Couple Check up on sale through 2/14!

Mentors:

If you haven't finished your inventory yet, your procrastination has paid off!!  

Prepare-Enrich is offering the Couple Check up for $19.95 (vs $35) during Feb 7-14.

See below for details.

And: save the date!!  March 24 tentatively 6:30-8 pm is our next training session.

Regards,

Your Leader Team

Give your couples a gift this Valentine's Day You might be wondering: How can I continue to help couples after we've finished our work together? Give them access to resources that can help them continue building and strengthening their relationship.  Forward this email to the couples you worked with last year. Check in with your partner this month Take Couple Checkup for only $19.95 (reg. $35) during National Marriage Week (Feb. 7-14). Check out #CheckInWithCheckup on social media to hear what others are saying.  Follow Couple Checkup on Twitter Follow Couple Checkup on Facebook Stay connected & keep building Follow our blog for relationship tips we'll be sharing all month long, and hear what other bloggers are saying: A Prioritized Marriage Simply Elliott Join the Strong Couples Club to periodically receive relationship insights and stay up-to-date with PREPARE/ENRICH.

PREPARE/ENRICH, LLC, 2660 Arthur St, Roseville, MN 55113 SafeUnsubscribe™ kristenbissontz@msn.com Forward this email | Update Profile | About our service provider Sent by customer_service@prepare-enrich.com in collaboration with

Weekend To Remember Marriage Weekend-A great resource as you strengthen your marriage!!

---->  Link to sign up for a Weekend to Remember Event <----------

Jay and I attended a Weekend to Remember when we were engaged.  It was an awesome experience for 2 people who had just a vague idea of what we were about to do.  We stayed at my parent's house in Indianapolis and dutifully completed the couple challenges.  We still retain the motto, "My mate is not my enemy," when in the midst of conflict.  We also refer back to the image of placing bricks between us as we build a wall with our sin and selfishness.

We attended an "I Still Do" event on the weekend of our 5th anniversary with Family Life in Cincinnati.  Again, the experience encouraged us and left us with a deeper connection.  We were able to renew our vows to each other and recommit to making our marriage better.

We were blessed to be part of a team that brought The Art of Marriage to Blackhawk a few years ago.  Again, it was a time to invest in our marriage with sound advice and a redirection to keep our eyes firmly fixed on Jesus.  We went through it as a small group; then later rolled it out into a weekend for the church body (77 couples attended!!).

We again are headed to a Weekend to Remember with a few other couples from Blackhawk.  It is again in Indianapolis (APRIL 29-30 & MAY 1).  We know that we will get a lot out of the time we spend away from our kids and the responsibilities at home.

I say all of this to encourage each of you to do likewise.  If a weekend retreat isn't in your budget or a road trip isn't feasible-find something that will work.  I will post resources on this blog post for future reference.  If you are inclined to join us-in Indianapolis or another event in the future: you can get a Buy One Get One Free until midnight 1/25 using the group name BlackhawkMinistries and the promo code BOGO.

If you use the group name BlackhawkMinistries you will always get the BEST rate available at the time regardless if there is a promo code or not (sometimes it is $100 off a registration).

CLICK HERE to register or to see more information on the Weekend to Remember events as well as other offerings from Family Life.

Happy Marriage Building!!

Kristen

Prepare-Enrich Couple Check Up assessment instructions

Hello team!

I am so very glad you decided to join us for this adventure this year.  Throughout the year we will be posting articles, videos, resources, and notes for our use in training and discipleship.   This may also serve as a resource library for us to share.

One of the criteria for joining the mentor team is to make sure your own marriage is healthy.  We will do this via several checkpoints.  The first is the Couple Checkup inventory from Prepare-Enrich.  You can read more about P-E here:  About Prepare-Enrich

We will be taking a "mini" version of the full assessment from P-E that should serve us well.

