VANCOUVER, Wash.
MarriageTeam, a locally based ministry, has been selected by the M.J. Murdock Charitable Trust for a three-year grant of $53,000. The grant will be used to build staff capacity to handle an ever-increasing workload of couples who are seeking affordable marriage coaching services.
The grant is for three years — $30,000 for the first year, $15,000 the second and $8,000 the third — to allow hiring a half-time office manager. MarriageTeam will need to raise the funds to make up the difference in compensation in the second and third years with matching funds.
The grant also includes funds for related start-up office costs. The intention is to grow that position into a full-time job within two years.
MarriageTeam trains Christian couples to be marriage coaches using faith-based materials. It then places couples desiring to improve their marriages with coaches.
The coaches meet with the couple once a week for eight to 12 weeks. Sessions are normally about two hours but can go longer.
Couples completing coaching on average rate their experience 9.2 on a scale of 1 to 10 and report relationship improvements on average of 70 percent or more. MarriageTeam currently provides both premarital and married couple coaching.
Couples interested in coaching can learn more about MarriageTeam at www.MarriageTeam.org or by phoning 360 450-6042.
