A Christmas Gift That Strengthens Marriages for a Lifetime

A Christmas Gift That Strengthens Marriages for a Lifetime

by | Dec 17, 2025 | Donate, Holiday Giving, Marriage Encounter, Marriage Strengthening

Marriage and Engaged Encounter continues to thrive, thanks be to God.

We are blessed with strong attendance, generous donors, and a community that believes deeply in the power of marriage. This season invites us to reflect on goodwill, joy, love, and giving with open hearts.

While our ministry is financially stable today, we also recognize how quickly circumstances can change, both for our program and for the couples who need it most. That is why your continued generosity matters.

Most donated funds go directly to our Scholarship Fund, which helps cover the full cost of a Marriage Encounter weekend. In 2026, that cost is $425 per couple. Scholarships may also provide partial assistance for couples who are facing financial hardship. Your gift helps ensure that no couple is turned away because of cost.

We invite you to think back on your own Marriage Encounter experience. Remember the love, hope, healing, and renewal you felt. Your donation makes it possible for another couple to experience that same transformation.

Reflections from a recent weekend clearly show how powerful this ministry continues to be. Couples shared how meaningful it was to step away from daily distractions and find the space to truly talk. Many learned tools to heal conflict, rediscovered emotional connection, and experienced God’s presence in a deeply authentic way. Some arrived feeling stuck, disconnected, or overwhelmed, and left with renewed commitment, deeper understanding, and real hope for their future together, living out their promise of “until death do we part.”

If you feel called to help another couple experience this renewal, please consider donating to our Scholarship Fund: Click here to donate

Your generosity is an investment in marriages, families, and lives changed for the better. It is truly a gift that keeps giving for generations to come.

If you are unsure what amount to give, we offer $50 and $100 gift certificates, or you may choose to sponsor the full cost of a weekend.
We thank you for your continued prayers, support, and open hearts.

A blessed and Merry Christmas to you and yours.

Creating Peace at Home When the World Feels Chaotic

Creating Peace at Home When the World Feels Chaotic

by | Nov 19, 2025 | Communication, Faith & Relationships, Family, Marriage Encounter, Marriage Strengthening

How to Keep Unity in Your Home During Challenging Times

The world around us can feel overwhelming at times. It can be loud, chaotic, and full of division. It is a meaningful and timely thought to consider how we respond to all of that. Beautiful may not be the perfect word because it does not feel beautiful when our opinions differ on important topics. If we are not careful, that noise and hostility can slip into our homes and plant seeds of tension where love and unity should grow. A home can be a sanctuary, not because conflict never happens, but because we choose to handle it with grace and respect.

The Noise of the World Can Sneak Into Our Homes

Differences of opinion are natural and sometimes even healthy when handled the right way. The goal is never to erase those differences, but to make sure they do not overshadow the commitment to peace and understanding that a strong marriage or family deserves.

Differences Do Not Need to Divide a Marriage

A connected marriage can weather disagreement without letting it turn into disconnection, division, or emotional distance. When a couple is intentional about how they communicate, even difficult topics can become opportunities for deeper understanding.

What a Peaceful Home Really Looks Like

A peaceful home is not one without hard conversations. It is one where those conversations happen with listening ears, soft voices, and open hearts. It is the choice to value the relationship more than the argument. A person is always more valuable than their opinions or perspectives.

Choosing Love When Conversations Get Hard

When love leads the way, even heated topics can shift into moments of growth and renewed closeness. Couples who practice patience and respect create space for each other to feel safe, seen, and supported.

Protecting the Sanctuary You Build Together

When the world outside feels messy, loud, or uncertain, home can remain a place of warmth, respect, and calm. It begins with a shared desire to protect that peace side by side.

If you are interested in renewing your marriage, register today for a Marriage Encounter.

@ marriageencounter

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Invest in Your Marriage: Upcoming Marriage Encounter Weekends

Invest in Your Marriage: Upcoming Marriage Encounter Weekends

by | Sep 22, 2025 | Marriage Growth, Marriage Retreats Near Me, Marriages

Most people are quick to invest in their jobs, their health, even their hobbies, but when it comes to marriage, it’s easy to assume it will just take care of itself. The truth is, relationships don’t thrive on autopilot. Just like muscles get stronger with exercise or skills sharpen with practice, a marriage grows deeper and healthier when it’s intentionally nurtured.

Think about it—if someone ignored their career, they’d quickly fall behind. If they stopped exercising or eating well, their health would suffer. Marriage is no different. It needs regular attention, communication, laughter, forgiveness, and time together. Without that, it can easily slip into routine or even distance without anyone realizing it.

