You know that premarital and early marriage preparation is essential.
The research clearly backs that - premarital preparation is associated with up to a 50% drop in divorce risk, lower relational conflict, and higher marriage quality and satisfaction rates.
But let’s be real - you might not enjoy premarital counseling. Your plate is full with everything else that comes with your position. You’re already busy with couples who are married and banging on your door for help. Then in premarital counseling, you spend your time saying the same thing to every couple, only to hear them say they don’t have any problems because they found “the one” and “our love is all we need!”
You’ve tried handing the premarital ministry over to a lay couple or other staff member, but you’re not sure they’re even strong in their own marriage, and not sure what advice they will give.
What if...
... you could have a Scripturally-based, research-backed resource, co-produced by two of the nation’s top organizations, with a proven assessment to help couples see their relationship objectively, all delivered online by one of the most sought-after, dynamic couples in the marriage ministry field?
And what if you, and those couples, also had access to an online community around that resource, allowing your couples to access certified marriage mentors, and the creators themselves, for the first five years of their marriage to help them navigate those foundational years, all while reducing your workload, and increasing your effectiveness?
NOW YOU CAN!!
INTRODUCING
Prepare to Last
Churches and Christian organizations are using Prepare to Last as their go-to resource for seriously-dating, engaged, and newlywed couples!
Here's what's inside Prepare to Last:
The expectations of marriage & spouses and the reality aren't always the same until they're talked about together.
The goal in marriage is learning how to talk to each other, not at each other.
The process of two becoming one naturally involves conflict. The goal is learning how to become closer on the other side of it.
Rather than being obstacles to success, differences can create great opportunities to becoming a winning team that more completely reflects God's image.
The amount of money doesn't determine marital success. The amount of respect and regard for each other around it does.
Husbands & wives really want the same thing in marriage - to feel connected and known. The fact that we have different ways of going about that can be a beautiful way of adding dimension to our oneness.
When life hits hard and we meet at the same well of faith, we can find ourselves closer to the Lord and each other.
The primary cause of divorce is drift. Having a clear understanding of God's purpose for marriage and creating goals to fulfill His vision provide purpose and promise.
What makes this resource different from others?
ENTERTAINING
No other book or program provides entertaining videos that are meant to inspire your couples while also equipping you. Most are created with a more “informational” goal.
INTERACTIVE
No other resource provides teaching by experts in an interactive format, with additional input from actual couples of different ages and cultures who have gone through the course, and are now applying it to their own marriage.
MENTORS & EXPERTS
No book or other online resource gives your couples ACCESS TO MENTORS AND EXPERTS who will guide them through the first FIVE YEARS OF MARRIAGE!
Dr. Gary Chapman
I don’t know of a better way to prepare a couple for marriage than this engaging resource.
It is a unique experience for couples who want to have a life-long healthy marriage.
If you are a nearly or newlywed couple, or someone who wants to help couples get their marriage started strong, Prepare To Last is the place to go!
We’re Jeff and Debby McElroy.
Years ago, we devoted our lives to ministering to students and kids. We led camps every week of the summer for 19 years around the country, and spoke to tens of thousands of kids at stadium events and music festivals. As we talked to more students, though, we realized they weren’t the problem. Most of them would be ok if we could improve their home life! So we switched our focus to marriage and family ministry about 30 years ago to continue to help kids through the back door of their home.
We now travel across the country and internationally, speaking to thousands of couples yearly in churches, universities, and businesses. As one of the most sought-after couples to teach on marriage, we use our humor and creativity to provide sound, Biblically-based content delivered in an engaging way that inspires couples to a fulfilling, lasting marriage! Click here to learn more about our ministry.
We understand you put your reputation on the line when you partner with a resource or outside organization.
As an ordained minister and couple who has served in the church their entire marriage, Jeff & Debby get that. It has been what has made them one of the most sought-after couples churches bring in to minister to their couples, parents, and families through their conferences. The McElroys see and carry themselves as servants to the church and to the Kingdom. They understand that the best way for couples to grow their marriage is in a local church. Everything they do is with that in mind.
THOUSANDS of couples have gone through Prepare to Last, and we have followed many of them through their entire marriage.
Now that the first attending couples have been married for over 18 years, we’re proud to say most of them report being happily married, saying they still refer back to the lessons they learned and insights they gained way back at Prepare to Last!
