Marriage Ministry Lab Forming

Leadership Network is pleased to announce the formation the first Marriage Ministry Innovation that will launch in late October of 2012.

Director: Eric Swanson
Dates:

• October 29-30, 2012—Dallas, TX
• March 20, 2013—4-Hour online virtual gathering
• October 1-2, 2013—Dallas, TX

Over the past 50 years the landscape of marriage in the U.S has changed dramatically.

• In 1960 nearly 70% of American adults were married; now only about half are
• In 1960 two-thirds of 20-somethings were married; in 2008 just 26% were
• In 1960 439,000 couples lived together; Today 7,500,000 couples live together (13% increase between 2009 & 2010). One marriage scholar say 7/10 Christian kids will live with someone before marriage. “The problem is not divorce but failure of families to form”
• In 1960 over 70 percent of American households consisted of a breadwinner father, a homemaker mother, and their kids. Today less than 15 percent of families make up this “traditional” profile making most church programs irrelevant
• In 1960 five percent of babies were born out of wedlock; today 41% are
• In 1960 nine percent of kids lived in single-parent homes; today 25% of kids do so

“How much does this matter? More than words can say. There is no other single force causing as much measurable hardship and human misery in this country as the collapse of marriage. It hurts children, it reduces mothers’ financial security, and it has landed with particular devastation on those who can bear it least: the nation’s underclass”

Caitlin Flanagan, Time Magazine, July 02, 2009
Time Magazine

Innovation Lab
Never before has the church had the opportunity to step up and make a huge relational difference in the church and community. Everyone wants his / her relationships thriving and the local church can be the place where people can see what an alternative story for marriage can be. The Marriage Ministry Innovation Lab is an innovative and iterative process designed to help groups of up to six churches launch or greatly accelerate their Marriage Ministry. We meet twice in Dallas with a 4-hour online meeting in between.

Learning from Experience
Group members are connected with other innovative churches in order to develop strong peer-to-peer relationships that will allow leaders to share ideas, methodologies, and solutions. Additionally we will tap into the foremost church-based thought-leaders and practitioners from around the country so you can learn from the best.

Contact
For more information about this Innovation Lab, contact Eric Swanson at eric.swanson@leadnet.org

To apply Click HERE or paste: http://bit.ly/zoGtv4