The good news is, “working on your marriage” doesn’t have to feel like a chore. It can be as simple as setting aside quality time, going on date nights, sharing daily gratitude, or learning new ways to connect. Sometimes, it also means digging deeper—taking part in retreats, workshops, or just having those honest, sometimes hard, conversations.

In the end, it’s about seeing your marriage as something worth protecting, strengthening, and celebrating. After all, when the relationship is strong, it overflows into every other part of life—family, work, health, spirituality—while creating deep joy.

This is a wonderful opportunity for couples to step away from the busyness of life and focus on each other—whether they’re newly married, celebrating decades together, or anywhere in between.

👉 Please consider encouraging family, friends, and co-workers to join us on October 11–12 or December 6–7. A Marriage Encounter weekend can truly be life-giving and hope filling!

Registration is open now at www.marriages.org.

@ marriageencounter

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Summer Love: What the Season Can Teach Us About Marriage

Summer Love: What the Season Can Teach Us About Marriage

by | Jul 2, 2025 | Marriage Encounter Reflections, Marriage Enrichment, Seasonal Reflections

Summer Love: What the Season Can Teach Us About Marriage

The Gift of Summer in Minnesota

Living in Minnesota, the arrival of summer is like a breath of fresh air — literally and emotionally. After a long winter, those warm days invite us outside to soak in the sunshine and enjoy everything from lake swims and scenic golf outings to backyard picnics and long-awaited family vacations. It’s a season that almost begs us to slow down, savor the moment, and reconnect with the people we love.

How Marriage Mirrors the Season

In the same way, marriage can mirror the beauty of summer. When it’s growing, enriching, and grounded in love, it becomes the sunshine that warms everything else. It turns a simple day at the lake into a memory, a family road trip into an adventure, and a quiet evening on the porch into something sacred. Just like summer enhances the beauty of Minnesota, a strong marriage enhances all the moments that make life good.

Storms Come, but Love Endures

Of course, even in summer, storms roll in — and marriage is no different. But when a couple is committed to loving and learning from each other, those passing clouds don’t ruin the season. They just remind us to hold each other a little tighter and to be grateful for the clear skies that follow.

So here’s to summer — and to marriages that blossom right along with it. Let’s not just enjoy the season, but also take time to invest in the relationship that brings joy to every part of it.

Plan now to attend the Marriage Encounter on October 11–12 or December 6–7.

Marriage Encounter has been enriching, saving, and celebrating marriages in Minnesota, surrounding states, and beyond for over fifty years. Whether your marriage is good, mediocre, or struggling, it’s the best program for YOU.

Register now at marriages.org/register-for-encounter/ to give your relationship the sunshine it deserves.

@ marriageencounter

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Honoring Sacrifice: Lessons from Memorial Day for a Stronger Marriage

Honoring Sacrifice: Lessons from Memorial Day for a Stronger Marriage

by | Jun 13, 2024 | Marriage Tips, Personal Growth, Relationships, Seasonal Reflections

Memorial Day: A Time for Gratitude

Memorial Day 2024 has come and gone, but the spirit of gratitude it embodies should remain with us throughout the year. It’s a time to remember and honor those who have made the ultimate sacrifice for our freedoms, ensuring the rights we frequently take for granted. This sense of profound gratitude and remembrance can be extended into our daily lives, particularly in our closest relationships.

Parallels Between Military Sacrifice and Marriage

Drawing a parallel to marriage, the idea of selflessness and sacrifice does not come naturally. Just as soldiers demonstrate their love and commitment to their country through their ultimate sacrifice, in a successful marriage, spouses show their love by prioritizing each other’s needs and well-being. This involves a daily commitment to “othering” ourselves—putting our partner’s happiness and security above our own desires. Such selflessness can be seen in the small, everyday acts of kindness, as well as in the significant sacrifices we make for those we love.

Marriage Reflecting Memorial Day Virtues

Marriage, at its best, reflects the same virtues we honor on Memorial Day: courage, commitment, and an unwavering dedication to something greater than oneself. By being mindful of these values, couples can strengthen their bond, ensuring their relationship is rooted in mutual respect and love. The willingness to give our lives, metaphorically, for our spouse—by consistently placing their needs above our own—mirrors the profound sacrifices made by those we honor on Memorial Day.

Carrying the Lessons Forward

So, as we move forward through the year, let’s carry with us the lessons from Memorial Day. Let’s remember to practice gratitude not just for those who have given their lives for our country, but also for the opportunity to enrich our marriages through acts of selfless love, forgiveness, compassion, and support. In doing so, we honor both the fallen and our closest companions, building a stronger, more resilient relationship that will stand the test of time.

Thank you for reading! If you’re interested in experiencing the transformative journey of a Minnesota Marriage Encounter, we invite you to click here to view our upcoming dates. Reserve your spot today and invest in the future of your relationship with MN Marriage Encounter.