Marriage Initiative

05/21/2026

Breaking Marriage Myths

Every Hallmark movie tells the same happily-ever-after story, but real life doesn’t live up to the Hollywood hype. With unrealistic expectations and few relationship skills, the result is often heartbreak or even divorce.

Dr. Andrea Gurney helps people understand that love is far more than a feeling. Deep, lasting love is steady, intentional, and a daily choice. She equips individuals to deconstruct common myths about love and exposes cultural fallacies about relationships and marriage that actively work against lasting fulfillment.

“Love is not a feeling; it’s a choice and a commitment. We should stand in love, not fall in and out of love,” Dr. Andrea says. “Hollywood misleads us about what love and relationships really are. The fairytale eventually comes crashing down, and often, we’re not prepared for it.”

However, there is hope. While many people enter relationships without the skills needed to build lasting love, leaders like you can help change that. You can challenge and empower couples to rethink cultural narratives and build relationships grounded in truth, commitment, and purposeful love.

Join us for this insightful Up Close and Personal event and discover practical ways to equip the couples you work with to love intentionally, not just emotionally.

Learn more about Dr. Gurney at Marriage Resources: https://marriageresources.org/authors/dr-andrea-gurney/

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About Dr. Gurney: Andrea Gurney, Ph.D., is a licensed clinical psychologist and professor of psychology who teaches a Marriage 101 class to students at Westmont College in Santa Barbara, Ca., as well as an online Marriage Boot Camp for couples. Andrea published Reimagining Your Love Story: Biblical and Psychological Practices for Healthy Relationships in 2019.

The psychologist, professor and author helps individuals, couples and families learn how to communicate, problem solve and love more effectively. Andrea earned a Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology at Northeastern University in Boston, an M.S. in Psychological Services at the University of Pennsylvania, and a B.A. in Psychology at Wheaton College. She completed a Post-Doctoral Fellowship in Couples and Family Therapy and a Pre-Doctoral Internship in Individual Therapy at Harvard Medical School. She spent eight years working at Harvard affiliated Boston Children’s Hospital.

https://andreagurney.com/

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The vision of the Marriage Initiative is to elevate the importance of marriage through leadership teams collectively and collaboratively working together. All of the information provided on our website should be interpreted as an effort to fulfill that vision. Opinions expressed by speakers and presenters at Marriage Initiative events are not necessarily those of the Marriage Initiative. Our events and communications are intended to be educational and informational in nature and are not to be considered professional counseling nor are they intended to replace the services provided by trained professional counselors and therapists. If a link takes you to a site other than marriageinitiative.org (or any page found at that web address), then we are not responsible for the information or content at that linked site. By accessing our website, you agree that any disputes you have with Marriage Initiative, will be submitted to the conflict reconciliation procedures of Peacemaker Ministries. Marriage Initiative is not affiliated with Peacemaker Ministries.

05/20/2026

05/18/2026

We were created for deep and meaningful relationship. Marriage is the most intimate relationship two people can have with another person, so it’s no wonder studies show that married individuals report the highest satisfaction and are almost twice as happy as those who are not married.

05/16/2026

At the end of the day, none of us have a fairy godmother or pixie dust at our disposal. And so we must do the work ourselves."--Dr. Andrea Gurney

We've all grown up watching the fairy tales that promise happily ever after with our one true love. Whether we like it or not, whether we think we believe it or not, chances are we've internalized that story of love. And despite the technology to find connection with more people than ever before, somehow we are also lonelier than ever before--even when we're in relationships.

Although we were created for loving, intimate relationships, we've lost our understanding of how to find and maintain them. Andrea Gurney wants readers to discover more authentic connections that aren't made of wishes, so she equips us with practices from psychology, biblical truths, and lessons from relationship science. She also helps us examine our developmental history, including how cultural and familial messages take root in our psyches. Together, these tools craft a solid foundation on which lasting love can be built.

If you are disillusioned by unattainable societal standards, in need of healing from damaged relationships, or simply want to improve at relating well with others, you're ready for Reimagining Your Love Story.

Find Dr. Andrea Gurney's book - Reimagining Your Love Story - at the link below!
https://www.amazon.com/dp/0825445620?ref=cm_sw_r_ffobk_cp_ud_dp_EW4G3B2WKY0JNFJ1KRE7&ref_=cm_sw_r_ffobk_cp_ud_dp_EW4G3B2WKY0JNFJ1KRE7&social_share=cm_sw_r_ffobk_cp_ud_dp_EW4G3B2WKY0JNFJ1KRE7&bestFormat=true

05/14/2026

Every Hallmark movie tells the same story. After an initial obstacle, Prince Charming sweeps the heroine off her feet, their happily-ever-after implied. When real life doesn’t live up to the Hollywood hype, people are ripe for heartache. Unaware of their unreasonable expectations and lacking relationship skills, one option when the bubble bursts is divorce, a circumstance licensed clinical psychologist and professor of psychology Andrea Gurney, Ph.D., noticed with startling regularity among even the younger 30-somethings in her practice. Dr. Gurney works to reverse that trend, teaching her students skills to show up in a more healthy way in their relationships and exposing cultural myths that might lead them astray.

