|
Marriage Maintenance
Juan Varela, a pastor from Mallorca, Balearics, Spain, who had heard about the Family Life ministry's pre-marriage material, organized a Family Life conference in the Spring of 1999. As a result of what he, his wife María del Mar and the other participants experienced during the conference, and the growth experienced through subsequent follow-up meetings, Juan desired to get involved and is now being trained in Barcelona to give direction to the Family Life ministry in Seville. Another participant, Gabriel, who attended the conference with his wife, is currently developing funds in Majorza to begin working full-time with Agape Spain.
This is the vision promoted by Family Life Europe ministry coordinator, Victor Mirón. "People experience the benefits in their own marriage and want to share them with their churches, friends, acquaintances, etc. We challenge everyone who attends to get involved - to join us full-time and become leaders in ministry, as associate staff or to be committed volunteers."
In 1990, Family Life Europe began in Spain and today is active in more than 10 Spanish cities as well as
|
across Europe; France, United Kingdom, Portugal, Cyprus, The Netherlands, Italy, Austria, Germany and Russia. Recently, a new ministry committed to addressing the needs of divorced, widowed or older singles has begun with more than 100 involved. Martha Navarro is raising funds to join the other 5-7 people leading this rapidly developing ministry of Family Life Europe.
S.O.M., an acronym for "Seminar of Marriage Orientation", is a 20 hour series of courses designed to provide an alternative to the traditional weekend conference. Couples attend seminars every other Saturday and between meetings have homework to apply in their marriage.
"At the end of a marriage conference in the Canary Islands in May", says Victor Mirón, "The wife of a couple attending gave me an envelope. The written note explained they were in the process of getting a divorce, but that the marriage conference had saved their marriage. Whenever I get discouraged, I take her little note out of my wallet and regain my vision." 
|