TAUGHT BY EXPERTS
Jeff & Debby McElroy are one of the most sought-after couples in the national marriage & family field, with over 30 years experience.
PROVEN ASSESSMENT
Includes the highly-respected Couple Checkup assessment (a $35 value) in partnership with Prepare-Enrich and Dr. David Olson.
GLOBALLY TRUSTED
Used by Chick-fil-A's WinShape Marriage Foundation, thousands of couples and hundreds of churches around the world.
INTERACTIVE TEACHING
Entertaining, interactive teaching style, with two groups of couples of varied backgrounds who process the content with Jeff & Debby.
GUIDED DATE NIGHTS
Fun guided date nights are included as a part of the experience to help you apply the skills you learn in the teaching.
8 CORE TOPICS
Expectations, Communication, Conflict, Personalities, Finances, Intimacy, Spiritual Unity, and Goals & Dreams.
MARRIAGE MENTORS
Access to marriage mentors of all ages and backgrounds through the first five years of marriage.
PROFESSIONAL
Professionally-produced, proven, Biblically-based, on-demand content.
COMMUNITY OF COUPLES
A community of couples with similar values also beginning the marriage journey.
Normally, a couple purchasing a membership to Prepare to Last would pay $129/couple, which includes their relationship assessment fee, and access to the course, community and mentors for five years.
BUT for a one-time fee of only $149, YOU - as a Leader - can provide access for your couples to this amazing resource at a significantly reduced rate!
Your Leader membership will make it possible for couples using your unique code to purchase their membership at a $50 DISCOUNT - so they can enroll for just $79/couple!
PLUS, you'll get an additional 2 memberships for other Leaders in your church to enroll as well!
Yes, all for $149.
Not only does this provide you with an opportunity to attract couples to your ministry, it also shows them you care about their marriage starting off right!
Dr. Matt Turvey
They've poured their lives into thousands of couples...
Jose & Angeles Melendez
We've now taken over 300 couples through this program. We know they are being equipped for their future marriage.
Jim Chaves
We’ve been using Prepare to Last for a few years.
We’ve had numerous couples that have taken the course, and they all feel that it gives them the necessary foundation to prepare for marriage.
The program covers eight essential topics which foster great conversation between the couple and our mentors. We also had Jeff and Debby come to our campus and host a weekend marriage conference which was very well received! We’re planning to have them back for phase two sometime soon.
Dr. Gary and Barb Rosberg
PREPARE To Last is one of the most creative resources that I have seen in a decade.
It is entertaining, connecting, and effective. In a culture that is not celebrating strong marriages, the McElroys are knocking it out of the park with a resource that will encourage, equip, and strengthen marriages out of the gate.
Get your hands on it and pass it on to anyone stepping into marriage to help them PREPARE To Last.
If you realize that thorough marriage preparation is a vitally important responsibility of the church as a way of upholding that holy institution…
If you want to provide that type of premarital/early marriage preparation, and not have to do it all yourself or rely on training someone else in your church…
If you realize that premarital/early married ministry is a great way to reach out to young couples in your community to draw them to church, or back to church…
If you want to know your couples will have access to experts for their foundational years of marriage…
If you strive for excellence in your ministry and only use resources that deliver quality, Biblical content…
then give your couples the very best chance to
Prepare to Last!
As a part of your Leader Membership, you get a total of 3 leader accounts, a $50 discount code for your couples, and discounted access for your marriage mentors!
"Jeff & Debby are the real deal. If you want a quality resource delivered by quality people to help your couples start their marriage strong, Prepare to Last is for you!" - Jimmy Evans, Senior Pastor, Gateway Church / Founder, MarriageToday and XO Marriage
Money Back Guarantee
We’ve developed this material over many years and tested it on thousands of couples, so we feel comfortable saying that, if you go through the entire course and don’t feel like it offered excellent content, we will refund your money!
- Proven Assessment powered by Prepare-Enrich
- Globally Trusted by 1000's of couples, churches and leaders
- Covers the 8 core relationship foundations for marital success
- Access for your couples to Marriage Mentors and Community FOR THE FIRST 5 YEARS OF MARRIAGE!
