Marriage Ministry

The Marriage Ministry at Oakwood Community Church is designed to minister to engaged couples as well as married couples with training and encouragement. Click the links below to scroll down the section you are interested in.

Pre-Marital Education • Marriage Education • Marriage Mentoring
Marriage Mentor Training • Conferences • Suggested Reading

Pre-Marital Education

Oakwood offers Pre-Marital Education to engaged couples by providing tools for communication and conflict resolution to maximize marriage relationships.

The process begins with the couple taking two inventories – TJTA (Taylor-Johnson Temperament Analysis) and FOCCUS (Facilitating Open Couple Communication, Understanding and Study).

After these inventories are completed and scored, the engaged couple will meet with the Pastor and the Marriage Education leaders in two sessions to review the results of these inventories. This is followed by 6-8 sessions (over a period of 2-3 months) with the Pastor or Marriage Education leaders.

It is highly recommended that this process begin no less than three months before the wedding date in order to give adequate time to invest in the sessions and “homework.”

Upon completion of these sessions, the couple will receive a letter and Certificates of Completion that can be taken to the Marriage License office. With these documents, you will be able to receive your Marriage License immediately and avoid the three-day waiting period as well as a reduced price for the Marriage License.

To begin this process contact the Church Office and talk with the Senior Pastor.

Marriage Education

Through the ministry of The Oakwood Mill, regular Marriage and Family classes are often offered on Sunday mornings during the Adult Education classes.

Marriage Mentoring

Marriage Mentoring is offered to couples who are newly married or who have been married a few years, but need some guidance in developing good marriage skills.

We have a team of Marriage Mentor couples that have gone through Marriage Mentor training. If you are interested in being matched up with a Mentor Couple, please contact the Church Office with your request.

Marriage Mentor Training

A Marriage Mentor Couple is one who has a stable, growing marriage relationship and desire to help other couples mature.

We offer Marriage Mentor Training which consists of two sections of training.

RE-FOCCUS – A six week study to look at your own marriage relationship.

MENTOR TRAINING – A six week study to learn skills to help you understand the process of mentoring another couple.

If you have interest in exploring Mentor Training please click the link below and email your request or contact the Church Office.

Suggested Reading List

There are a number of wonderful books available to help you maximize your marriage relationship. Below is a suggested reading list:

Commitment
Covenant Marriage – Gary Chapman
Fighting For Your Empty Nest Marriage – David Arp, Claudia Arp, Howard Markman, Scott Stanley, Susan Blumberg (This is somewhat of a combination of the books Fighting For Your Marriage and The Second Half of Marriage)
I Love You More – Drs. Les & Leslie Parrott
Loving Your Marriage Enough to Protect It – Jerry Jenkins
Making Love Last Forever – Gary Smalley
The Four Seasons of Marriage – Gary Chapman
The Power of Commitment – Scott Stanley
Your Time Starved Marriage – Drs. Les & Leslie Parrott

Communication
A Lasting Promise – Scott Stanley
A Marriage After God’s Own Heart – David Clarke
Communication: Key to Your Marriage – H. Norman Wright
Covenant Marriage – Gary Chapman
His Needs, Her Needs – Willard F. Harley
Love Talk – Les & Leslie Parrott
Loving Your Marriage Enough to Protect It – Jerry Jenkins
The Five Love Languages – Gary Chapman
Cinderella Meets The Cave Man – David Clarke

Finance
Budgeting For The Non-Accountant – Ray Lynch (workbook available at Oakwood)
www.crown.org – many helpful tools on this website including The Complete Financial Guide For Young Couples – Larry Burkett

Second Half of Marriage
Fighting For Your Empty Nest Marriage – David Arp, Claudia Arp, Howard Markman, Scott Stanley, Susan Blumberg (This is somewhat of a combination of the books Fighting For Your Marriage and The Second Half of Marriage)
The Act of Marriage After 40 – Tim LaHaye
The Second Half of Marriage – David & Claudia Arp

Sex
Getting Your Sex Life Off To A Great Start – Clifford & Joyce Penner
Married Guys Guide to Great Sex – Clifford & Joyce Penner
Sheet Music – Kevin Leman
The Act of Marriage – Tim LaHaye
The Act of Marriage After 40 – Tim LaHaye

Spiritual Intimacy in Marriage
A Marriage After God’s Own Heart – David Clarke
Devotions for Couples – Patrick Morley
Marriage Minutes – Robert and Cheryl Moeller (devotional book)
Our Love Is Here to Stay – Tony & Lois Evans (devotional book)
Quiet Times For Couples – H. Norman Wright
The One Year Book of Devotions for Couples – David & Teresa Ferguson
Together For Good (After You Say I Do – Devotional For Couples) – H. Norman Wright

Understanding Each Other
His Needs, Her Needs – Willard F. Harley
Love & Respect – Dr. Emerson Eggerichs
Love Is A Decision – Gary Smalley
The Five Love Languages – Gary Chapman