Executive Letter
Glory to God! That’s the only fitting way we could begin this letter As we reflect on all God has done in and through Marriage in Focus this year, we are in awe of His faithfulness We are excited to share the impact and growth of Marriage in Focus in 2024, largely thanks to the support and encouragement of our donors, volunteers, and participants.
Our vision as a nonprofit Christian marriage ministry is to glorify God by impacting marriages. This year, through your generosity and support, we have seen the impact on numerous marriages and couples in their engagement season. The impact goes beyond the couples because when you impact a marriage, you don’t just impact two people. You impact generations of families
It’s hard to believe we are now two years into seeing this vision from God come to life We were inspired, uncertain, excited, and scared when God first revealed this to us in late November of 2021. We also thought this was for something a decade down the road.
Not in our wildest dreams could we have imagined the journey God would take us on and all He would accomplish in such a short time. It’s a reminder that God is not limited by our uncertainties, insecurities, or fears.
Throughout this journey, we have clung to 1 Thessalonians 5:24. It says, “The one who calls you is faithful, and he will do it.” God has surely done it! Our hearts are filled with gratitude and wonder at the One who has called us to partner with Him to invest in marriages. It is our joy and honor to share with you in this annual report a glimpse of the impact you have helped create this year.
Grace and Peace,
ChrisandKarla
Impact
Jared&CrosbyKnox
PremaritalTestimony
"Doing premarital counseling with Chris and Karla could not have prepared us better for our marriage! They made it clear from the beginning that marriage is about bringing Christ glory by dying to ourselves in service of the other. They emphasized fundamental spiritual truths like this first and also provided practical advice on handling communication and finances in marriage.
Our conversations with the Hines also exposed not thought about discussing yet, but actually n have found incredible role models for marriage
TylerandLaurenBush,RetreatTestimony
“The retreat cultivated a lot of intimacy for us. It was special because we got to rest and rejuvenate as we unplugged. It felt personal and close-knit. The retreat refreshed us physically, mentally, and spiritually. We would do it again in a heartbeat. It was a home run win for us!”
Marcus&SabrinaFarmer
RetreatTestimony
“The Marriage In Focus Retreat is a Godsend! We left feeling refreshed and resourced. The foundational teaching on marriage was spot on and reinforced our beliefs. We left with practical next steps that will help us be better for years to come.
Dilworth Farms is a beautiful location. The meal and free times were the right balance of community time and couple time. Our favorite was the date night experience. The atmosphere and food were exquisite and the staff served us well Thank you for breathing fresh air into our marriage!”
“The teachings from the weekend have impacted the way we communicate on a daily basis. Every part of the weekend was curated with such intentionality and excellence, creating space and special moments for us to connect one-on-one ”
BillyandMorganFisher,RetreatTestimony
BrianandStephaniePiper,RetreatTestimony
“During this amazing retreat, we learned a new meaning to FOCUS! It was a true blessing to see the heart that Chris and Karla have for marriages, and we will be forever grateful.”
“We were able to focus on one another and our marriage while also having a time of spiritual refreshment, hearing from the Lord, and discovering what it’s like to have a marriage that honors God ”
AndersandAbigailCarlson,RetreatTestimony
phree
e We had a lot of anticipation for the life we were beginning together, but with each session, we felt more faith and confidence that with God at the center of our marriage, it would be blessed.
Their advice helped us navigate truly important conversations, and we were filled with peace that the way we have led our relationship so far is laying the foundation for something even better to come!”
Dallas&HannaGarst
RetreatTestimony
“The Marriage and Focus Retreat, along with Chris and Karla’s wisdom, changed the entire direction of our marriage and lives. After losing our daughter in July of 2023, we were on the brink of separating and self-medicating to run from the pain. We were angry at God and spiraling. Our friends invited us to join them on the retreat, and we hesitantly accepted not knowing what to expect.
When we arrived, we were super resistant and closed off. It was the first time my Bible had been opened since being at the hospital with our little girl. The Holy Spirit took hold of our hearts and reminded us as each session passed, that even in our anguish, He still has a ministry purpose within our marriage… if we are willing to put in the work and re‘FOCUS.’
During some scheduled one-on-one time, Dallas revealed to me that the Lord was leading him to pursue the vision of a non-profit that I had TEN years ago We received clarity on our purpose and vision as the retreat allowed us to slow down and reprioritize the things that truly matter in life
Since the retreat, we have actively used the tools we learned every day. We even went on our first vision retreat! Our family is currently starting that Non-profit in honor of our daughter and chasing the vision the Lord graciously gave me a decade ago. We are so thankful that God used Chris and Karla to reignite our flame and help us to see through an eternal lens again.“
“Notonlyso,butwealsogloryinoursufferings,becauseweknow thatsufferingproducesperseverance;perseverance,character; andcharacter,hope Andhopedoesnotputustoshame,because God’slovehasbeenpouredoutintoourheartsthroughtheHoly Spirit,whohasbeengiventous.”
