"Haven't you read," he replied, "that at the beginning the Creator 'made them male and female,' and said, 'For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh'? So they are no longer two, but one. Therefore what God has joined together, let man not separate."

It is God's plan and our desire that your marriage relationship will be all that God designed it to be. Marriage is God's idea, therefore, He will walk this journey with you. Because we are committed to building strong marriages, we work hard to provide you tools and support, both in your preparation for marriage and beyond. Below is a list of the various opportunities that EFC offers to both engaged couples and those already married.

Marriage Preparation Class

This 6-week class is designed for engaged couples, dating couples who are considering engagement, and recently married couples who want to learn more about having a successful relationship. This class covers a variety of principles, including communication, resolving conflict, Christ-centered commitment and life planning. The cost is $25 per couple and classes are offered regularly throughout the year.

“Prepare & Enrich” Assessment & Discussion

“Prepare & Enrich” is an Assessment tool provided by an outside organization that includes 125 questions covering 13 areas of relationship, providing couples with a realistic view of one another and their relationship. The assessment highlights areas of both strength and possible areas needing improvement in the relationship. Couples can take the assessment and then meet with a pastor to discuss the results and how they can strengthen weak areas and build upon strong ones.

“Prepare & Enrich” Assessment for couples already married

Life Innovations, the company that developed “Prepare & Enrich,” has provided a variety of supplemental material for couples that are coming into the marriage with children, are already married, or are experiencing transition issues, such as becoming empty nesters. The complete list of assessments that Life Innovations offers includes:

• Prepare/Enrich: for those who have never been married
• Prepare MC: for those who have been married and who have children
• Enrich: for those who are married and want to enhance their relationship
• Mate: for older couples to help them become more aware of transition issues which could include marriage, empty nest, moving or retirement

Weddings at EFC

Eastside Foursquare Church is a beautiful location for weddings and receptions. From small and intimate in the Fireside Room to hundreds of guests in the Auditorium, EFC can accommodate a wide variety of weddings. For more information regarding weddings, related classes or requirements for marriage at EFC or by an EFC pastor, please contact the church at (425)488-2500.

Groups for Married Couples

There are a variety of groups offered for married couples. These include Bible discussion, care and support, as well as hobby-based. For a complete list of these, please pick up a Small Groups brochure from the Get Connected counter in the foyer.

Individual Care

The Individual Care department is available for pre-marital support, as well as care and support in the years after the wedding. There are also lay persons in the church who are trained by the Individual Care team to work with the couples, both in the classroom setting and on a couples-basis.