FREE Fireproof Marriage Ministries - click for flyer to print and distribute
Julie Baumgardner, MS, Richard Albertson, Rob Harrison, Dennis Stoica, MBA
Inspired by Fireproof, churches across America are launching marriage and family strengthening ministries.
Part I - Wednesday, July 8, 8:30am - 5pm
Learn about the rich variety of effective, affordable, mentor-based, easy-to-teach programs, do's-and-don't, and roadmaps for success.
Part II - Sunday, July 12, 8:30am - 5pm
Gather to sort out what you've learned, brainstorm with colleagues, and formulate strategic plans to
revitalize and strengthen marriage and families in your communities.
This institute is part of the week-long Smart Marriages conference where you'll learn everything you need to know about how to help couples build and sustain healthy marriages and families.
To Register for the Fireproof Institute and the Conference or for more information, Conference Details, to download a conference brochure, REGISTER ONLINE, hotel & travel information & discounts, etc.
__________________________________
Has your church talked for years about starting a marriage ministry, but you just don’t know where to begin? Are you overwhelmed with the number of resources, yet don’t know which might be the best fit for your church?
This institute, inspired by the Fireproof film and Love Dare book phenomenon, will provide the answers – for clergy, marriage and family ministry leaders, church counselors, mentor couples – anyone interested in building a strong church-based marriage and family ministry.
The institute will be led by experts with more than 30 years of combined marriage education/marriage ministry experience and who represent a variety of Christian denominations and regions of the country.
They’ll share what has worked for them – what they have found to be effective and affordable. They will also try to save you time and money by giving guidance not only on what to do, but on what not to do - they'll share their mistakes and help you avoid repeating them.
They’ll identify effective resources for every stage of your ministry: healthy dating and relationship skills for teens and singles; preparing the engaged; marriage enrichment; marriage mentoring; programs for remarried and step couples; and opportunities for couples in distress.
They’ll share creative ways to use the programs and walk you through the step-by-step process of getting your marriage ministry started – or of strengthening the one you have. They’ll include lessons learned, marketing, recruitment, funding, networking and collaboration – and more – to help you build an effective, sustainable, enjoyable, prevention-oriented marriage ministry – one that will not only strengthen mariage and families in your congregation, but will also strengthen your congregation, itself, and your community.
Banquet & Luncheon: We hope you’ll join us for two special add-on events designed to give Fireproof attendees the opportunity to network and share their experience and expertise.
Banquet: Tuesday night, July 7, We’ll hear from internationally acclaimed author and speaker, Gary Chapman on “The Five Languages of Apology” - $39 pp.
Awards Lunceon: Wednesday, July 8, We’ll honor the writers and producers of Fireproof, Alex and Stephen Kendrick, Jim McBride and Michael Catt and hear about their mission to “Strengthening Marriages One Church at a Time” - $26 pp.
Screening: If you’ve not seen Fireproof, or you'd like to see it again, there will be three free screenings on Tuesday, July 7,
4pm; Wednesday, July 8, 12 noon; and Saturday, July 1, 6pm at the Shingle Creek Hotel. (Schedule of seven additional marriage movies at the Smart Marriages Film Festival.)
Participants will receive:
1. Essential Components of a Marriage and Family Ministry
2. Creative Marketing Ideas
3. Sample Community Marriage Policies/Covenants
4. Ideas for Collaborating with other Churches
5. Ideas for Marriage Events in Your Church
6. What works and what doesn’t work when it comes to getting people in the door
7. One-on-one consultation with institute facilitators to assist you in your efforts to put together a plan for your own church.
