Strengthening Marriages

Dear Pastors

Strengthening Marriages (& SAVE The Date)

I doubt that anyone reading this blog would disagree that marriage is an amazing creation from the hand of our loving God. Marriage as God intended it is a relationship between a man and a women so that they can share together the responsibilities of this life and bring each other friendship and love and enjoy an exclusive intimacy that is a beautiful gift to a married couple. Then when the time is right, God has designed things so amazingly that (usually) this couple will start a family and next minute there is a bundle of joy (or two or three or four – not at all once!) for this young couple to raise up. I still find this whole thing utterly amazing.

Though that is God’s intent, we know that all marriages have their ‘pinch points’. Moments and seasons where it is not all sweet. In fact we know that some couples experience quite a bit stress in their relationship. There are seemingly tough issues in attendance and they are not always easy to expel from the home and the marriage relationship. Some Christian couples feel disconnected and lonely – yet married. And we as pastors and spouses are not exempt. Some of us have our own struggles that mean we walk with a bit of a limp.

However, when marriages are encouraged and supported within our churches they can overcome many a struggle. Further, if children are raised up in strong and healthy families that in and of itself can provide a bulwark against many a force in our very secular society that seeks to harm our kids and/or lead them astray.

With this said, I am pleased to announce today that I have the privilege to partner with Family Life in NZ in bringing Ron and Nan Deal for a visit to NZ in September this year. See their short Bio and two minute Greeting below.

Jeanette and I will be convening three morning mini-seminars (9 AM – 12.30 PM) for pastors and spouses and three couples evenings (7 PM – 9 PM) in Christchurch, Wellington and Hamilton. Here are the dates and times.

Christchurch: Sunday 7th Sept (Father’s Day) @ 7 PM - Couples Night, Monday 8th Sept @ 9 AM - Pastors seminar

Wellington: Monday 8th Sept @ 7 PM - Couples Night, Tuesday 9th Sept @ 9 AM – Pastors seminar

Hamilton: Tuesday 9th Sept @ 7 PM - Couples night, Wednesday 10th Sept @ 9 AM – Pastors Seminar

Investment: Couples Night – Free will Offering and Pastors seminar $25.00 per person or $40.00 per couple.

Can I encourage you to mark these dates. Venues will be announced within the next four weeks and registrations will also open soon.

Please Note: The pastors seminar is open to all Christian leaders including Youth Pastors, Family and Children workers, Counsellors, Teachers and Social Workers.

Ron & Nan Deal

Strengthening Marriages with Faith & Wisdom

Ron and Nan Deal are passionate about equipping couples and pastors with practical, faith-based tools to build strong, lasting marriages. Ron, a licensed marriage and family therapist, bestselling author, and Director of FamilyLife Blended®, is a leading expert on stepfamilies and marriage enrichment. Nan, an experienced educator and ministry leader, has dedicated her life to mentoring women, supporting grieving parents, and guiding couples toward emotional healing and connection.

Their journey—marked by deep love, personal loss, and unwavering faith—fuels their mission to help couples grow in trust and resilience. Through engaging, research-backed insights, they empower relationships to thrive, even in life’s toughest seasons.

Ron and Nan’s greeting to Kiwi’s here.

Hope to see you at one of these events.

Blessings
Alan