Frequently Asked Questions
The primary difference between the two memberships isn’t the course material. That’s the same. The real difference is that your Leader enrollments allows you to have a custom discount code to give your couples $50 off of what they would normally pay if they took the course on their own. (We use this to try to encourage couples to take the course through a local church or organization.)
The other difference is the information we share in the Leader Community to provide:
- Various ideas on the best format to use for your specific premarital process.
- A space to share ideas with other leaders.
- Promotional materials for print or web that are customizable for you to advertise to your couples and community.
First you enroll as a Leader, which gives you:
- Full access to the course
- A voucher code to take the Couple Checkup assessment so you can see what the experience will be like for your couples
- Access to the online community for couples, mentors and leaders
Once you’ve completed your purchase, you’ll receive:
- A Welcome email with instructions, and the voucher code for the Couple Checkup
- Within 48 hours you'll receive an email with a specific discount code to give your couples a $50 discount on their Couple Membership
Nope, they get their own account. As a part of your Leader Membership, you get a total of three leader accounts! Once you know who they are, just email us their names and email address and we’ll reach out to get them set up.
Good question. Yes.
If you happened to use the original version, you’ll remember that you had a Leader Kit with all of the DVDs for the video teaching, and then you ordered Small Group Couple Kits for your couples, which had workbooks and audio CDs. When we transitioned to the online platform, we wanted to accomplish three important objectives:
- Update the content
- Provide an online community to allow couples to interact with us and the other couples in the videos
- Have access to the content and the online mentor community through their first five years of marriage!
We know their best chance for success is to grow in a local church community, and only want to enhance your ministry, not replace it.
However, as you know, young couples are in a transitory stage, and many will move after getting married.
We want to ensure they continue having access to help after they leave, especially if they don’t find a church with a thriving marriage ministry.
Keeping ourselves available to them for those first five years is an investment on our part, so we want them to invest in their marital success, as well.
Yes! That’s the primary benefit of your Church/Organization Leader Membership! Because we believe the local church is the best place to raise a marriage and a family, we always want to incentivize couples to get premarital counseling there, or through Christian counselors or Christian Universities. We built our pricing structure around that goal!
SO, if a couple purchases a membership on their own, the price is $129, including their Couple Checkup assessment. When they come through a member church/organization, their price is $50 off, making the five-year membership only $79, including their Couple Checkup!
Within 48 hours of enrolling as a Leader, you'll receive an email with a specific discount code link to give your couples a $50 discount on their Couple Membership
Absolutely! And we love that generosity towards your couples. We can do that through special coupons that are sold in quantities of 10+ uses for a volume discount. If you’re interested, just call us at +1-865-769-2611 and we’ll walk you through how it works!
No. They share one account and login. If they’re not in the same area and able to go through it at the same time, that’s no problem. They can log in at different times and each complete their part of the Discussion Guide. Their answers are saved automatically as they fill it out.
- Your couples will use a unique Church/Organization link provided by you
- When they go to the Checkout Page, the $50 discount will automatically be applied. Only one account is needed per couple. They will use the same login info.
- They’ll then get instructions for updating their profile so they show as a couple in the community.
- They will then receive a Welcome email similar to the one sent to you. It will instruct them on where and how to take the Couple Checkup assessment, and will include a voucher code so the fee is waived.
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They will receive a series of emails over the next several days reminding them to take the Couple Checkup and another with a list of FAQs, along with our contact info should they have any questions.
Actually, no. Your unique discount code works for $50 off of the gift purchase as well, either for the physical gift set, or the e-card gift. If you have any questions, feel free to call our office at 1-865-769-2611 and we’ll be glad to help.
You’ve got several options, all of which we’ve done ourselves.
With an individual couple - If you’re like us, you feel like too much of your time is premarital/early-marriage counseling is spent having to teach the same foundational concepts over and over again. We want to help you maximize your time! You can either:
- Just have your couple(s) go through the course on their own and bring you their Certificate of Completion when they finish
- Have your couple go through each session and then meet with you to unpack what they processed by talking over what they wrote in their discussion guide. (They can download a pdf of each chapter, including their answers, in the guide to bring with them.)
With a group of couples:
- Either in a small group format, weekend retreat or in-house conference. For more information on these options, look in the “How to use Prepare to Last with My Couples” post in the Leaders Group of the Community.
