Before “I Do” National Certified Leaders Training

Scottsdale, AZ - Marriage and Family Ministries Conference

August 9, 2008

Here’s a teaser about the training: Transform your premarital program and the couples who go through it! Couples rave about Before “I Do” and so do many respected marriage experts. Hundreds of churches, ministries, and counselors use this interactive, faith-based workbook in class, small group, mentor, one-on-one and long-distance premarital settings. Learn how to: use the book with or without an inventory, set your premarital procedures and program up for success, and recruit volunteer teams to meet the demand for premarital education.

Here’s an article about the training: The makers of Before “I Do” – Preparing for the Full Marriage Experience are proud to announce the National Certified Leadership Training in Before “I Do” will occur at the Marriage and Family Ministries Conference in Scottsdale, Arizona on Saturday, August 9, 2008.

K. Jason Krafsky, author of Before “I Do”, will lead the certified training. “People have asked for certification since the book came out two years ago. We waited so we could evaluate response levels of the users, and ensure the demand for such training was legit,” said Krafsky. “We have been swamped with positive feedback about Before ‘I Do.’”

“Couples give high marks to Before ‘I Do’s’ content on their evaluation forms at the end of their premarital.” –premarital lay leader

“My daughter recently became engaged and I gave her and her fiancé copies of Before ‘I Do.’ (You should consider that as a very strong endorsement!)” - senior minister

“Before ‘I Do’ is the best pre-marital material I have ever seen! This curriculum leads the couple on a journey that…brings about “real marriage reactions” and …the focus of the counseling is off of you, and onto material that works!” –youth pastor

Hundreds of churches, ministries, and counselors now use this interactive, faith-based workbook as their premarital program in class, small group, mentor, one-on-one, and long-distance premarital settings.

Why do the first Certified Leadership Training in the middle of summer in Arizona?

“The Association of Marriage and Family Ministries team has been extremely supportive of Before ‘I Do’, and I can’t think of a better place to launch the certification process then at their Marriage and Family Ministry Conference ,” Krafsky said.

What will the Certified Leadership Training include?

“There are three parts to a successful premarital program: the curriculum, the program presentation, and the program procedures,” Krafsky said. “At the certification, Before “I Do” will be the curriculum focus, but the training will also focus on how to facilitate and work with couples effectively, and how to set up the program procedures so couples thrive in their premarital experience.”

The Training will include:

Surveying & Highlighting Before “I Do”- The eight sections of the book are rich with relationship skills, practical tools, and Biblical insights on the crucial issues couples need before and after the wedding. Receive a general overview of the book, learn the primary focus of each section, including core questions, and special points to emphasize with couples.

Maximizing Before “I Do” in Any Setting - The book is adaptable for every possible premarital format. Discover how to use Before “I Do” for premarital classes, couple to couple mentoring, premarital small groups, pastor-to-couple, and long-distance settings.

Starting and Ending Sessions So Couples Come Back - How a program starts and ends contributes to the participation level of couples. Receive openers and closing remarks for every session, including activities, discussion questions, and fun ideas for in-between sessions.

Using Before “I Do” with Inventories – Before “I Do” can be used as either a standalone program, or to use with an inventory. Learn how to unpack the results from PREPARE, FOCCUS, and the Couple Checkup with couples by using Before “I Do”.

Setting Couples Up for Success- Want couples to show up for your premarital program on time … with their work completed … ready to participate? Learn necessary procedural steps your program must have to engage the engaged couples in your premarital experience.

Understanding Marriage Investor Do’s & Don’ts- Before “I Do” makes life a lot easier for the Marriage Investor (clergy, counselor, mentor, chaplain, educator), because the book does so much of the instructional heavy lifting. Whether you work directly with the couples or oversee the program, there are do’s and don’ts in working with this generation of marrying couples you ought to know.

Handling Sticky Issues with Confidence (& Your Convictions Intact) – Bet you didn’t learn how to handle cohabitation in seminary! What about remarriages, or relationships with kids from a prior relationship? Unique issues arise, and without a clear plan on what to do, the issues will be a source of frustration and anxiety. Learn how to handle sticky issues with a good attitude, tangible plans, and your convictions intact.

Answering FAQ’s on All-Things Premarital- There will be a time to ask anything related to premarital, ranging from marketing to leadership development, from volunteer recruitment to whatever comes to mind.

K. Jason Krafsky can’t wait until the training. “The pastors, counselors, chaplains, mentors, and lay leaders who attend the training are going to walk away with helpful tools, free resources, discounts on future books, and some special extras! More importantly, they will walk away with confidence and a greater sense of purpose for their premarital ministry.”

EXTRA:

To register for the Before “I Do” National Certified Leadership Training, check out http://www.amfmconference.com/.