 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:
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 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.  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 Dr. David Marine Mabry Encompass Executive Director The holidays have a way of lighting up both the beauty and the rough edges of our relationships. We anticipate the traditions, the good food, the laughter, and the moments with people we love. But we also carry the awareness that the season can stir up tension—old frustrations, unrealistic expectations, or the simple weight of an overloaded schedule.
The good news? With a little intentionality, you can step into this season with more peace, hope, and connection. You can choose to experience the holidays not as a battleground, but as a chance to grow closer, listen deeper, and love more fully. Here are five practical and powerful ways to resolve conflict before it steals the joy from your holidays.  By Kermit Rowe ECC Relationship Coach Probably the greatest danger of taking people or things for granted is that we lose our gratitude for them. Thankfulness is a theme that runs cover to cover through the Bible and is a cornerstone of nearly every moral belief system. Yet gratitude is an attitude that seems to be increasingly losing latitude in our culture.
Why is it such a key ingredient to a happy and successful life? As we continue our year-ending series of Practical Lists for Stronger Connections with Thanksgiving Day on the horizon, let me offer five ways gratitude transforms relationships:  By Theresa Mabry Encompass Director of Operations It’s the small things that make a marriage feel alive. A touch on the shoulder, a shared laugh over morning coffee, a quick check-in before bed — these moments may seem ordinary, but they’re what hold couples together over time. My husband, David, and I have developed these rituals with each other in our 32 years of marriage. A touch as we pass each other in the kitchen, a hug in the morning and asking how we slept, and a kiss good night before we fall asleep are all ways to demonstrate connection.
In our work with hundreds of couples through Encompass Connection Center, we’ve seen a clear truth: emotional connection isn’t about big, dramatic gestures. It’s built in the small, consistent rituals that say, “You matter to me.”  By Theresa Mabry Encompass Director of Operations As a marriage coach, I’ve seen firsthand how a healthy marriage can transform an entire family. When couples learn to communicate with empathy, manage stress as a team, and rebuild trust, their children notice—and they flourish. A secure marriage doesn’t just make life better for two people; it creates stability, confidence, and hope for the next generation.
 By Dr. David Mabry Encompass Executive Director Marriage is a cornerstone of many cultures and societies, and it's no surprise why. Across North America, research continues to show that marriage is one of the most powerful decisions you can make for your health, happiness, and even financial well-being. While it's not the only path to a fulfilling life, there’s something unique about marriage that other types of relationships can’t quite match. If you're wondering whether marriage is worth it or if it's just an old tradition, here’s why you should get married—and stay married.
 By Theresa Mabry Encompass Director of Operations Ahh, September … do you remember? Many of you probably started humming the upbeat tune by Earth, Wind & Fire. The song is light, joyful, and unforgettable—much like the good memories we carry with loved ones.
But there’s another “September Song” written back in 1938 for a Broadway musical. Its words carry a deeper message about the fleeting nature of time and the importance of treasuring every stage of life: “For the days dwindle down to a precious few—September, November. And these few precious days I’ll spend with you; These golden days I’ll spend with you.” This simple chorus invites us to reflect: How are we spending our days, our months, our years? Are we cultivating the kinds of relationships that will sustain us when we reach those “golden days”?  By Kermit Rowe ECC Relationship Coach Katana Wolfcomer and Brendan Myers were an engaged couple like all other engaged couples… in love and planning for a lifetime of happiness together. But they also knew they still had challenging issues of spotty communication and wavering trust, complicated by unresolved grief and childhood dysfunction, and it drove them to seek a better way before committing their lives to each other.
They found Encompass Connection Center’s foundational RINGS program, which is focused on strengthening relationship skills through practicing the truths of good communication. I, along with dozens of Clark County pastors, signed an Encompass-inspired pledge about two decades ago that I wouldn’t marry a couple unless they had some premarital counseling. AI-generated statistics support this claim with proven data that explain why: Studies show that completing premarital counseling reduces divorce rates by 31%, with couples reporting a 30% higher marital success rate. That translates into improved communication, stronger conflict resolution skills, and greater emotional well-being and satisfaction within their relationship. Katana and Brendan have even more practical and experiential reasons why: |
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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.
Registered 501(c)(3). EIN: 37-1485217
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