Building a Blueprint for Healthy Homes, One Couple at a Time

February 26, 2014

In the famous words sung by Frank Sinatra, “Love and marriage go together like a horse and carriage.”

The saying may be true, but it doesn’t mean relationships are that simple. In a society where families are torn apart, many people are confused, bitter, or even disillusioned with the prospect of true love. Feelings of hopelessness and isolation often come with the territory.

Couples everywhere, across communities in our country and around the world are searching for the key unlocking the secret to building healthy relationships and mending broken ones.

The solution is rooted in something deeper than themselves. It is placing God at the centre of marriage – a message that FamilyLife passionately believes and helps couples realize and live out. Thousands of couples have seen their marriages, families, and homes transformed by seeing the relevance of Jesus Christ in their relationships, a truth that is brought home through FamilyLife’s Weekend Getaway conferences held across the country every year.

“These weekends are where we really see God moving and creating the environment for change to take place,” says Mike Woodard, Associate Director of FamilyLife.

Weekend Getaway conferences provide the ideal place for couples to work on their own marriages in relaxing and fun environments where they learn the biblical foundation for success. Most people come away from the experience refreshed and enthused. “But we also want to encourage couples to help other couples thrive and grow as well,” Woodard says. Every conference provides an opportunity for people to get involved, whether it’s inviting others to a Weekend Getaway, hosting/organizing a FamilyLife event in their area, or even joining FamilyLife directly.

Helping others to have healthy marriages and families is what FamilyLife has been pursuing through recruiting volunteers, known as HomeBuilders, to lead and grow this movement. “Our vision is to see a network of HomeBuilders across Canada that would touch every community,” Woodard says. These are individuals, couples, churches and organizations that are intentionally doing something to help the marriages and families of Canada.

Parenting. Conflict resolution. Money. Dealing with Pressure. Communication. These are some of the topics that HomeBuilders help couples to address and work through with others in the context of small groups. By starting their own group of 3-6 couples, HomeBuilders create a sense of community and fellowship where they can teach and mentor using FamilyLife resources, including the HomeBuilders Bible Study series (which has 15 topics to choose from) or a DVD series on Marriage Oneness (the most popular series).

“Small groups create a good environment where transparency, sharing, and prayer can take place, as well as providing a biblical foundation for addressing issues,” Woodard says. While these groups typically run on a six-week format, it’s not unusual for couples to continue meeting and growing together beyond that.

People don’t have to feel isolated when they are dealing with marital issues. There is hope for couples across the country as they walk alongside others for support, encouragement, and accountability.

Married for 17 years, Calgary residents Judith* and André* are an example of a couple who are passionate about helping others through their involvement in FamilyLife. But helping others started with helping themselves.  Like many people, their own journey to a healthy, whole marriage was fraught with struggles, hurt, and desperation – to the point where divorce seemed the only option left.

But when they agreed to attend a marriage conference together as a last resort, the weekend was, in their words, “unforgettable.” With the tools they discovered there, they began the process of healing using the blueprint from God they’d been given. And their love grew.

Now Andrea and Gordon are active volunteers at the conference each year, and host a HomeBuilders Bible study in their home. “We feel very passionate about sharing our story and letting others know about FamilyLife. We are committed to helping marriages around us, to making a difference in people’s lives.”

With the right tools and a heart to serve, anyone can be a HomeBuilder. As FamilyLife intentionally seeks to equip couples to minister to other couples, imagine what God can do to change our homes, our families, and our nation!

Would you prayerfully consider supporting this dynamic and important ministry to help couples across Canada? To find out more about being a HomeBuilder or to donate, visit http://powertochange.com/familylife/help-others/ today!

*Names changed to protect privacy

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