PREPARATION FOR MARRIAGE PROGRAM

The Julianna Poor Memorial Counseling Center of Houston’s First Baptist Church provides a wonderful package of marriage preparation services to engaged couples who have scheduled Houston’s First Baptist facilities for their wedding. All those who marry here are required to participate in the program*.

Even if you’re not getting married at Houston’s First, you are more than welcome to enroll in the Preparation for Marriage program; pastors from other churches recommend our program to couples marrying in their churches.

Premarital Curriculum

A specially designed curriculum has been developed for couples who wish to enter a Christ-centered marriage. In order to accommodate your busy schedule, we have developed two different alternatives.

Engaged Couples Workshop

This one and one-half day (Fri evening and all day Sat) Workshop, held at Houston's First, dives into the real issues of marriage. Through a variety of facilitators, we’ll discuss what the Bible has to say about these issues. You’ll have “office time” with your spouse-to-be to further discuss first-year issues. Workshops are held throughout the year. Upcoming workshops are listed below. Approximately 8-14 couples participate in the workshop—so there’s opportunity to meet and fellowship with other alter-bound couples.

The Six Modules Covered:

Spiritual Oneness

Roles and Expectation

Communication

Conflict Resolution

Finances

Sexual Intimacy

Two-on-Two

If you two prefer to go through the premarital curriculum with an older Houston's First married couple, Two-on-Two may be for you. The same six modules mentioned above are covered by your mentor couple. It’s a more personalized approach to the curriculum; the mentor couple can “customize” each module to your needs. You and your mentor couple can figure out a mutually convenient schedule for going through the curriculum—this schedule is dictated by the length of time until your wedding date. Usually the meetings take place in the mentor couple’s home.

To get started, register online for Two-on-Two.

Upcoming Workshops

Mar 23-24, 2012 - Register Online
May 18-19, 2012 - Register Online
Jul 20-21, 2012 - Register Online
Sep 14-15, 2012 - Register Online
Nov 9-10, 2012 - Register Online

The fees for the workshop or Two-on-Two are:

Engaged Couples Workshop – $150/couple (for Houston's First members)
Engaged Couples Workshop – $220/couple (for non-members)
Two-on-Two – $180/couple (for Houston's First members)
Two-on-Two – $250/couple (for non-members)

Primary Steps

This program is rooted in a solemn and abiding commitment to the sacredness of Christian marriage, and may be the most important of all your plans for a successful marriage! Here are the primary steps of the Preparation for Marriage program:

1. Profile

When you register for either the Engaged Couples Workshop or the Two-on-Two through serviceU, the form you fill out will be sent to our ministry team. This team consists of Nena Buckley (Preparation for Marriage Coordinator), Jacque Killingsworth (Wedding Coordinator), Brad Hodges (Minister of Young Married Adults) and Ken Kapp (Director of Engaged Couples Workshop). If you plan on getting married here at Houston’s First Baptist Church there is form you will need to read in preparation for your meeting with a minister before you secure your wedding date. This form is part of the registration. If you are not getting married at Houston’s First then you do not have to read the document.

You may register online for the Engaged Couples Workshop by clicking on the quick link next to the date that you want to attend or sign up for Two-on-Two. You will be asked to choose which option you would like and you will need to fill out all the information. Once we have received your registration Nena Buckley will contact you and give you further information. Only one person per a couple needs to register and pay. If you have any questions please contact Nena Buckley at 713.335.6469 or at Nena.Buckley@houstonsfirst.org.

2. PREPARE Profile

Once you’re signed up and we have received your payment the PMC will contact you to give you the information necessary to take the online profile. The PREPARE profile—is an inventory assessment used to reveal potential strength areas and challenge areas of the couple. The man and woman individually take PREPARE—it can be taken online or at the Counseling Center office.

3. Initial Counseling Session

When the results of your PREPARE inventories are ready, you’ll have your first meeting with one of the counselors at Houston's First. Not only will you review the PREPARE results; you’ll discuss the Biblical foundation of the covenant of marriage. You’ll explore how your individual relationships with Christ form the foundation for a Christ-centered marriage. We prefer to have the initial counseling session prior to you attending the ECW, so give yourself enough time when signing up to allow for a session.

4. Final Counseling Session

After you complete the Engaged Couples Workshop or the Two-on-Two, you’ll schedule a final session with your Houston's First Counselor. During this session, you’ll discuss your experiences with the Workshop or Mentoring. Your counselor will provide feedback and give solid guidance to start a rock-solid, Christ-centered marriage.

5. One Year Newlywed Classes

Based on Deuteronomy 24:5, Houston's First has two Life Bible Study options for newly married couples:

Newlywed or Close AM

Sundays @ 9:30a – Fellowship Ctr

Newlywed or Close PM

Sundays @ 6:45p – Rm 501/502

These high-energy classes are specially designed for newlywed and engaged couples, with a rotating 12-month curriculum focused on building a Christ-centered marriage. The lessons are biblically-based with lots of application. Lecture format on various topics. Average attendance:
35-50 couples.

AM class – contact Rene & Beth Joubert at nwcdirectors@gmail.com.
PM class – contact Ken & Cindy Kapp at marriageprep@thekapps.net.

Marriage Mentoring

This element of the program is optional. Couple-To-Couple Mentoring consists of an older Houston's First couple coming alongside of a younger couple in order to help the younger couple with specific issues and adjustments in their first year of marriage. The commitment is for one year and is structured very informally. It is recommended for couples who have been married for at least three months

The Preparation for Marriage Program is part of established and uniform wedding policies of Houston's First; such policies are coordinated through the Wedding Director. All Preparation for Marriage Program services offered by Houston's First are aimed toward one supreme goal—the establishment of Biblically-based, Christ-honoring and Spirit-led marriage relationships.

If you have any questions (including cost and availability) regarding your participation in the program, please contact the Preparation for Marriage Program Coordinator at marriageprep@HoustonsFirst.org or 713.335.6469.

NOTE:

If you are marrying at Houston's First, the payment for the Preparation for Marriage program is handled through the website, unless you need to pay in person. If you’re not marrying at Houston's First but would like to participate in the Preparation for Marriage program, please contact the PMP Coordinator at the number or e-mail listed below.

If you’re marrying at Houston's First and plan to participate in another church’s premarital program, you must advise the Counseling Center that you have completed a similar counseling program. Written document or evidence from this program must be submitted at least 30 days prior to your wedding date.
If you are marrying here at Houston's First we ask that you read the document Premarital Covenant Agreement. This will be a document that you and a minister on staff will cover in your meeting together.

Twogether in Texas

The state of Texas has begun a program called “Twogether in Texas,” and we have been approved to provide pre-marital counseling in this program. The desire of this program is “to build a community where marriage is valued and strong families can contribute to the success of the great State of Texas.” As an approved program we are able to give you a certificate of completion that can provide a deduction of $60 in your marriage license fees. Upon completion of the program we will give you the certificate.

For further information about “Twogether in Texas,” you can visit the website TwogetherInTexas.com. We look forward to being a part of your story together.