This "one-ness" however, does not occur overnight.  It is a lifelong process-one that takes time, energy, love, patience, forgiveness and sacrifice.  And it is to be a permanent arrangement.  Jesus declared, "They are no longer two, but one.  Therefore what God has joined together, let man not separate" (Matthew 19:6).  This is why before the wedding day we want to take time to explore the various aspects of married life from a biblical perspective.

Tragically, many couples invest large amounts of time and money in the wedding day (okay, maybe dad invests the most moneyJ), and within a few hours all of the pomp and festivity is past, and a lifetime with your mate begins.  Therefore, we want to try to prepare you as best is possible to look critically and carefully at marital issues.  We want to discuss expectations, assist you in understanding one another better, eliminate surprises, and equip you with tools to make becoming "one" easier.  We call this "Pre-Marriage Preparation," and recommend the following simple steps:

I.                    Secure a Wedding Venue and Officiant

As long as a couple is willing to participate in our Pre-Marriage Preparation as outlined in this manual, pastors at Maranatha are willing to officiate at the wedding ceremony.  You will need, however, to make sure (A) The date a pastor is available to perform your wedding ceremony, and (B) The location of the ceremony.  Our pastors are willing to perform a ceremony at any location.  However, if you want to have the wedding at Maranatha's facility, you will need to verify an available date by contacting the church secretary  at the office.  In order to reserve the facility, you will have to pay a non-refundable down-payment and fill out a contract with us.  Otherwise, you can make arrangements at a another location.

II.                  Take a PREPARE / ENRICH relationship inventory

This questionnaire will allow you to explore strength and growth areas in your relationship and discuss them more openly in the pre-marriage preparation sessions.  It generally takes 45 minutes to complete.  The cost of processing is $50, which includes Building a Strong Marriage workbook and a gift book at the end of your sessions with the Mentor Couple, The Complete Guide to the First Five Years of Marriage.  Checks should be made out to "Maranatha Church", and in the memo line include "Pre-Marriage Prep."

III.                Complete five pre-marriage preparation sessions

Using the results of the PREPARE / ENRICH inventory you will discuss the following topics with your Mentor Couple during five, 1½-2 hour sessions:

1)                  Your spiritual beliefs and practices, and your expectation of marriage and commitment to each other

2)                  Your personalities and communication

3)                  Your resolving of conflict in the relationship

4)                  Your financial goals, spending and budgeting practices, and recreation

5)                  Your family background, planning, and your sexual relationship

Once you have completed the pre-marriage preparation sessions, we ask that you fill out the "Mentor Couple Pre-Marriage Preparation Evaluation" and return it to the appropriate person at the church.

Lastly, your Mentor Couple will give the pastor an assessment of your relationship and make any recommendations as needed.  (*Please note: We do reserve the right to decline performing a marriage ceremony if we feel ethically compelled to do so).

IV.                Attend 3 church services together and complete the evaluation form

If you do not regularly attend Maranatha Assembly of God, we would like both of you to come to any 3 of our church services and fill out and turn in the brief evaluation form prior to your last meeting.

V.                  Participate in an Engaged Encounter

This is not a requirement for marriage through Maranatha, but it is strongly encouraged.  Engaged Encounter is an intensive weekend experience that will help improve your communication skills in the various aspects of married life.  You will be given the information regarding the closest EE weekend in your area.  Once you have attended the weekend, please fill out the EE Questionnaire.  The cost for an EE weekend is around $225.  This is quite possibly the best wedding gift you can give each other, or perhaps you could "register" this as a wedding gift for others to give you (see www.marriages.org/schedules-ee.htm for dates, locations and registration info.).

VI.                Plan the wedding day ceremony

After we have finished the sessions, we will go over the details for the wedding day ceremony.  This day should be a personalized expression of you.  You may customize parts of the service, write your own vows, select your music and décor, etc.  You may choose to purchase the professional services of our wedding coordinator to make this day run smoother.  If so, she will be involved in this meeting.

VII.              Obtain Your Marriage License

Before the wedding day, you need to secure a marriage license from the county "Vital Records" department in which you live (generally $110). In Minnesota, there is generally a 5-day waiting period after you apply for a license, before it can be picked up or mailed. The license must be used within 6 months of purchase.

Couples applying for a marriage license in MN may qualify for a reduced fee ($40), if they have completed at least 12 hours of premarital education. By going through an "Engaged Encounter" or "Maranatha's Pre-Marriage Preparation," you meet the 12-hour requirement.  An "Educator Statement" must be submitted at the time the application is made with the county, and it is your responsibility to follow up with the pastor who is performing the ceremony by supplying him with the "Educator Statement" form from your county when you have completed the 12 hours.  Your exact names as they will appear on the marriage license need to be on the "Educator Statement."  You can access them online as PDF's to download and fill out.

VIII.            Tie the "Nuptial Knot"

After completing the previous steps, the big day has arrived.  We want to make this as memorable and stress-free as possible.  Depending on the size of the wedding party and the amount of music in the ceremony, the ceremony generally lasts 20-30 minutes.  A personalized message for that specific day will be shared by the pastor.  Some people wonder, "How much do you charge to do the wedding?"  We do not send out invoices charging fees for the ceremony, but generally an honorarium of $200 is appropriate.  If you are renting the church facility, that price may have already been included in your total contract cost.  Be sure to check and see if that is the case.