Romans5:3-5
“We have small children at home, and the retreat was an opportunity to get away and connect without distractions. We want to apply this information we learned to our marriage, life, family, and circle of influence ”
DanielandKatherineCarlson,RetreatTestimony
ParksandBrooksPace,RetreatTestimony
“We left the retreat feeling more connected to one another and have clear vision for our marriage and family. We feel equipped and excited to put into practice what we learned.”
“The retreat was exactly what our marriage needed to be refreshed and realigned with the core principles that formed its foundation. Chris and Karla’s Christ-centered marriage and infectious love for the Lord serve as a beautiful example of what we aspire to build in the years to come.”
GarnerandKaylaMartin,RetreatTestimony
“We found ourselves feeling renewed, with a greater sense of purpose, and are even more excited about our journey ahead - fully surrendered to all the God has in store for our future, and truly more in love with God and one another.”
JaredandRachelJordan,RetreatTestimony
“In the safe space of the retreat, we were gifted with time to turn to the Lord, present our marriage to Him again, and realign our values with the love He has for us as a couple And since then, we are walking free from complacency, no more same-old-same-old, and allowing His Spirit to transform us into His fullness for the season and mission He has ahead of us!”
AnthonyandCandaceHaney,RetreatTestimony
One Minute Daily Focus
Do you and your spouse struggle to connect spiritually each day? Is it something you want and feel you need, but often, you run out of time? Do you find that your best intentions fall short of your desired results? If you answered yes to any of these questions, join the club. Most of us can identify with one or possibly all of these questions. Far too often, this leads to feelings of guilt, shame, and hopelessness. And those feelings often lead to inactivity.
However,itdoesn’thavetobethatway.
What would your life and marriage look like if you committed to spending one minute together each day, building a foundation on the Word of God? Does a minute a day even matter? We say, “Yes!” Small habits done consistently over time lead to big results. How about devoting a minute a day to make sure you consistently connect spiritually?
One Minute Daily Focus is a new resource from Marriage in Focus designed to help married couples connect daily. It is a quick way to prioritize what matters most in our marriage: depending on God together and growing spiritually.
Mikel&MalloryRiggs
RetreatTestimony
“The setting at Pursell Farms was ideal and provided the perfect backdrop for focusing on our relationship. Chris and Karla created a comfortable atmosphere for sharing and learning. Their passion for helping couples build strong, God-centered marriages was evident throughout the retreat.
They blended insightful teaching with personal stories and practical exercises, making the experience both engaging and impactful. We left feeling refreshed, reconnected, and equipped with valuable tools to strengthen our marriage
This retreat was more than just a getaway; it was an investment in our future together. Chris and Karla's guidance helped us to identify areas for growth in our communication and connection. We gained a deeper understanding of God's design for marriage and were inspired to prioritize our relationship. The retreat provided dedicated time for us to connect with each other without distractions, which is a rare and precious gift in our busy lives. We highly recommend the Marriage in Focus Retreat to any couple seeking to deepen their relationship and build a lasting, fulfilling marriage.”
Eric&LanaClemmons
VolunteerTestimony
“We love serving with Marriage in Focus foremost because we believe in their vision for strong Christ-centered marriages that make a difference. We love being able to serve on retreats as we treat them as date nights with a purpose.
We have so much fun cooking together as a couple, along with cutting up with everyone else at the retreat. We feel like we come out way more refreshed and impacted than the ones we serve ”
Trent&MalloryWilson
MarriageMaintenanceTestimony
“Working with Chris and Karla on maintaining our marriage has transformed our relationship from good to truly great. We already had a healthy foundation, but we knew there was more room to grow. Through thoughtful questions that challenged and encouraged us to know each other on a deeper level, they helped us see that God’s vision for our marriage was even greater than we imagined. Now, we are more united and purposeful than ever. We’re committed to keeping our marriage strong through “marriage maintenance” and will never stop investing in it.”
What is Marriage Maintenance?
Life is busy, relationships are complex, and sometimes we get beat up navigating this journey Maintenance is essential to keep everything working well Marriage Maintenance Mentorship is an accountability program designed to keep marriages thriving, healthy, and most importantly, living according to God’s design. Just like vehicles need regular maintenance to operate at their peak capacity and according to the manufacturer’s design, our marriages do as well.
Marriage maintenance aims to build accountability, create awareness, avoid isolation, promote healthy communication, illuminate blind spots, and establish guardrails.
Non-ProgramExpenses* ProgramExpenses Revenue
InDecember2023,asignificantportionofourprojected2024revenuewasreceived. ThisenabledMarriageinFocustooperateatasurplusthroughoutthisfiscalyear, whichiscriticaltoourabilitytofocusonministryandnotfundraising.
Willyoumakeatax-deductibledonationinDecember2024tohelpus againgetaheadstartonour2025revenue?Clickheretosupportus!
Your s us to g impact new op more o generations of families.
God has given us tremendous vision and opportunities, which is only possible through the generosity of our ministry partners. OperatingBudget
Provides
Our ministry partners are creating an impact and helping us fulfill the vision and calling from God to invest in marriages. There are three ways you can partner with us to help us advance this God vision.
PARTNER WITH US PRAY PARTICIPATE PROVIDE
ScanorClickthisQRCode