In 2017, the Florida State University’s Florida Center for Prevention Research (FSUCPR) department was hired by Live the Life to help conduct independent research on our relationship and marriage education programs, so that we could have a comprehensive picture of the effectiveness of each. It didn’t take long for Cindy to recognize that the programs were not only effective but were regularly saving marriages. 

 

Dr. Cindy Wilson is the current Executive Director of FSUCPR.  As a member of a local church in Tallahassee, Cindy recognized that her church was good at premarital programs and by default they were serving couples in crisis, but they were missing a key part of their marriage ministry–a program that could be used in-between to enrich marriages and prevent them from ever reaching a crisis-point at all. For Cindy, that’s where Live the Life got personal.

 

“Live the Life was launching their Best Marriage Ever program and I immediately took it to my church and pitched the idea of bringing the program to our married couples.” The church agreed and it was the first time they had offered a program to enrich marriages. Wilson says it was clear there was a hunger for it because over 90 couples registered! “The program was a catalyst to start a full marriage ministry model that focuses on all aspects and seasons of marriage: preparing, enriching, and restoring.” 

 

Wilson says that Live the Life’s marriage program is perfect for churches because it helps the local church enhance and advance their existing marriage ministry and Wilson has seen that come to fruition in her church. 

 

It has been about a year and a half since her church hosted Best Marriage Ever, and this past month they hosted an event called, Marriage Matters. “We had 165 couples registered–more than 300 people!” Wilson credits the effectiveness of Live the Life’s initial Best Marriage Ever program and the word of mouth from the couples who attended it, as well as a reduced stigma of marriage classes and events and the assumption that it’s only for marriages in trouble. “Maintenance is just as important,” Wilson said, “and that is what the Best Marriage Ever program helped our church leaders and members understand.” 

 

Not only did Wilson’s church host such a large and successful marriage event this past month, Wilson herself was the keynote speaker having become an advocate for marriages and a strong holistic marriage ministry model in her church. “It was such a special full circle moment to be able to not only be a researcher at FSU helping Live the Life, but to get to be part of this ministry from both sides–seeing it work in my life and my church!”