 Dr. David Marine Mabry Encompass Executive Director Most people schedule annual physical checkups.
Very few people schedule a marriage checkup. Yet relationships rarely deteriorate overnight. More often, couples drift gradually—through busyness, stress, unspoken frustrations, or simple neglect. A regular relationship health assessment can help prevent that drift and strengthen your marriage intentionally. If you want a healthy marriage, it’s wise to pause occasionally and ask honest questions. Not to assign blame. Not to create fear. But to build awareness.
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 By Dr David Marine Mabry Encompass Executive Director Every couple argues.
In fact, the absence of conflict is not usually a sign of health. It is often a sign of avoidance. The real issue in marriage is not whether you disagree. The real issue is whether you know how to handle conflict in a healthy way. Over the years at Encompass Connection Center, we have worked with many couples who love each other deeply—but their pattern of arguing slowly damages emotional safety. What begins as a disagreement about finances, parenting, or schedules can quietly become criticism, defensiveness, or withdrawal. Healthy conflict in marriage is not about eliminating tension. It is about learning how to argue without damaging the relationship. There are a few simple, but powerful, principles that make a significant difference.  By Kermit Rowe Encompass Relationship Facilitator The kids are long gone, living their own busy lives. The grandkids are getting older, not so cuddly and openly loving as they used to be. Medicare and retirement loom, and with them, big questions and concerns you never had to think much about before. You begin to face sobering and heart-heavy questions together when your marriage hits and passes the three-decade mark, like:
 By Lavern Nissley Encompass Relationship Facilitator For many couples, the empty nest years arrive quietly—and then all at once. One day, your home is filled with backpacks, curfews, and constant motion; the next, the house is still, the calendar is open, and you and your spouse find yourselves looking at each other across the table, wondering, “So… now what?”
I distinctly remember walking past the three large graduation portraits of our two daughters and son after the youngest child had left home via a wedding. The thought hit me that "we would never be going back to the way things were with all three children under our roof and care." The sense of loss and sadness was real and generated a few tears. The transition into the middle years of marriage, especially as children launch into adulthood, can feel bittersweet. It’s a season of letting go, but also a season of uncovering what has been waiting beneath the surface all along: the opportunity to rediscover each other.  By Theresa Mabry Encompass Director of Operations The early years of marriage are about discovering one another. From years fourteen through twenty-one, something beautiful begins to emerge: stability. These are the years when the foundation you have been laying—often quietly, often imperfectly—starts to show its strength.
You begin to realize that your marriage has a story. You have weathered changes, adjusted careers, endured stress, celebrated milestones, and learned how to keep choosing one another. This season is less about survival and more about stewardship. You are building on what you have already established. And that is a gift.  Dr. David Marine Mabry Encompass Executive Director The early years of marriage are often marked by discovery and formation. As we discussed in the newlywed season, couples are learning how to build rhythms, navigate differences, and practice love in everyday life. As marriage moves into years seven through fourteen, the focus often shifts—but the work remains just as important.
These are busy years. Full years. Often beautiful and exhausting at the same time. Careers are taking shape. Children may enter the picture. Schedules fill quickly. Energy is divided. And marriage—once front and center—can slowly drift toward the background if couples are not intentional. Yet these years hold enormous promise.  By Dr. David Marine Mabry Encompass Executive Director The newlywed years are often filled with joy, hope, and a deep sense of possibility. You’ve said “I do,” begun building a shared life, and stepped into something sacred. Yet for many couples, these early years also bring unexpected challenges. Marriage doesn’t remove pressure—it often reveals it. And that revelation is not a failure; it’s part of formation.
If dating and engagement are about discernment and preparation, the newlywed years are about practice. This is the season where love begins to take shape in everyday rhythms—how you communicate, handle stress, manage expectations, and choose one another when life feels ordinary or overwhelming.  By Alexi Cherry Administrative Assistant and Client/Donor Coordinator My husband and I have been married for just about 6 months now, and it’s safe to say that we learned a lot during our seasons of dating and engagement. From the beginning, we were aligned in our desire to date well and with a purpose. In a world that treats dating casually, we wanted to be good stewards of the season the Lord had placed us in and approach it as something sacred, not passive. I believe that our personal faith and intentionality laid a strong foundation for our marriage and pray we will continue to benefit from that for years to come.
 By Cindee Johnson Relationship Champion and Encompass Partner Healthy relationships don’t just magically happen--even at the most wonderful time of the year. Maybe, especially at the most wonderful time of the year. Whether it is marriage, friendship, dating, co-workers, family, or your church community, relationships require intentionality to grow and thrive.
As we move into a new year, many of us set goals. We want to improve our health, our finances, our faith, our careers. But, what about our relationships? Do we pour into those? Let’s look at three essential biblical principles for healthy relationships with practical ways to live them out.  By Lavern Nissley Encompass Relationship Facilitator Recently, I made a list of all the employers I've had in my life, not counting seasons of self-employment and consulting. The total number of employers over about 6 decades came to 13, with the very first being corn detasseling at age 14 on a seed corn farm near Goshen, Indiana.
In addition to these 13 jobs, there have also been dozens of volunteer assignments like boards, task forces, teams, etc. All have involved interacting with people, with most of the experiences being positive. Strong teams aren’t built on talent alone--they’re built on relationships. When people feel connected, respected, and valued, collaboration becomes natural and productivity soars. Here are five essential relationship skills, plus real-world examples to show how they work in action. |
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HostsDr. David Marine and Theresa Mabry are Co-Directors of Encompass since June 1, 2024. TOPICS
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Funding is provided by Clark County Job and Family Services, Charles L. Shor Foundation, Nehemiah Foundation, Springfield Foundation, Turner Foundation, and private donations and fees.
Program content is the sole responsibility of Encompass Connection Center and does not necessarily represent the views of the funders.
Encompass Connection Center services are provided to all eligible persons on a non-discriminatory basis. Encompass Connection Center complies with all applicable laws and regulations concerning discrimination does not discriminate on the basis of the potential participant's race, gender, gender orientation, age, disability or religion.
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Program content is the sole responsibility of Encompass Connection Center and does not necessarily represent the views of the funders.
Encompass Connection Center services are provided to all eligible persons on a non-discriminatory basis. Encompass Connection Center complies with all applicable laws and regulations concerning discrimination does not discriminate on the basis of the potential participant's race, gender, gender orientation, age, disability or religion.
Registered 501(c)(3). EIN: 37-1485217