A good marriage is the number one predictor of happiness, according to the 2022 General Social Survey. Yet there's little or no formal training on how to navigate intimate relationships.

Read more about Dr. Andrea Gurney and her work teaching the necessary skills for healthy relationships on our blog!
https://marriageresources.org/authors/dr-andrea-gurney/

05/12/2026

We serve you.

05/10/2026

Today we celebrate the strength and love of mothers everywhere. The care you give helps shape not just your children, but the heart of your family. You are seen and deeply valued.

05/09/2026

God and His word doesn’t change. But generations do. When churches realize and accept this, then they can meet each generation where they are with God's truth regarding marriage. That could mean being willing to reach people digitally, creating pre-marital and marriage groups specifically for young couples, or acknowledging today’s financial realities while offering wisdom and support for those seeking to
build families. What ways can you support your local church in reaching the younger and rising generations where they are?

05/07/2026

Building Whole Hearted Marriages

How can we best equip young singles to build strong, healthy relationships and lay the foundation for a vibrant, lifelong marriage?

Many young adults long for thriving relationships, yet lack the guidance and tools needed to do the inner work required for growth. They need practical strategies to better understand themselves, find healing where needed, and prepare to become the kind of partner who can sustain a healthy, lasting marriage.

Stefanie and Caleb Rouse empower singles and couples to build thriving relationships by meeting them where they are and challenging them to grow into the healthiest version of themselves, giving them the best chance to become strong, healthy partners. Through their ministry, they help people build confidence, courage, and hope.

When someone finds their identity in Christ rather than in a spouse or relationship, they are able to show up as the best version of themselves for their future or current partner.

Join us for this special Up Close and Personal event and learn how to provide the accountability, support, and practical steps that today’s singles and dating couples are longing for.

Learn more about the Stefanie and Caleb Rouse at Marriage Resources: https://marriageresources.org/authors/caleb-stefanie-rouse/

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About Stefanie and Caleb:
Stefanie and Caleb Rouse are digital creators who empower singles and couples to have thriving relationships. The Rouses are SYMBIS trained and collectively have earned master’s degrees in Marriage & Family Therapy, Theology and Education. The relationship mentors, authors and podcasters were named Christian Influencers to follow in 2021. They offer books, podcasts, online courses, and free downloadables on their website.
https://www.stefanieandcaleb.com/

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The vision of the Marriage Initiative is to elevate the importance of marriage through leadership teams collectively and collaboratively working together. All of the information provided on our website should be interpreted as an effort to fulfill that vision. Opinions expressed by speakers and presenters at Marriage Initiative events are not necessarily those of the Marriage Initiative. Our events and communications are intended to be educational and informational in nature and are not to be considered professional counseling nor are they intended to replace the services provided by trained professional counselors and therapists. If a link takes you to a site other than marriageinitiative.org (or any page found at that web address), then we are not responsible for the information or content at that linked site. By accessing our website, you agree that any disputes you have with Marriage Initiative, will be submitted to the conflict reconciliation procedures of Peacemaker Ministries. Marriage Initiative is not affiliated with Peacemaker Ministries.

05/07/2026

A Community Marriage Initiative, or CMI, aims to connect and empower local experts, church leaders, and Marriage Champions in a community to facilitate a marriage movement. A CMI brings together individuals passionate about serving marriages and families to make resources readily available for couples, offering resources for both preparing and enriching marriages.

Whether it’s through your church or with a local ministry organization, many of you are already dedicating your time and talent to serving marriages and families. Our hope is that we can honor your current role in a meaningful way by helping you to find your own unique, highest and best role. By joining a Community Marriage Initiative Team (CMI Team) in your city or region, your efforts will be joined with others as you work towards a larger, more connected mission.

The upcoming grant deadline is September 15, 2026. The purpose of this grant opportunity is to fund non-profit organizations (or groups of individuals working towards establishing their non-profit status) who have some experience in assisting churches implement marriage ministries and have a desire to expand that work as they drive down their county’s divorce rate. In addition, the CMI Grant also focuses on capacity-building as it is designed to equip, empower and position organizations to raise additional funding in the future with the intent to become self sustainable.

Use the link below for more information and to apply!
https://www.marriageinitiative.org/start-a-marriage-initiative

05/05/2026

How do find new ways to invite married couples into community?