The Mississippi Healthy Marriage Initiative will host a one-day statewide training session for the 10 Great Dates marriage education program on Tuesday, January 13, 2009, from 8:30am-4pm, at the Christian Life Center at First Baptist Church in Jackson. This training is designed to equip and empower faith based and community leaders with an exciting, affordable and easy-to-implement program aimed to help strength marriages and families in the state of Mississippi.
The training will be led personally by David and Claudia Arp, marriage educators, best-selling authors and founders of the 10 Great Dates program. During the training, the Arps will explain the research-based benefits of this program, give advertising and start-up tips, and provide resources that will make using this program simple and easy.
Many of Mississippi's problems can be attributed to the breakdown of the traditional two-parent family. It is our hope that once leaders learn about 10 Great Dates, they will help strengthen marriages and families in our state by implementing this program in their congregation or community.
10 Great Dates received the Smart Marriage Impact Award and was sited by Diane Sollee (founder of the Coalition for Marriage, Family and Couple Education) as one of the most effective and widely used marriage education programs in the nation. It has been successful in communities throughout the country. The program combines fun dates and marriage education skills, while giving couples time out to build their marriages and enrich their relationships.
Last year, the California Healthy Marriage Coalition used 10 Great Dates to launch marriage initiatives across the state during National Marriage Week and used the program as a feeder and booster for other marriage education programs. 10 Great Dates is fun and low-key, so couples come willingly for "great dates" and go home with marriage skills. It's a great way for churches and community organizations to work together to promote healthy marriages.
The training session is free; however, advance registration is required. For more information or to sign up, visit www.marriagemississippi.com or call 601-859-3842.
