The following are Web Site links and links to resources to help you discover marriage prep materials that are available for your use. We pray you will find them to be helpful.

Recommended Marriage Prep Links

Marriage Prep Resources

• Marriagetrac.com This link takes you to the Marriagetrac pre-marriage page that offers over 40 articles for those who are preparing for marriage. It could be that you’re dating and are still waiting for Mr. or Miss Right, or maybe you’ve found him or her, or you could even be active in preparing for your wedding day. Whatever the situation, this linked page could lead you to the help you’re needing.

• Mattaboutmoney.com This is a web site, which features articles and tips put together by Matt Bell. Matt is a full-time personal finance writer and speaker. He has authored three books and continually writes articles. He also appears on radio and TV, helping others get their finances in order. There are two areas of Matt’s web site, which you may be particularly interested in reading through. They are: “Money and Marriage” and “Faith and Finances.”

• Prepinc.com PREP (Prevention and Relationship Enhancement Program) is one of the most comprehensive and well respected divorce-prevention/marriage enhancing programs in the world. PREP is a skills and principles-building curriculum designed to help partners say what they need to say, get to the heart of problems, and increase their connection with each other. PREP is for couples who want to make their marriage be the best it can be.

PLUS:

• Prepare-enrich.com They began in 1980 as a result of several research projects at the University of Minnesota in which Dr. David Olson developed a set of inventories for couples known as PREPARE/ENRICH. Because of the demand for the inventories, Dr. Olson began the company PREPARE/ENRICH to provide these helpful tools to counselors and clergy members. There are now a total of 5 couple inventories that can be used for premarital and married couples. They have also trained over 60,000 PREPARE/ENRICH Counselors in the U.S. Plus they have 13 International Offices. Over 2 million couples have completed one of the couple inventories.

• Lesandleslie.com This is the web site for Dr Les and Dr Leslie Parrott. They are a husband-and-wife team who have the same passion for helping others build healthy relationships. They founded the Center for Relationship Development on the campus of Seattle Pacific University. It’s a groundbreaking program dedicated to teaching the basics of good relationships. Their web site has free videos that you can view, which give relationship advice on many different subjects. We highly advise that you visit their web site to see what they can offer you.

• Startmarriageright.com Whether you are single, dating, engaged, or newlyweds, this web site is created for you with articles, interviews, and resources to help you prepare for marriage, because as they say, “We believe that your wedding day is just the beginning!” (And we agree.)

Recommended Resources:

• Before The Ring -written by William L Coleman, published by Discovery House Publishers. This book has a different “spin” on things than most. It actually focuses in on helping couples to know if they really SHOULD consider marriage. It’s designed for couples to take the time to get to know each other all the more. Author William Coleman says there is a way to assure yourself that you are marrying the right person. Ask questions—lots of questions. Of yourself. Of each other. And then be honest with your answers. To get reliable answers, you have to ask the right questions. And that’s the goal of this book.

• Called Together -written by Steve and Mary Prokopchak, published by Destiny Image Publishers. This workbook, designed for couple-to-couple mentoring or personal use, prepares couples for a successful, God-honoring marriage. It also addresses the challenges of remarriage, intercultural marriage and senior adult remarriage. This book supplies down-to-earth advice and biblical wisdom.

• Fit to be Tied -written by Bill and Lynne Hybels, published by Zondervan. This is one of our favorite books for those contemplating marriage. In it, Bill and Lynne Hybels draw on their own personal experience and a guiding faith to offer practical advice on how to enjoy a lifetime of togetherness. They claim not to be “experts” on marriage but rather are among those who have suffered in their marriage and wondered how God let them make such a terrible mistake. They said that they felt hopeless and trapped. But in that time of entrapment they say, “We did the only thing that seemed right for us to do. We worked at it. And we continue to work.”

