Our
Mission

Lake Avenue Church Marriage Ministries is dedicated to helping couples cultivate healthy and thriving Christ-centered marriages, that in turn will impact their families, the church and their communities, and glorify our Lord.

We provide a variety of resources that enable couples to equip your relationship with the practical tools and skills needed for a fulfilling marriage.

Whether you are engaged, your marriage is just beginning or you have celebrated many anniversaries, whether you are looking for enhancement or your marriage is experiencing distress, we are here to help you!

Programs

We offer programs for both premarital and married couples, connecting them with a trained and experienced couple who is further along in their journey of life and marriage.

Mentoring-Coaching

Enhancement

Couple on couple, 12 sessions, monthly, utilizing the Marriage Mentoring curriculum developed by Biola University.

  • Healthy Communication
  • Conflict Management
  • Setting Expectations
  • Similarities and Managing Differences
  • Gratitude
  • Forgiveness
  • Emotions
  • Listening
  • Sexual Intimacy
  • Spiritual Intimacy

Research shows couples with marriage mentors have marriages that are happier and healthier, with more contentment, passion, joy and resilience along with a deeper and more profound faith-based connection.

Take the Next Step!

Revitalize

Couple on couple, 12 sessions, weekly, utilizing the Hope4Marriage curriculum, a deeper dive into marriage topics.

  • The Spirit Filled Life
  • God’s Design for Marriage
  • Biblical Responsibilities for Husbands and Wives
  • Deception and Truth
  • How to Manage Family and Historical “Baggage”
  • Confession and Forgiveness
  • Communication Skills
  • Conflict Resolution Techniques
  • Dealing with Personality Differences
  • Commitment and Goal Setting

Take the Next Step!

Marriage Mentoring vs. Marriage Counseling

  • Marriage Mentoring – guidance and support provided by a trained mentor couple with experience in maintaining a healthy relationship, utilizing a combination of curriculum, practical advice, transparent personal insights, prayer support and encouragement
  • Marriage Counseling – involves intervention by a professional therapist aimed at resolving deeper issues, conflicts and emotional challenges within the marital relationship, utilizing a variety of therapies and modalities.
Mentoring-Premarital

Marriage Preparation Program

Completed by yourselves, 8 hours online with a workbook, utilizing curriculum developed by specialists Marv and Joyce Warman, Cliff and Joyce Penner and Del Gainer.

Get Started Now!

Premarital Mentoring

Couple on couple, 8 sessions, weekly or biweekly, utilizing the SYMBIS (Saving Your Marriage Before it Starts) curriculum by Drs. Les & Leslie Parrott.

Take the Next Step!

Mentoring-Hope4Marriage

Instilling Life in Your Marriage

8 sessions with 3 to 4 couples plus a facilitator couple, utilizing the 5 Days to a New Marriage curriculum by Dr. Terry Hargrave and Dr. Sean Stover, focused on tools to better resolve conflicts & build marriage harmony.

The small groups are held periodically, with the next planned for January 2025. If you are interested in participating in the small group and/or learning more, please email [email protected]

Next Step

for Mentoring Programs

For couples interested in going through any of our marital or premarital programs,

please take a moment to fill out our questionnaire. Each spouse should complete

the questionnaire separately to help us understand your perspectives!

Questionnaire

Our Marriage Ministries team will contact you after both of you complete the questionnaire.

The next steps are an Assessment, and then an Intake Interview to gain more insights into your relationship which will enable us to better match you with a mentor couple.

Resources

for Married Couples

  • 7 Principles for Making Marriage Work
    by John Gottman (secular but solid teaching on marriage)
  • Boundaries in Marriage
    by Dr. Henry Cloud and Dr. John Townsend
  • Sacred Marriage
    by Gary Thomas
  • Five Love Languages
    The Secret to Love that Lasts, Dr. Gary Chapman
  • Caring Enough to Confront
    by David Augsburger
  • The Gift of Sex
    by Cliff and Joyce Penner
  • Restoring the Pleasure
    by Cliff and Joyce Penner
  • The Good Girl’s Guide to Great Sex
    Sheila Wray Gregoire
  • The Good Guy’s Guide to Great Sex
    Sheila Wray Gregorie and Dr. Keith Gregoire
  • Fight Your Way to a Better Marriage
    by Dr. Greg Smalley
  • The Marriage App
    by Drs. Paul and Virginia Friesen
  • Complete Guide to Money
    by Dave Ramsey
  • Total Money Makeover
    by Dave Ramsey – Proven Plan for Financial Peace
  • The 5 Money Personalities
    by Scott and Bethany Palmer
  • Closer, 52 Devotions to Draw Christians Together
    by Dr. Jim and Cathy Burns
  • Devotions for a Sacred Marriage, A Year of Weekly Devotions for Couples
    by Gary Thomas
  • Marriage in Abundance’s Devotions for Married Couples, One Year of Weekly Devotions to Deepen Your Connection with God and Each Other
    by Mandy and Joel Shrock
  • My Utmost for His Highest
    by Oswald Chambers (Daily Devotional, good for individuals and couples)
  • 5 Days to a New Marriage
    by Terry Hargrave and Shawn Stover
  • War Room

Events

There are no published events for this ministry.

Administrative Support

Debbie Gonzalez

Administrative Coordinator for Congregational Life Ministries

Contact Debbie

Need Prayer?

From minor concerns to major life events, our dedicated prayer team faithfully prays over each request. How can we support you in prayer?

Submit Prayer Request