Quick Info:
Number of weeks: 1
Price: $50 per person, $100 per couple
CEUs: 1
Required books?: Yes
Live video session?: Yes
Part of a certification or series of courses?: No
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Read how BeADisciple courses work
We are living in a time when more people are delaying marriage or writing it off altogether. If you are one of the couples wanting to commit to one another and start a marriage on the right foot, then join us in “Before You Say ‘I Do’: A Pre-Marriage Retreat”.
The journey will help you explore your relationship in depth and will
- provide new insight into your partner and how the two of you relate to one another
- establish your wants and needs as individuals and as a couple before your marriage begins
- lay the groundwork for open and honest conversation for a stronger, healthier marriage
- reveal how life events and family background can influence decision making in finances, family, education, faith, and career
- engage you in activities that lead to thought-provoking discussions that address your past experiences and current expectations
The whole experience is engaging and full of tried-and-true wisdom to help you plan for your future and build a lasting relationship with the one you love.
This course is worth 1 CEUs.
Learners will be required to obtain a copy of the following book:
- Before You Say “I Do”: A Marriage Preparation Guide for Couples by H. Norman Wright, Wes Roberts*
Required Zoom meetings will take place from 6:00-7:00 pm CST every day. Each member of the couple needs to register for the course.
*Using this Amazon Affiliate link further supports our ministry. Thank you!
Price: $50/person, $100/couple
About the Instructor
Reverend Shirley J. Connally is a retired teacher/counselor/minister with a B.A. (English/French), M.Ed. (Counseling & Guidance), M.Div. (Theology) and additional studies on the Doctor of Ministry Degree. She retired from public education with 36 years’ experience as an English teacher and/or secondary counselor. She also taught freshman English at the Houston Community College for several years. Additionally, she served as an adjunct professor at the Charles Harrison Mason Bible College and owned a private practice counseling office for several years.
She has served in ministry in the local church and community for most of her life. She was ordained after completing seminary while serving as an associate with three Baptist pastors and went on to serve as associate and senior pastor in The United Methodist Church. Even though most of her training and service as an adult has been in The United Methodist Church, her childhood years were spent equally divided between three denominations (Methodist, Baptist and Catholic).
She has always been drawn to teaching and helping people, so, naturally using her gifts of teaching and counseling have been dominant in her life. She has offered courses in Christian care and counseling and Bible studies for children, teens, young adults, middle adults and senior adults, reaching all developmental stages of life. She has also offered courses on God’s purpose for the family and prayer retreats, providing time and guidance for those times when we need to go to a quiet place and spend time alone with God. Her prayer is that we can study and continue to develop additional skills and a basic knowledge of how we can use the Bible to help people live better lives.
She is the mother of one daughter in business and one granddaughter. She loves teaching Disciple Bible Studies, serving on the Scholarship Committee, Nursing Home Ministry, St. Stephens Food Pantry and helping wherever she is needed in her church and community. When relaxing she loves reading, crocheting and watching Houston’s #1 sports teams (Texans, Rockets and Astros) and helping people.