Here is the link and instructions for the assessment from P-E/Couple Checkup.  Please have it completed before February 21, 2016 if possible.  This way we can look at the areas for growth that will likely be common over the group.  During our meeting on March 24th, we will be meeting in smaller groups to discuss the individual results as well as go over the discussion guide with each couple.  Mentor Leaders will be checking in during the remainder of the training period for accountability.  Additional resources may be suggested on an individual basis as well.

To undergo the inventory as a couple:

Go to www.couplecheckup.com and it should take you to the "Starting the Checkup" page.  [if it doesn't, click on the lime green tab marked "couples"]

• Create your account - Purchase online or redeem a voucher code. <--- this will cost you $35/couple; you will have to purchase the couple check up online (with a credit card).
• You and your spouse login separately and complete your own portion of the assessment - Both you and your spouse will login with the same account number and password.  You will be given an account #, make up your own password.  It will be emailed to both of you.  [It took me about 20 minutes to complete 75 questions]
• At the end you will be asked for a group code:  17929-1 is our group code for this first session with our mentor couples.  Using this code will allow us to compile the group's results to see if there is one consistent group-wide area on which to focus this year.  We should also get individual couple results that will allow us each to focus on at least one area together as a couple in 2016.

Below is the statement you'll have to read prior to completing the assessment.  The assessment is 75 questions.  Please feel free to call any of the Mentor Leaders if you have any questions about the assessment process.  

Before you begin, please read the following: 

This is NOT a "Test".  This Inventory is designed to help you and your partner identify the strength and growth areas in your relationship, and to facilitate discussion.  It is not a pass or fail test, nor is it designed to predict your chances of marital success. 

Format.  The initial portion of the Couple Checkup will display statements that describe relationships.  You will then indicate whether or not you agree that each statement accurately describes your relationship.  Answers range from 1 (strongly disagree) to 5 (strongly agree). 

Do not attempt to preview the items when taking the Couple Checkup.  Answer the items as they appear.  All items require a response before proceeding to the next page.  The responses for each page are stored as you proceed to the next page.  You will not be able to backup to a previous page and modify them. 

Avoid Undecided Answers.  Answering too many questions "Undecided" (a response of 3) will provide you with less insight into your relationship.  Please try to choose agree or disagree responses for a more accurate reflection of your relationship. 

Do Not Discuss The Questions with Your Partner.  This inventory was designed to help you learn more about your relationship.  If you discuss the questions before you have both completed the inventory, your results will be less accurate. 

Answer Honestly.  Honest and open answers will lead to a more accurate assessment of your relationship.  This, in turn, will help you and your partner strengthen your relationship by correctly identifying your relationship strengths and growth areas. 

The Couple Checkup is Confidential.  As you take this, please know that your answers are confidential.  Review our Privacy Policy for more information. 

Happy discovery!

Your Mentor Leader Team

(Joe & Diana, Jay & Kristen, Phil & Sheryl, Steve & Maria)

Kick off with Gordon Knapp Jan 15, 2015

What a great night!!  I am so thankful for all who made it out to hear Gordon Knapp in person last night and for those already excited to join this endeavor and go where God has called you.

Here is Gordon's talk, I also have "paper copies" of the handout if you would like it, I'll have it at the information booth.  (Sorry I had to split it into 2 parts!)

Part 1

M2M Kick off Gordon Knapp part 1

Here is part 2:

M2M Kick off Gordon Knapp part 2

The team also shares their vision for what ministry could look like at Blackhawk (via Kristen)

M2M Kick off: Casting the vision

Any questions or comments can be directed to-

Your Mentor Leaders:

Phil Ferguson 817.366.0127
pwferg@aol.com

Sheryl Ferguson 260.485.7890
smferg58@aol.com

Jay Bissontz 260.437.2497
jay.bissontz@gmail.com

Kristen Bissontz 260.437.9662
kristenbissontz@gmail.com

Joe Cox 260.414.6389
joe.cox213@gmail.com

Diana Cox 260.414.2197
dcox1218@gmail.com

Elder Advisors
Steve & Maria Gardner
sgwriter49@gmail.com