Healthy, thriving marriages are a beautiful reflection of the love that is found in Christ. The Marriage Mentoring ministry at Faith exists to help couples find strength, health and support as they navigate different seasons in life. Whether you are newly engaged, just married or are about to celebrate your 30th wedding anniversary, the Marriage Mentors at Faith would love to walk with you as you invest in your marriage.
Today, we are talking with two Marriage Mentors at Faith, Mike and Andrea Faucett, about their experience with this amazing ministry.
How long have you been married?
37 years
How long have you been attending Faith Church?
For 25 years, since 1994
What inspired you to become Marriage Mentors?
We heard about the Marriage Mentoring program through Pastor Grant and were immediately excited about it. We knew it was a ministry that God was calling us to, and the fact that we could do it together was really a blessing.
What has been the most rewarding part of being Marriage Mentors?
Every time we go through the mentoring process that Faith Church has adopted, we find that it is not only God-glorifying but it also draws us very close with our mentees. Every couple we have had the privilege to work with has been delightful, but each couple also has areas that they need to bring out into the open and discuss in light of God’s design for marriage. Being mentors has also allowed us to be very honest and truthful about our own marriage struggles in the hopes that these couples will not make someof the same mistakes we have made.
How have you seen God use Marriage Mentoring to impact other couples at Faith?
We remember the very limited “mentoring” we received when we were married, and we don’t think it was unusual for the time. We love that Faith Church has put a lot of effort and research into finding a really good marriage mentoring program. I know all of our mentees have expressed a genuine appreciation for the process even though it is a lot of work on their end, with weekly homework assignments, required readings and sometimes difficult discussions with each other. In the end, we have felt that each couple leaves with a deeper understanding of each other, a better understanding of what a Godly marriage looks like and tools that they can use when conflicts arise.
What advice would you give to newlyweds?
When we were first married, we heard all of the traditional advice such as “Never go to bed angry” and “Marriage is not a competition; don’t keep score,” etc. While it is easy to say those things, it is quite difficult to do them when two sinful humans are involved. We try to make sure each of our couples knows that they will make mistakes and go through trying times, but if they put Christ at the center of their marriage by reading the Bible, attending church, and praying (particularly together), they can get through even the most difficult circumstances. One of our favorite Scripture passages on marriage is Ecclesiastes 4:9-12: “Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor: If either of them falls down, one can help the other up. But pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them up. Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm. But how can one keep warm alone? Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.”
What advice would you give to a couple who is starting to go through trials in their marriage?
Don’t be afraid to seek help, particularly from your church home. Most of us come into a marriage with unsettled issues from our upbringing, family, past experiences, etc. that we are not even aware of. Working through those issues with a Christ-centered program can be transforming.
What would you tell couples who are interested in becoming Marriage Mentors?
It has been one of our favorite ministries that we have ever undertaken. Talk to Pastor Grant about taking the next steps!