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Card 18 of 30

The question is on the front. Turn the card over for our take, then keep reading for what a ministry can actually do with it.

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A strong program that nobody attends has limited ministry value.

That reality can tempt leaders to search for the perfect promotional tactic. Better graphics, more announcements, another email, a stronger bulletin notice, or a different event name may help, but participation begins earlier than promotion.

Couples make judgments about relevance.

Is this for people like us? Does this sound useful? Will my spouse want to go? Is this only for marriages in trouble? Do we know anyone there? Is the time realistic? Is the experience worth rearranging our evening?

The answer to “What gets couples to show up?” will vary.

Personal invitations can matter. Familiar faces can matter. The topic can matter. Childcare, timing, location, length, format, and frequency can matter. Existing relationships can make a gathering feel safer. A clear understanding of what will happen can reduce uncertainty.

The most useful response is curiosity.

Instead of assuming married couples are apathetic, examine the invitation from their side.

Participation improves when formation is relevant enough to deserve attention and accessible enough to fit into actual married life.

What a ministry can do with this

  • Ask couples who attended a recent event what specifically made them decide to come.
  • Ask couples who did not attend what made participation unrealistic or unappealing.
  • Review the next marriage invitation for relevance, clarity, timing, and unnecessary friction.

Take this to your team

Where we are now

What do we currently assume is the main reason couples attend or do not attend?

Where we could go

What is one barrier we could realistically remove from our next marriage formation opportunity?

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For ministry leaders

Wondering how this connects to what you already do?

Marriage Every Day works alongside parishes and ministries rather than replacing what they have built. If the questions in this deck are the ones you keep running into, we would like to hear about your situation.

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