marriage Before It Starts and one copy of
Getting Your Sex Life Off to a Great Start.
|
|
Coordinators:
|
Russ and Kathy Nelson. Russ is a CPA and has his own public
accounting firm. Kathy is a licensed social worker and full time
mom. Contact the Nelsons at 952-893-1100. |
|
Presenters:
|
Russ and Kathy Nelson are responsible for most of the presenting.
Various outside speakers present in their areas of expertise. |
| Cost: |
$90.00 for the class. The PREPARE inventory is paid for
separately. There is no charge for the FOCCUS inventory. |
