How to Recruit Young Couples for a Marriage Enrichment Ministry

Young couples especially need marriage enrichment through fellowship and learning.

Have you been looking for ways to recruit young couples for your church marriage enrichment ministry? This is a very worthwhile endeavor for the older and younger couples in a church. The young couples benefit from seeing long-time married couples and learning about God's plan for marriage. The older couples benefit from the fellowship and fresh point of view young couples bring. Here are some things you can start doing today to increase participation among young married couples in your church and bring in more from outside the church.

Instructions

1. If you haven't already, communicate to the church and other active members in the marriage enrichment ministry that the activities are open to members and non-members. There may not be many young married couples in your church, but opening your doors to non-members is in keeping with the great commission of seeking out new disciples. Don't assume that regular participants already know they can invite young married couples they know from outside of the church.

2. Challenge current marriage enrichment ministry participants to reach a goal of extending invitations to three young married couples inside or outside the church. This goal is harder than it may seem due to the trend of marrying later in life and the high divorce rate. Yet, if ten current married couples invited three couples then thirty new couples will learn about your marriage enrichment ministry. Even if only 20% show up, you'll have recruited six new couples and will have a chance to enrich the lives of 12 young married people. Not to mention the potential impact on their children and their other young married friends.

3. Plan events that are attractive to married couples of all ages. Consider movie screenings at the church, fellowship activities at members' homes, outings, date nights and more. Ask the child care or singles ministry to volunteer their time to provide child care so the young couples aren't discouraged from coming if they can't find or pay for a babysitter.

4. Develop and provide current marriage enrichment ministry couples with marketing materials to pass on to young couples. Consider using email newsletters, save-the-date cards for events, enrichment ministry brochures and any other way to get the word out about the work your marriage ministry is doing.

Tips & Warnings

• If you're not sure what kinds of activities would attract the younger couples in your church, just ask them. Use surveys, emails, and one-on-one conversations as opposed to trial and error.

• Be careful not to get into the habit of being in the same frame of mind all the time. Try to stay open to new ideas and try new things to attract new and younger married couples.

Resources

• Fireproof Your Marriage: Leader's Guide