Healthy Marriages Grand Rapids

Reaching Youth With Relationship Skills

Sign up for presentation of "relationship smarts" for teens (Wednesday, March 12, 11:30am-1pm)

Divorce.  Cohabitation.  Abusive relationships.  All of these factors point to a larger societal need: the need to provide youth with the skills to build healthy relationships.  Pre-marital preparation is a good start, but it is not enough.  We need to get adolescents thinking about how to make smart choices for themselves in relationships.  The truth is, although they're very interested in dating, teens don't know how to date.  They know what they've seen on TV, and they know what they've read on the internet.  In fact they know a lot more than their parents do about My.Space, blogging, chat-rooms and other technological wonders.  What they don't know are the tools for successful relationship building.  What we often don't know is how to teach them and reach them in a way that they can take in.  This presentation will focus on ways to make a difference in the lives of teens, so they can establish early patterns of healthy relationship building.

Click here for information on how to register for this luncheon featuring Dr. Ryan Jaarsma and Steve Carter.

Bringing "Family Wellness" to Grand Rapids

Program creators George Doub & Flo Creighton lead 4 day seminar in skill building

Just last week, the Pine Rest Family Institute hosted the 4-day, interactive instructor training for Family Wellness: Survival Skills in Grand Rapids at the Postma Center.  Thirty-four facilitators (some from local agencies, some from as far away as Florida and Las Vegas) were trained and certified to teach Family Wellness in their communities.

What is Family Wellness you ask?  It is a simple, yet brilliant program that teaches families how to work better together by learning how to speak, listen, and cooperate.

Click here to read how Family Wellness works.

Third Option Smoothes Marriage's Rough Spots

As appeared in the Grand Rapids Press on Saturday, March 01, 2008

Erik and Laura Christian have been married more than nine years, have three children, and are clearly in love.  

But love alone cannot prevent all of their problems, and frustration sent them to their pastor, the Rev. Allen Pickett, of Knapp Street Reformed Church.

Pickett referred them to Third Option, a new church-based marriage program with mentoring at its core. Volunteer mentors serve as living examples of how couples can get through the tough times and come out strong.

Click here to read the rest of the article by Kristina Riggle. 

Click here to find out how you can join The Third Option.

Overcoming 21st Century Challenges to Intimacy in Marriage

by Remi Rakipi, MSW, CSW

As Christians, we are taught from an early age to abstain from sex until married, and many of us were rightfully excited for that day to arrive.  However, once married, many Christian couples find that they are disillusioned or disappointed or that they are not prepared to deal with the challenges they face in the bedroom. 

Unfortunately, the culture of the 21^st Century does little to help foster healthy marriages, especially with respect to sex.

Click here for the rest of Remi's article.

Click here for information about registering for the April 16 Marriage and Family Building Series luncheon with Remi Rakipi.

Healthy Marriages Grand Rapids (HMGR) is a nonprofit 501(c)3 organization dedicated to helping adults and young people learn skills which enable successful relationships and marriages.  We serve as an advocate and resource for marriage education and support programs which help teach relationship skills.  HMGR is non-political, and our activities are funded through support from private donations and the Pine Rest Family Institute.