Establishing a marriage ministry within a church can profoundly enrich relationships and strengthen the community. This 10-step process will guide you through the essential phases of creating a supportive and transformative ministry for couples at all stages of their journey.

1. Cast the Marriage Vision: The importance of creating a marriage culture must be embedded in the
   church culture through prayer, sermons, events and communications. As the vision is cast, marriage
   ministry leaders will emerge. 
2. Recruit Key Leaders: Mobilize a team of passionate, capable individuals or couples who are currently
   in a healthy marriage and they model it. They invest in their growth. This team will be your energizers
   when it’s time to act. (A simple date night helps find these people.) 
3. Areas of Focus: Begin with areas that meet the unique needs of your church and select core
   relationship education skill (RES) resources.* Prepare list of counselors and crisis programs.
4. Write a sustainable plan: Plan a marriage calendar that includes a wish list of related dates including core program classes, conferences, date nights and a way to fund the programs.
5. Recruit Volunteers: Use membership classes, vision nights, leader referral programs and marriage events to increase your marriage team. Different team members should be able to do some or all of the following: administrate details, convey excitement in front of groups of people, lead classes, greet people and make them feel welcome, develop promotional materials, coordinate programming details, and motivate and recruit volunteers.
6. Train Your Team: Prepare well by providing trainings in the programs your team selected.
7. Implement Core Programs: Offer relationship education skill programs in a variety of formats like classes, life groups, workshops or a conference. Include classes for singles and youth. ** You can partner with MREC to promote and offer these programs.
8. Evaluate and share success: Use testimonies and social media to promote your programs.
9. Celebrate Your Team: Thank your volunteers in a variety of ways to show your appreciation! Invest in them and the healthy marriages in your church. You can then leverage the positive influence of happily married couples. They serve as role models for couples preparing for marriage and give hope to struggling marriages. 
10. Provide ongoing Programs: With the goal of 8 hours each year per couple in marriage education
    skills along with date nights, conferences and renewal of vows ceremony.

10 Steps to Building a Marriage Ministry (1).pdf – Google Drive