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February: A Month of Love and Lasting Impact with Marriage Encounter

February: A Month of Love and Lasting Impact with Marriage Encounter

A Month of Love and Transformation with Marriage Encounter

This Valentine’s season, we invite you to be part of something truly special: helping struggling couples rediscover love, laughter, and lifelong commitment. For over 50 years, Marriage Encounter has empowered tens of thousands of couples to rebuild their relationships through our transformative weekend retreats.

With your support, we can continue offering scholarships to financially struggling couples who need this life-changing experience. Every donation, big or small, makes a difference.

Why Your Gift Matters

Many couples who attend our weekends face significant financial challenges. But thanks to generous donors like you, they can access the tools and support they need to restore and strengthen their marriages. One couple shared their gratitude:

“We didn’t know if our marriage would survive. But this weekend changed everything. It brought laughter, tears, forgiveness, and a renewed commitment to each other. Thank you for saving our marriage.”

Your gift can provide hope and healing for many more couples who need help.

More of Your Donation Now Goes Where It’s Needed

We’re excited to share that we’ve made an important change to maximize the impact of your donations. In the past, we relied on GiveMN for fundraising, but they charged a 6.9% processing fee, which meant part of your donation went toward administrative costs.

To better serve couples in need, we’ve switched to PayPal, which charges only a 1.99% fee. This change means more of your generous donation will directly fund scholarships and provide resources for struggling couples.

Real Stories of Transformation

Our weekend retreats aren’t just about temporarily improving relationships—they’re about creating lasting change. One couple who attended shared:

“We took a leap of faith, not knowing if this would help, but it was a do-or-die moment for us. This weekend didn’t just give us hope—it gave us the tools to thrive. We will always be grateful for the support that made this possible.”

Your donation can make this story a reality for many more couples.

How You Can Make an Impact

This Valentine’s Day, consider giving a gift that will last for generations. Your support today helps couples discover love and healing while strengthening families and communities.

💖 Donate Now and Share the Love: marriages.org/donate

Together, we can continue making love a lasting legacy. Thank you for your generosity and support this Valentine’s season.

Ready to Share the Love?

Click here to donate and make a difference today.

 

@ marriageencounter

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Keep the Flame Alive: Rekindling Love Through Marriage Encounter

Keep the Flame Alive: Rekindling Love Through Marriage Encounter

Reflecting on Your Marriage Encounter Experience
In these freezing days of January, let’s turn our thoughts to spring. On that journey to spring, we land on February, the month of love. Reflecting on your Marriage Encounter, think about how you felt when you arrived and the emotions you carried home. Were you able to keep the flame of that new discovery of your spouse alive? Were the commitments you made over the weekend sustained?

The Challenge: Keeping the Flame Alive
Memories of your Marriage Encounter weekend may bring to mind the deep emotional journey you experienced. Many couples arrive feeling disconnected, weighed down by life’s stresses. However, through meaningful dialogue and shared vulnerability, new levels of intimacy and understanding emerge. By the time couples return home, they may feel excitement and hope, but also apprehension about maintaining the momentum of their discoveries.

Keeping the flame alive requires consistent effort: regular communication, affirming actions, and recommitting to the love and goals set during the weekend. The true value of Marriage Encounter is not just in the weekend itself but in how those commitments are implemented in daily life.

Making Your Marriage Encounter Commitments Last
The commitments made during Marriage Encounter often focus on better communication, intentional acts of kindness, and prioritizing the relationship. Consistency is key. By creating habits to nurture the bond deepened during the weekend, couples can maintain and even grow the love they rediscovered.

Help Others Experience the Transformation
MN Marriage Encounter provides scholarships—full or partial—to ensure financial barriers don’t prevent couples from experiencing this transformative journey. These scholarships allow couples who might not afford the weekend to achieve the same renewal and growth.

How You Can Give Back This Valentine’s Day
Marriage Encounter is encouraging YOU to donate to our Scholarship Fund, culminating on Valentine’s Day, February 14th. Between the two of you and God, determine what you can give. Your gift will enable other couples to embark on this life-changing experience. Please give your gift of LOVE today by clicking here to donate.

@ marriageencounter

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Join the MN Marriage Encounter Community: Strengthening Marriages and Sharing the Gift of Love

Join the MN Marriage Encounter Community: Strengthening Marriages and Sharing the Gift of Love

Awesome Opportunity: Strengthen Marriages as a Team Couple

At MN Marriage Encounter, we are blessed to have an amazing group of Team Couples. These couples are committed to the philosophy: “Our messy marriages are our message.” By sharing their personal stories, they help others open up and connect on a deeper level. Serving as a Team Couple allows you to grow personally and spiritually, while also making a meaningful impact on others.

Each new team couple is welcomed with open arms, regardless of where they are in their journey. Our program supports them every step of the way, ensuring they feel equipped and confident to present their talks. If you’ve participated in a Marriage Encounter, you’ve seen firsthand the power of openness and vulnerability. Now, we invite you to consider serving on a team and playing an integral role in strengthening marriages.

Many couples serve on at least one Marriage or Engaged Encounter weekend each year. As you serve, you’ll find that the experience is as enriching for you as it is for the couples who attend. The more you give, the more you receive—this is truly a partnership that strengthens everyone involved.


Board Members Needed: Join Us in Leading the Way

We’re excited to announce that after a long break due to the pandemic, MN Marriage Encounter is resurrecting our board! We’ll be meeting via Zoom three times a year, and we’re looking to add two new members to help lead the charge.

If you’re passionate about marriage enrichment and want to serve with like-minded individuals, please consider joining our board. It’s an exciting time for us, and we would love for you to be a part of this wonderful group.

For more information, please reach out to Mary at 651.454.3238 or email mary@marriages.org.


