Great Start Ministry

Mission

Great Start strives to enable couples to achieve marriage success in both longevity and satisfaction, by assisting them to:

• enhance their communications and conflict resolution skills, and their confidence in using them
• recognize and carefully sustain their relationship strengths
• recognize and confidentially embrace their relationship growth areas
• understand the pivotal role spiritual relationships can play in successful marriages

Workshop Details

The Great Start Ministry is a weekend marriage workshop that gives couples the opportunity to learn about themselves through relationship building, a couple inventory, and increasing communication and conflict resolution skills. These seminars were originally designed for couples getting married here at Torrey Pines Christian Church. Fortunately, you do not have to be a member to attend the workshop. The workshop's main focus is to teach skills to help develop a lasting, more satisfying marriage.

The weekend consists of many skits, demonstrations, and lectures. Throughout the weekend, we provide ample time to discuss and practice the skills we show you while focusing on your inventory results.

The Inventory

Each individual will fill out an inventory (either online or at our church) called PREPARE, created and evaluated by Life Innovations, Inc. This inventory examines major relationship issues a couple may experience. Once the inventories are taken, and evaluated, we use them to help facilitate discussions between the couple based on their inventory results. PREPARE sends us a Couple Report based on your responses. We have been trained as PREPARE counselors to present and evaluate these materials. Although you will be attending the weekend with other couples, you will be working only with each other.

Workshop Schedule

The workshop is held four times a year:

• January 25, 26, 27
• April 18, 19, 20
• June 20, 21, 22
• October 10, 11, 12

Each weekend has the following schedule:

Friday Evening		6:30 - 9:00 PM
Saturday		9:00 - 5:00 PM (with a break for lunch)
Sunday Morning		9:00 - 12:00 Noon

Couples We Serve

The types of couples we serve are those who are soon-to-be married, and those couples that want or need a helping hand to boost their communication and conflict resolution skills. We feel that couples benefit the most if they participate on a weekend at least 6 months in advance of their wedding. If you are being wed at Torrey Pines Christian Church, the weekend is a requirement and the cost is included in your wedding package. For all others, we would love to have you attend our workshop.

Resources

• Life Innovations
• Couple Communications

Contact Us

Mike and Phyllis Mazaika - Our Leaders at (858) 587-0266 or greatstart@torreypineschurch.net

Or... contact the church office for more information.