The Basic Idea has some amazing volunteer couples we call “Encourager Couples”, who have been trained in Intimate Encounters marriage principles. These couples have the responsibility and privilege of mentoring couples in need of help and encouragement, thus the name Encourager Couple. They also equip others to do what they do so that the influence of Christ’s love continues to grow.
We have asked our Encourager Couples – we currently have 26 volunteer couples – to share their story with us, so we may share it with you as an encouragement! We pray you are blessed to hear what others do, as we all strive to love God, our families, and others well.
If you are willing to share, we would love to feature your story someday! We can do it anonymously! Please share your story with us The Basic Idea
We will call this Encourager Couple – Mike and Molly.
Dave met Mike and Molly at a Galatians 6:6 retreat in Florida, in spring of 2012. Dave discovered that Mike is a gifted counselor, well-versed in the intimacy principles and has a huge heart for pastor’s and their spouses.
Over the next few years, Mike and Molly were very supportive of our NextGen Tampa Bay campaigns training 60-70 couples from more than 40 churches in the Intimate Encounters workbook and marriage small group ministry.
We worked with ten or so other couples in their home church – staff and volunteer couples – to launch a marriage ministry there. Thanks to prayer and the commitment of many, their church is launching a marriage ministry.
Mike and Molly are now Encouragers affiliated with TBI and served with Dave and Carol during a workshop in Alabama last year. Their ministry investment has been deep and extensive, especially regarding marriages.
Molly has been engaged in a prayer-supported health battle and still needs our prayers.
Their story of God’s salvation and blessings of an abundant life is undoubtedly miracles.
Mike and Molly met in a singles Sunday school class at their church, and were attracted to one another because of their hearts for the Lord and for evangelism and discipleship. When they first encountered Intimate Encounters they were a little maxed out emotionally, Molly having just given birth to triplets.
Mike and Molly needed a change in their relationship. They discovered through Intimate Encounters that they did not know how to emotionally respond to each other at all, and they needed to heal from childhood hurts. Mike and Molly didn’t realize how much they needed help until after learning about the relational principles. They learned during their study how relational needs had been met or not met during their marriage and identified the history of met and unmet needs. It’s was so impactful because of its dual result – it not only provided an opportunity to learn how to emotionally respond when they were not the cause of the hurt, but it also helped them heal from childhood hurts.
They were teaching the class but after several years, discovered they needed help in processing their own emotions. so they took a break from the class and spent time with a counselor working on their own marital hurts.
To date they spend 3 – 4 times a week with ‘connect time’ in the morning, which is about 20 minutes to an hour of connecting emotionally, spiritually, financially – whatever is needed. Mike and Molly continue to use the tools of emotional responding as well as other tools (such as speaker/listener) that they have picked up along the way to help them process emotional hurts in a healthy way.
Mike and Molly are starting a marriage ministry at their church. They would like to use the IE materials but need to submit to church leadership by using what they currently recommend. They have a vision and would love for 2 things to happen: · See IE incorporated in the marriage ministry at their church ·Travel to other churches with their friends (Another Encourager Couple at TBI) to help with the training of leadership in IE principles.
We are so grateful for Mike and Molly and all they do as Encourager Couples for TBI. They are committed to grow together as a couple and to help other couples do the same. They are some of the extended, welcoming arms of this ministry!