Sioux Falls Engaged Encounter

8:00am - Introduction

Welcome to the Engaged Encounter weekend. This presentation is informal and shares the structure and flow of the weekend.

Everyone deserves to be treated with dignity and only after you learn to accept and love yourself can you be free to share that real self with your fiancé. By looking at your own upbringing, you can discuss the expectations that may arise as a result of any differences in the familes you grew up in.

10:00am - Is Romance Enough?

Romance is a beautiful time in a relationship but there are also times of disillusionment. Marriage follows a recurring cycle of romance, disillusionsment and unity. During the times of disillusionment, the Decision to Love will lead to a deeper unity.

11:00am - Are We Really Communicating?

This presentation focuses on the art of communication including active listening, reading body language and looking past the words to understand the feelings of the other person. We discuss differences between men and women. Changes in technology make sharing information easier, but communication more difficult. We point out some of the obstacles that hinder good communication.

12:00pm - Conflict Resolution Activity

This activity addresses how to handle conflicts when they arise and how healthy conflict can help you grow as a couple. You will see a scene from the movie Fireproof and evaluate how conflict was handled.

12:30pm - Saturday Lunch

Time to eat!

1:30pm - Creating a Life-giving Marriage

The term life-giving is introduced in this presentation. We challenge the notion that marriage is a 50:50 proposition. Rather, each spouse is called to give 100 percent to each other. This powerful way of loving becomes a way of life.

2:30pm - Decisions in Marriage

We will illustrate that decision making is a process of discernment. We will share the steps of the decision making process including prayer, open communication and a decision to love. Decisions must be in concert with God’s law as well as being life-giving to your relationship.

3:30pm - Financial Fidelity

One of the greatest areas of conflict in marriage is money. Financial Fidelity encompasses trust and honesty. This activity will be done together as a couple.

4:00pm - Reflection Time

We encourage you to reflect on what has been discussed with each other. You may choose to take time together or away from each other to think or pray. Presenting teams are available for any questions.

4:45pm - Two Become One - Unity in Marriage

God’s plan for the vocation of marriage is a lifelong journey for you to grow together in unity.

5:45pm - Intimacy in Marriage

Sexual intimacy is a gift from God that is meant to be exclusive to the life-long covenant relationship between husband and wife. Sexual intimacy is only a part of overall intimacy and that only after we become intimate intellectually, emotionally and spiritually that we can feel the oneness in mind, spirit and body that God intends for our sexual intimacy.