Yes (but we don’t call it a workbook, so it doesn’t sound so much like school 😉).
The Discussion Guide is integrated into the course. What’s cool about it is that they can each fill it out (even at different times, if necessary), and it autosaves what they enter. When they finish a Session subject, they can choose to download just that portion, which will include their entries.
When they’ve finished the course, they can download the entire Discussion Guide. If they’re working with you or a marriage mentor, they can bring those PDFs with them for you or the mentors to process.
Yes! Provided they click the COMPLETE & CONTINUE button at the bottom of each lesson when they've completed it, they'll be taken to a page where we'll congratulate them on completing the course as well as a link to the digital Certificate of Completion.
If you are a church and require premarital counseling, you can have them forward that certificate to you. (And let us just add our applause here for you helping protect the sanctity of marriage by requiring that!)
We also suggest to the couple that they check with their local county clerk (or whichever authority grants marriage license where they live) to see if discounts on the fee are offered for those who completed premarital counseling.
If you want a copy of it, just tell your couples to check the box to “Send a copy to my counselor” when they go to generate their report. They’ll be prompted to enter your email there. We’d love to say all couples remember to do that, but some don’t. If that’s the case, they can always just forward the email they receive that has the report attached.
Our agreement with Prepare-Enrich when they created the Couple Checkup version specifically for Prepare to Last, was that we would include it with every purchase of the course. It’s also difficult for us to manage those variations on the back end.
If you’re having your couples take the full Prepare-Enrich assessment, what we recommend is telling your couples to wait to take the Couple Checkup until their first anniversary, as a way of touching base on the marriage to see how things are progressing. The churches who’ve done this said their couples really liked having that option! As we said previously, the beauty of the Couple Checkup version of the P-E assessment is that it is designed for couples to unpack on their own, making it perfect for an application like a first anniversary checkup!
First, congrats on having accomplished that! Second, we see many churches with their own program and process that have chosen to supplement it with Prepare to Last. They have found that it saves them the time of teaching the same material over and over, and be able to spend more of their time helping couples apply the concepts they’ve been taught in the online content. They found that has helped them have more “relational time” with the couples they disciple!.
Will this be in line with our denominational theology?
We have been very careful to stick to the basics on which all major Christian denominations agree. We have had the material viewed across mainstream denominational lines and all have found it to be completely within their theological comfort zone.
How do I know this will work for me?
We’re so sure you’ll be satisfied, we’ve offered you a 100% money back guarantee! Look, here’s the deal with us. We’re a ministry. Some would call us a “parachurch” ministry, but we don’t believe in such a thing. Any organization that calls itself a ministry is not “alongside” the church. It is UNDER THE AUTHORITY and IN THE SERVICE of the church. To that end, we recognize the money churches and Christian organizations invest in our resources and conferences is Kingdom money. We want no part of wasting money used for ministry. We would rather go out of business than do such a thing! That’s why we won’t hesitate to refund money if someone feels it doesn’t provide something useful for the ministry of the church.
Well, simply put, there was no need to advertise. The retreats were sold out.
What helped the Prepare to Last retreats launch the global resource, was the high degree of couples who attended the experience and were so impacted by the content, they paid for other friends or family to attend as well! Churches were getting such great feedback, they were sending all of their engaged couples. In the early days, several grandparents made it a requirement for their grandkids to attend in order to receive a sizeable financial gift for their wedding. The first couples who attended came back and told their grandparents it was the best content they had received and encouraged their grandparents to do it for their other siblings. One of those grandparent couples sent EIGHT of their grandkids through the years!
Then, when the material was produced to go beyond the retreat, it was produced with DVDs and workbooks. We couldn’t print fast enough to keep up with the demand!
Now that it’s all been taken online in the newest version, we can make it available to everyone, so we’re getting the word out now!
Email us at [email protected], or call us at 1-865-769-2611, and we’ll gladly help!
We’re honored to serve you as you serve couples!
Champion Strong Marriages
By enrolling in our premier Biblically-based online course, you're not just investing in individual relationships; you're nurturing a culture of lasting love and resilience within your congregation.
Equip your couples with the tools and guidance they need to navigate the joys and challenges of marriage's early years. Together, let's build a foundation of enduring commitment and support that strengthens families and enriches lives.