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For years we have felt the inner call of God to touch marriages and family relationships. This passion extends beyond Canada and all of North America. In fact, our biggest desire is to reach couples and families overseas. In the last few years helping marriages survive and thrive and preserving families has become a passion so strong that sometimes we can hardly sleep. Our hearts and minds are so consumed with this need. Nearly 50% of couples are either separated or divorced in Canada and the USA and another 25% are unhappy. British Columbia has the highest divorce rate in Canada. Every week we deal with couples in counselling who want to end their marriage. And the sad fact is that most of these couples have children. All the research data shows how negative the impact of unhappy parents and separation and divorce is upon children. It is no wonder we often lay awake at night pondering, praying and searching for a way to have a greater influence on restoring marriage relationships and families. We know how great a marriage can be because we have a wonderful marriage and it has lasted over time (yeh!!! over 42 years). Our challenge is: How can we convert our education, experience and our marriage secrets to the largest number of people in the shortest amount of time? During the last seven years we have been learning and teaching the skills to restore marriages and helping them thrive using the PAIRS Course. "PAIRS" stands for "Practical Application of Intimate Relationship Skills", a course developed by Dr. Lori Gordon in Washington, DC in the early 80's. We were trained to teach PAIRS in 1994 and are now Master PAIRS Teachers and Trainers. Since January 1995 we have taught 18 classes of 12 -14 couples per class, utilizing the PAIRS Tools and Skills. The results have been fantastic. Approximately 60-70% of the couples graduating from PAIRS have restored their relationship and are living mostly on the "happy side". And can you imagine what joy that brings to their children!!!!!!! Ever since a young child of twelve, I (Bill) have had a vision and a burden for people overseas. It has never left me but only become stronger. When Charlotte and I married, she came along side me with the same vision and burden. Several times since 1976 we have been overseas, particularly in the Asian countries, serving nationals, expatriates and missionaries. Asian marriages and families to a large measure have been intact through many years of known history. However, this has been changing dramatically in the last one or two decades, just as it did here in North America since the 1950's and the early 60's. With the liberalizing of moral beliefs and values and the advent of the computer and the Internet, the speed of change has increased dramatically. The negative impact on marriages and families has been astounding in North America and this problem is now reaching into most of the Asian nations as well. Charlotte and I want to do our part in halting the speed of marriage and family breakdown in the Asian countries and the world through marriage and family education. While in India (February 2001), I met and worked with Art and Hilda Hamm. When they heard about our vision, they immediately volunteered to sponsor us and issue tax-deductible receipts for our overseas projects through their newly started organization. Then in June 2001 we met with the North American board of this organization called "Cross Cultural Mission Support Ministries" in Abbotsford, BC and were unanimously accepted and endorsed as their Marriage and Family representatives anywhere in the world. Our first project was in India on March 03 to teach a three-day pilot seminar with couples from the Hyderabad. Then, on Nov 17-20, we plan to do our first major project teaching a 3-day seminar of the PAIRS skills to 500 pastors and their partners. A project, which was very personal to Charlotte and may involve both of us in the future, was her trip to China from July 13th-Aug 18th 2002. In a city near Beijing, Charlotte taught English to Chinese University students, as well as assessing the need and opportunities for marriage and family ministry in China. Visiting China was a childhood dream for Charlotte and now, matching it with her vision and passion for couples all over the world, her dream came true! Call us for information on our World Wide Service and how you can partner with us.
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