Relationships

There is no greater contribution to society today than to have strong marriages and healthy families walking out of church on Sunday and into the culture on Monday...

Yet this is no small task. Some now view marriage as one of the riskiest ventures taken in one’s life. After all, married couples are usually made up of two very different individuals who are now making a decision to attempt to live harmoniously together in a  permanent relationship for life. Frankly, it’s a ridiculous notion – without God’s help!

When reality does not match the idealistic aspirations often held about marriage, MDPC's Marriage Ministry is here to help. Couples are guided into and through the hard transformational work of becoming more selfless, and led to prayerfully experience the fullness of this special relationship designed by God.

Society benefits many times over from each successful marriage. That’s why we in Marriage Ministry are committed to encouraging, training, and equipping couples both inside and outside the church to strengthen their marriages.

Married Life Prep

 

Building a Strong Start

Great marriages don’t just happen—they’re built on purpose (and a little prep doesn’t hurt).

Married Life Prep is a free, 8-hour course for dating, engaged, and newly married couples. You'll get real talk, Biblical wisdom, and practical tools to help your relationship thrive.

Research shows that couples who invest in this kind of prep can reduce their risk of divorce by up to 75%. Led by Brett and Kellie Hurst, the course blends faith and top relationship insights—from The Couple Checkup to The Seven Principles for Making Marriage Work.

Bonus: It’s Twogether in Texas approved, so most couples can waive the state marriage license fee!

 

 2 Saturdays: Jul 19 & 26         2 Saturdays: Jan 3 &10

Jul 2025 Registration    Jan 2026 Registration

Married Life Groups

Married Life Groups are a meaningful way to connect with other couples in a similar season of life - couples who are committed to prioritizing their marriage, even in the midst of a busy schedule. These groups meet monthly and thrive when each couple makes that time a priority.

If you're ready to grow your marriage and build community, fill out the interest form below and we'll be in touch to help you get connected! If you have any other questions, feel free to reach out to

Interest Form 

Marriage Retreat

Join Brett and Kellie Hurst of Home Encouragement and get away for a fun and intentional weekend together focused around your married life. This special experience will include a comfortable atmosphere, excellent food, a one-on-one date night with your spouse, as well as expert teaching from Brett and Kellie, longtime marriage educators.They'll share their wisdom and personal experiences about growing deeper in their married love and life.

Saturday-Sunday, Oct 4-5 • Noon-Noon
Moody Gardens Resort in Galveston
Sessions are on Saturday afternoon and Sunday morning. Saturday night is "date night", free to enjoy the hotel grounds or local attractions.

$240/couple includes accommodations, two meals, and materials. Partial scholarships are available.

Register Here

Weddings at MDPC

Thank you for your interest in celebrating your wedding at MDPC! 

We believe that a wedding is a beautiful opening celebration of a spiritually rich lifelong commitment between a man and a woman. Moreover, we want your wedding to be a solid foundation of a blessed, permanent marriage. With these goals in mind, we are here to support both MDPC members and non-members and they embark on this journey, beginning with the initial planning, pre-marital counseling, and wedding ceremony and continuing throughout the marriage in a variety of courses and programs.

MDPC offers picturesque facilities and a gifted staff committed to assisting you in preparing a special event that will glorify God, honor the families of the bride and groom, and create a memorable event for all present. We invite you to tour our campus and meet those who can help guide you to a most blessed experience as you become one in Christ as husband and wife. 

To obtain more information on Weddings at MDPC, please contact Meghan Garvin, MDPC Wedding Coordinator, at . To inquire as to wedding availability, please complete the Wedding Inquiry Form below. We encourage all interested parties to read our Wedding Information and Policies Booklet, available below.

Wedding Inquiry Form

Wedding Inquiry Form

Wedding Information and Policies

Download a guide to Weddings at MDPC:

Wedding Information and Policies

For more information on Married Life Prep, MDPC’s pre-marital counseling course, click here. 

Other Marriage Opportunities

At MDPC, we stand with you at each step in your marriage journey.  Our desire is to come alongside couples to help them build strong foundations for their future together.   We encourage an intimate relationship with God and one another so that married couples can grow closer and healthier through each stage of family life.

Dinner and a Marriage

Need a special date night?  Be part of a Dinner and a Marriage® live event in the Houston area presented by Home Encouragement®.

Learn more

Marriage Tune-Ups

Home Encouragement offers private 90-minute Marriage Tune-Ups to help marriages move in the direction of hitting on all cylinders! Led by Kellie & Brett Hurst, couples spend a more focused time (either in person or via Zoom) learning how to better work as a team in their individual marriages. In a relaxed setting, Marriage Tune-Ups are designed to enhance better overall marriage harmony and intimacy. The suggested minimum donation to Home Encouragement is $100 per couple.

Learn more

Marriage to the Max Podcast

Marriage to the Max is a fun and encouraging conversation about healthy marriage! Join marriage educators Brett & Kellie Hurst of Home Encouragement as they help couples take their marriages to the next level. MTTM episodes can be accessed at the link below. You may also join listeners worldwide who have already subscribed to the free Marriage to the Max podcast on iTunes.

Listen to Podcasts

 

 

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