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Houston’s First
Baptist Church

Engaged Couples Workshop

The Engaged Couples Workshop is designed to help couples take the right steps as they prepare for marriage; by diving into the real issues marriages face, we help couples see what struggles they might face in their life together.

To get started, follow the steps below.

1. Register Online

Sign up for an upcoming workshop:

Cost is $180/couple for Houston's First members, and $250/couple for non-members.

2. SYMBIS Assessment

Once registered, the couple will be sent the SYMBIS assessment which is to be taken online. SYMBIS, “Saving Your Marriage Before It Starts”, is a Les and Leslie Parrott assessment; it will reveal potential strength areas, as well as challenge areas of the couple.


3. Schedule Your Counseling Session

As part of the program, you are entitled to three counseling sessions. After you complete the SYMBIS Assessment, you’ll be contacted by the Premarital Coordinator to schedule the first of two PRE-Workshop Counseling Sessions with one of the counselors at the Counseling center at Houston’s First. At this PRE-Workshop meeting, (about forty-five minutes in length), the counselor will begin a review of your SYMBIS results and discuss the Biblical foundation of the covenant of marriage. You’ll explore how your individual relationships with Christ form the foundation of a Christ-centered marriage.

In the second PRE-Workshop counseling session, as well as continuing with the review of the SYMBIS Assessment, the couple will get an opportunity to visit with the counselor individually. This session will be about ninety minutes in length.

All PRE and POST-Workshop counseling sessions are included at no additional cost to you (it’s part of your Engaged Couples Workshop fee) and must be completed no later than six months after the workshop. We believe you get the best out of the program if you commit to completing your sessions within this time frame.

4. Attend Workshop

The Engaged Couples Workshop takes place on the third floor of the church, and is done over a weekend - Friday evening and all day Saturday. Using a variety of facilitators, we’ll discuss what the Bible says about first-year issues, expounding on the tenets of marriage.
You’ll have some private time, “Office Time”, with your spouse-to-be, to further discussions.
Workshops are held bi-monthly, throughout the year. A total of twelve couples participate in the workshop— this is a great opportunity to meet and fellowship with other altar-bound couples!

The six modules covered during the workshop are:
1. Spiritual Oneness
2. Roles and Expectations
3. Communication
4. Conflict Resolution
5. Financial Stewardship
6. Sexual Intimacy

5. Schedule Final Counseling Session After the Workshop

After you have attended the Engaged Couples Workshop, you should schedule your third and final counseling session, the POST-Workshop counseling session, with your counselor in the Counseling Center at Houston’s First Baptist Church. This session will be for forty-five minutes; the agenda includes:

· Wrap-up review of your SYMBIS.
· Discuss your experiences during the Engaged Couples Workshop
· Any issues you’d like to discuss with the counselor
The counselor will provide feedback and guidelines on how to start a rock-solid, Christ-centered marriage.

You’ll also receive a Completion Certificate which affords you $60 off your marriage license, if you present it!

May God bless your relationship!

*Engaged Couples Workshop Cancellation Policy

Our Workshop is in heavy demand. If you register for an upcoming Workshop and cancel within 7 days of the Workshop (“7-day cancellation period"), you will be charged a $100 cancellation fee.If we are able to find a replacement couple, you will not be charged the $100. You will not be registered for a subsequent Workshop until you pay the $100 fee (if applicable).

If you cancel your registration before the 7-day cancellation period, you will be refunded the remaining balance after SYMBIS fees ($30) and any counseling sessions utilized ($50/session) are deducted. If you cancel your registration within the 7-day cancellation period (and a replacement is not found), you will be refunded the remaining balance after the cancellation fee ($100), SYMBIS fees ($30), and any counseling session utilized ($50/session) are deducted.

For further inquiries, please contact us at 713.335.6485 or Koyenum.Okonma@HoustonsFirst.org.

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