Additionally:

• Getting Ready for Marriage Workbook : How to Really Get to Know the Person You’re Going to Marry -written by Jerry Hardin and Dianne Sloan, published by Thomas Nelson Publisher. This workbook uses interactive exercises to help couples discover the roots of their beliefs. It helps you to sight potential problem areas. Additionally you’ll learn how to successfully work through problems. Couples are encouraged to make their own covenants in specific areas such as financial matters, resolving conflict, religious orientation, and family planning to build a strong marriage partnership.

• How Can I Be Sure?: Questions to Ask Before You Get Married -written by Bob Phillips, published by Harvest House Publishers. This book is actually designed not to be an “answer book for marriage problems”, but rather it’s meant to be an inventory and “discussion guide to help couples open up important channels of communication; express their thoughts, desires, and feelings to each other; and enhance their growing relationship together.” This book is also designed to be a helpful tool in the hands of Pastors and Counselors for pre-marital counseling.

• Money and Marriage: A Complete Guide for Engaged and Newly Married Couples -written by Matt Bell, published by Nav Press. Getting on the same financial page is essential. That is because research has shown that the more frequently a couple fights about finances, the more likely they are to divorce. So how do you work as a team when dealing with money? Financial expert Matt Bell shows the way. This book will help you make the most of each other’s financial strengths. Plus it will teach you how to work together to build a solid financial future. With this guide, you’ll avoid the pitfalls and place yourselves on the path to financial success.

Plus:

• Money Before Marriage: A Financial Workbook for Engaged Couples -written by Dr Larry Burkett, published by Moody Press. This workbook gives key insights of wise money management. Learn how to avoid the most common financial and communication pitfalls experienced by thousands of newlyweds. In this workbook you’ll learn to: Apply to your marriage what God’s Word says about finances. Discover the practical aspects of managing your personal finances. Answer the tough questions relating to debt, credit card use, life insurance needs, and separate bank accounts. It also helps you to prepare your first budget.

• Preparing for Marriage: A Guide for Christian Couples -by Donald J. Luther, published by Augsburg Fortress Publishers. This book contains thought-provoking exercises to help you think through and share your thoughts about marriage, its meaning and challenges. The exercises are not scientific personality tests. They are tools that are designed to (1) promote and stimulate conversation. (2) They deepen mutual understanding and (3) draw out insights and feelings about sensitive areas that otherwise might not be discussed.

• Saving Your Marriage Before It Starts: Seven Questions to Ask Before and After You Marry -written by Dr Les and Dr Leslie Parrott, published by Zondervan Publishing. This book “cuts to the heart of every marital conflict. Whether single and dating, in a committed relationship, contemplating marriage, or already ensconced in one, this book will help you learn the skills you’ll need for a lasting and happy life together—before unhappiness sets in.” They’ve also written two workbooks as companions to this book. One is written for the man and one for the woman.

Also:

• Should We Stay Together? -written by Jeffrey Larson, published by Jossey -Bass. This book includes Self-Tests from the Relate Premarital Questionnaire. It debunks many time-honored myths as it provides couples with the tools they need to make better decisions and explore many aspects of their relationship. From individual characteristics, idiosyncratic family histories, unresolved conflicts and needs, and combined strengths and weaknesses, this book will help couples understand the specific traits that predict a satisfying or disastrous relationship.

• 10 Great Dates Before You Say “I Do” -written by David and Claudia Arp, published by Zondervan. This book has a unique approach featuring fun-filled dates to help seriously dating and engaged couples strengthen their relationship. Couples will soon discover whether or not to go to the next level of commitment. It helps you to spend quality time together now while preparing for a great marriage in the future. It combines the best of marriage preparation research with a fun, easy-to-follow format. Couples will love growing together while going out together.

• The Before-You-Marry Book of Questions -written by marriage experts and best selling authors Bill and Pam Farrel. It is published by Harvest House Publishers. This book is a very practical guide, which “will lead you toward deeper discovery. It will help you decide whether the person you’re dating is the partner God created for you to spend the rest of your life with and to bring Him the greatest glory.”