When you leave you will have:
An implementation plan tailored to your church
A whole host of tools to help you get your ministry off the ground
Access to coaches who will continue to assist you in your efforts
Who should attend: The institute is designed for clergy, marriage and family ministry leaders, church counselors, mentor couples – anyone interested in building a strong church-based marriage and family ministry. We suggest you bring as many members from your church as possible to attend the Institute but also to fan out during the conference and
cover as many topics and sessions as possible to check out the vast array of curricula and
teach-out-of-the-box programs. Note that there is a 20% group conference discount: register four people and a fifth attends free. There are also spouse and student discounts and the four qualifying registrations can be any combination of regular, spouse, and student registrations. Conference registration includes admission to 22 Keynote presentations and all workshops and seminars. There are 140 workshops from which to choose. Conference registration also includes three lunches (Thurs, Fri, and Sat).
Click to Register:
The two-day Institute is FREE of charge, however, you must register to reserve a spot in the institute.
Two optional add-on events require a fee to cover the cost of the meals:
Banquet: $39 per person; Luncheon $26 per person.
Fireproof Institute Flyer - please share with colleagues.
Frequently Asked Questions:
We've been getting questions about the Institute and will share the answers here. If one asks, many wonder.
Is there a limit to how many people can attend from our church?
No, in fact we encourage you to bring as many people from your church as possible – you'll have a working group when you get home and you'll have many more programs and ideas to bring to the table. See Conference 20% GROUP Discount information.
My unit is sending me to take the PREP training pre-conference. However, I'd like to start a Marriage Ministry in my church so I'd like to attend the Fireproof Institute on Sunday. Is it permissible to attend only the second day of the Institute?
Yes, you can attend Sunday even if you can't make it on Wednesday. There will be MANY people in your same predicament, who need to attend pre or post training institutes and who can, therefore, only attend one day of the Fireproof Institute. The Institute leaders will host Fireproof topic tables at the lunches on Thurs, Fri, and Sat to help those that have to miss the Wednesday's Institute catch up, and those that have to miss Sunday's institute, develop strategic plans.
I'd like to attend the Fireproof Institute but I will only be able to stay for one day of the Conference. Will that be possible?
There is no requirement that you attend the Smart Marriages Conference in order to attend the Fireproof Institute. We strongly encourage those that attend the Institute to attend as much of the conference as possible, but it is not a requirement. It is possible to purchase a one-day Conference Registration.
I'm not Christian but am interested in starting a Marriage Ministry in my setting. May I attend the training Institute?
Yes, the Institute will be targeted for use in Christian churches but everyone is welcome. You will be able to use the large majority of Marriage Education programs that will be recommened (the majority have secular versions) and you will be able to use all of the organizing, funding, networking, and marketing strategies.
Why did you schedule two days but put them four days apart? I live just south of Atlanta and the long drive makes it extremely inconvenient, if not impossible, to attend both days.
The idea is to encourage people to attend the conference keynotes, workshops, seminars, morning interest roundtables, exhibits, film festival, etc. (Thurs, Fri, and Sat) and learn about the many marriage education resources. Wednesday is designed as an orientation to what marriage education is – and isn't, how to select programs, etc. Sunday is designed to help people sort out the incredible amount of information they'll be exposed to at the conference and come up with a plan to implement what they've learned. You'll also have access to a bunch of generous people who will share what has worked or not in their church ministries. And we encourage you to pay special attention to the Faith-based and Mentor Tracks.
My clinic requires that I attend the Bringing Baby Home Training Institute which means I can't attend the Fireproof Training. I'd like to attend the luncheon with the Fireproof Directors. Is this allowed?
Yes, you are warmly welcomed to attend the luncheon. You are also encouraged to attend the Gary Chapman banquet. Pay for your tickets on your registration. Banquet: Tues, July 7, Gary Chapman “The Five Languages of Apology” - $39 pp.
Awards Lunceon: Wed, July 8, “Strengthening Marriages One Church at a Time” - $26 pp.
__________________________________________
This institute is part of the week-long Smart Marriages conference where you'll learn everything you need to know about how to help couples build and sustain healthy marriages and families.
Register for the Institute and the Conference: Click for Information on Conference Details, to download a conference brochure, REGISTER ONLINE, hotel & travel information & discounts, etc.