Our mission & services...
Our Mission:
The Marriage Education and Resource Center (MERCY) is a Christian-based, non-profit organization whose purpose is to help couples have healthy and successful marriages.
MERCY offers:
- Pre-marital education
- Free workshops offered periodically.
- Assessment and private marriage coaching for existing marriages.
- Private mentoring for couples with special needs or in distress.
- Referrals to social service agencies, counselors, support groups and/or healing ministries.
- A monthly electronic newsletter
- A lending library on marriage
- A clearing house for classes and seminars in and around Kentucky
- Workshops/seminars tailored to a church’s congregational needs
- Free listing of marriage event(s) on our web site
- Assistance to churches in developing a marriage ministry or enhancing an existing one
- Leadership training for pre-marital and marriage enrichment
Community marriage courses/programs MERCY will be offering, and others that we are aware of, will be listed in our monthly newsletters.
You might think of MERCY as a school for couples who want to make their marriages the best they can be.
MERCY is a volunteer organization funded through donations.
Not all posts, opinions, beliefs and viewpoints expressed by presenters necessarily reflect the views of The Marriage Education and Resource Center (MERCY).
(Note: The Marriage Education and Resource Center does not offer therapy/counseling, but can offer referrals based on needs.)
Our declaration of faith...
- We believe in one God – Father, Son and Holy Spirit
- We claim Jesus Christ as LORD.
- We believe in the Bible – God’s Holy Word, Scripture.
- We believe the Bible teaches that man, created by God, willfully sinned against God and is consequently lost and without hope apart from Jesus Christ.
- We believe the Bible teaches that salvation – the forgiveness of sin – is only by grace through the blood of Jesus Christ.
- We believe marriage is a covenant relationship.
- We believe marriage is between a man and woman and is the basis for God’s plan for family.
- We believe each spouse needs to respect, honor and nurture the gifts and talents of the other and take responsibility for each other’s welfare and by loving their husband/wife above all others.
- We believe the two (man and woman) become one flesh in intimacy and commitment of sexual union that is reserved for marriage. We believe that Scripture also teaches that any form of sexual immorality, such as adultery, fornication, homosexuality, bisexual conduct, incest or pornography is sinful.
- We also believe that Scripture requires that every person should be shown compassion, love, kindness, respect and dignity.
- We believe God offers redemption and restoration to all who confess and forsake their sin, seeking His mercy and forgiveness through Jesus Christ.
Why marriage education?
- Between 40-50% of new marriages, 67% of second marriages and 74% of third marriages fail.
- 10% of new marriages each year end prior to the couple’s second anniversary
- Cohabitation (unmarried couples living together) increased from 5 million couples in 2004 to 8.3 million by 2015 ( according to the U.S. Census Bureau, 2015). Based on Mike McManus’ statistics:
- Those who marry after living together are 61% more likely to divorce than those who do not cohabitate.
- A recent survey indicates that 48% of all women are choosing cohabitation over traditional marriage.
- Divorce devastates kids. The amount of pain and destruction to a family is incalculable.
- 57% of divorces can be contributed to poor communication and conflict-resolution skills.
- Only 30% of marriages receive sufficient pre-marital preparation.
- With three-fourths of America’s marriages taking place in houses of worship, churches have a great opportunity to help couples, in all stages of their relationship, to achieve a more God-centered marriage.
- Pastors need help. They cannot do it all.
Benefits of marriage education...
Marriage Education consists of workshops, classes, weekend programs or private mentoring to help couples strengthen and enhance their marriages.
Research confirms that couples who participate in marriage education:
- Significantly improve their communication and conflict-resolution skills
- Significantly increase their levels of marital satisfaction
- Gain access to skills and knowledge necessary to form and sustain healthy relationships
In addition:
- Engaged and newly-wed couples receive in-depth preparation for a lifetime, not just a wedding. In-depth, pre-marital education can reduce the risk of divorce by 30%
- Couples perceive an educational format less threatening and confrontational.
- Fewer marriages will end in divorce, sparing couples and children heartache and stress.
- As more marriages are strengthened, families become stronger, and consequently churches and communities become healthier.
Services offered...
Community Services:
- Classes and seminars for all couples.
- Private marriage assessment and marriage lessons, using lay mentor couples.
- Mentoring, either with lay mentor couples, or referrals for couples with special needs or in distress.
- A lending library on marriage – See link “Resources at MERCY” for details.
(Note: We are always adding resources to our community lending library. If you have any books, DVD’s, etc. on dating/marriage that you would be willing to donate to MERCY, they would be greatly appreciated.)
Services for Church:
- Help in developing or enhancing church-based marriage ministries.
- Marriage events networking and publicity.
- Leadership training for mentor couples.
- Workshops/seminars tailored to congregational needs.
Step families...
42% of adults deal with Stepfamily issues.
If you are a stepfamily, or will soon be a stepfamily, and would like some help, we’d encourage you to visit: www.smartstepfamilies.com.
SmartStepfamilies.com is the world’s largest website for blended families. Ron Deal is President of Smart Stepfamilies and has had over 25 years of experience assisting with unique challenges stepfamilies often face.
MERCY is fortunate to have a couple who is a blended family and who offer training in Ron Deal’s program. They are available to talk with you, encourage you and come along side of you to help you build a successful stepfamily. If you would like to talk with them, please contact us.
In addition, Louisville has a support group called “Blended Families of Louisville.” For more
information, email: Pat and Elizabeth Stotler at pandestotler@gmail.com or call (859-536-5124)