Word-of-Mouth Marketing: Help Us Spread the Word!

We’ve always believed that word-of-mouth marketing is the most powerful way to spread the message of Marriage Encounter. The couples who attend and experience our programs are our best advocates. Men, we especially encourage you to share your experience with family members, friends, or co-workers—encourage them to attend!

Here are some testimonials from couples who attended the October 19-20 Marriage Encounter:

  • “We agreed to spend more time communicating and watching for signs that we weren’t talking enough.”
  • “Very valuable and time well spent. I feel my marriage will be stronger and more fulfilling.”
  • “Communication, mainly what we were lacking as a couple. Honesty and trust are something we are working on. Thank you so much!”

If you’re willing to help promote our upcoming weekends, we have bulletin board posters available to distribute at your church, community center, or local stores. Please contact us at 651.454.3238 or email mary@marriages.org to request your posters.


Stocking Stuffers: The Gift of a Stronger Marriage

Looking for a thoughtful gift this holiday season? Give the gift of a Marriage Encounter or Engaged Encounter experience with our $50 and $100 Gift Certificates. You can cover the full cost of a Marriage Encounter for $375 or an Engaged Encounter for just $100.

Add Marriage Encounter or Engaged Encounter to your Christmas list today! For more information or to purchase a gift certificate, contact us at 651.454.3238 or mary@marriages.org.


Get Involved and Make a Difference

We are so grateful for your support in helping us strengthen, enrich, and save marriages. Whether you’re serving as a Team Couple, joining our board, helping with marketing, or gifting a Marriage Encounter experience, your involvement has a lasting impact.

We look forward to your continued support and hope you’ll take part in the many opportunities to serve, grow, and make a difference in the lives of couples throughout Minnesota.

Support our Scholarship Fund, Click here to donate

Celebrating the Season of Giving: Supporting MN Marriage Encounter’s Scholarship Fund in February

Celebrating the Season of Giving: Supporting MN Marriage Encounter’s Scholarship Fund in February

 
 

A Season of Connection, Faith, and Giving

With the holidays approaching, we’re gearing up for a season filled with connection, devotion, and moments of joy. It’s a wonderful time to focus on fun, faith, and fellowship—whether it’s cozy gatherings, faith-based events, or festive harvest celebrations that bring everyone together. This season of togetherness also brings a meaningful twist to our work at MN Marriage Encounter by adding an “F” word into the mix—fundraising. While fundraising can sometimes feel uncomfortable or make people a bit uneasy, it’s a vital part of making our impactful projects possible.

When done thoughtfully, fundraising can be a powerful way to unite people. As we rally around a cause that excites us, we’re hopeful that this will be a time to strengthen our Marriage Encounter community and inspire fresh involvement. This season is a great opportunity to get creative—think about ways you can get involved and support us with simple, meaningful actions that align with our theme of fellowship.

For the past twelve years, MN Marriage Encounter has hosted our annual fundraiser during Give to the Max Day. However, this year, the board has decided to move our fundraising efforts to February, the month of love. Here’s why we’re making this change:

Why We’re Moving Our Fundraiser to February

At GiveMN, we appreciate the transparency they provide regarding the cost of fundraising. They charge a 6.9% processing fee plus a $0.30 per transaction fee for every donation made on their platform. While they provide an excellent platform, we believe that using these funds for fees isn’t the best use of our resources. Instead, we’ll be processing donations through PayPal, which charges a much lower 1.99% processing fee plus $0.49 per transaction, ensuring that more of your generous donations go directly to the Marriage Encounter Scholarship Fund.

You will receive several emails prior to Valentine’s Day, encouraging you to support our Scholarship Fund, which covers the total or partial cost of a Marriage Encounter for financially needy couples. The marriage enrichment achieved is exactly what they need at a difficult time in their marriage! 

Donations will be accepted through our secure donation page: https://marriages.org/donate/.

Please pray for the success of this initiative, and when February rolls around, encourage your family, friends, and co-workers to support couples in need, helping them enrich their marriages through MN Marriage Encounter.

Enjoy every moment with family and friends during this wonderful holiday season!

We thank you for your support and generosity. Together, we can make a lasting impact and strengthen marriages throughout Minnesota.

Falling in Love Again: A Season of Reflection and Growth

Falling in Love Again: A Season of Reflection and Growth

In the fall of the year, there’s a certain magic in the air, isn’t there? The temperatures start to drop, the trees turn brilliant shades of orange, yellow, and red, and everything feels a bit cozier. Fall has a way of slowing things down just enough to really appreciate the beauty around us. Whether it’s taking a peaceful walk through a park filled with fallen leaves or enjoying a warm drink on a crisp evening, it’s a season that invites us to reflect and recharge.

For many people, fall also brings a sense of preparation. With the holidays approaching, it can be a time to focus on family, traditions, and the things that matter most. It’s easy to get caught up in the hustle and bustle, but fall reminds us to take a moment, breathe in that cool, fresh air, and enjoy the present.

In this season of fall, let’s work on falling deeper in love! Love really does go beyond feelings, which can be fleeting or change with time and seasons. Choosing to love, especially, until death do we part, means committing to action, even on days when the emotions may not be as strong or present. It’s in the small, daily decisions — showing kindness, offering support, being patient — that love deepens and strengthens over time.

Years of experience in marriage helps us to see how love evolves. The initial spark might look different as the years go by but choosing to invest in each other consistently is what keeps the flame alive. It’s about knowing your partner’s needs, dreams, and well-being matter just as much, or a more intense love means their needs mean more than your own. 

When you commit to falling in love over and over again, it becomes a shared journey, full of rediscovery. Whether it’s trying new things together, reminiscing about old memories, or simply enjoying each other’s presence, you nurture that bond. Every day offers a fresh chance to grow deeper in love, by choice.

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