Marriage can be the best or worst of all life's relationships. Half of all marriages end in divorce, and less than 6 out of 100 couples married over 20 years consider themselves to have a happy marriage.   Obviously no one plans to have a miserable marriage, but if you fail to plan for a successful marriage, you are planning to fail in marriage.

 

The objective of PMC is to help you prepare yourselves for a successful marriage that will bring you happiness and God glory.

As a result of PMC you will:

- know more about each other, and assess your suitability for marriage;

- clarify your expectations about marriage, so you won't be disappointed;

- develop your communication skills, and set a pattern for relating;

- gain a Biblical understanding of marriage, and write your own vows;

- set goals for your relationship and your marriage;

- be able to work through and resolve potential problems and conflicts;

- learn some of the more common pitfalls and mistakes that cause    miserable marriages, and take steps to avoid them;

- be exposed to resources that will help you build a maximum marriage.

 

A commitment to help you with PMC is not a commitment to perform  a wedding. The initial counseling sessions might reveal that it would not be in your best interests to marry, or that a postponement would  be a wiser course to a God-honoring marriage. In some cases it might be better to wait until certain issues can be resolved which would otherwise cause you hurt or harm, or could destroy your marriage.

 

Communication

Being able to express yourself fully, and fully understand your mate is a skill that must be developed. Marriage experts agree that communication is absolutely essential for a good marriage. Most problems develop and get out of hand because of the failure to communicate properly.

 

PMC will help you develop skill in communicating with each other through readings and exercises, and guide you in discussing the expectations, aspirations, and preparations for your marriage.

 

Conflict resolution

 In an imperfect world, inhabited by imperfect creatures, living in close proximity, disagreements or conflicts are inevitable.  These can range from differences of opinion over the color of the bathroom tissue, to disputes over what to do with a rebellious child.

A couple must develop the skill of being able to communicate about issues over which they disagree, and reach mutually satisfying resolutions to such problems.

 

As you learn more about how and what each other thinks, and how your mate would act in a particular situation, you'll discover that you don't always see eye-to-eye on everything. PMC will help you grow closer together as you learn face and resolve potential problems.