Stories of Impact: How Your Support Restores Marriages and Families

By Dr. David Marine Mabry
Encompass Executive Director

September is an important month for Encompass Connection Center. For us, it’s not only the start of a new season of programming but also the close of our fiscal year. This makes it a natural time to reflect, celebrate, and look forward. It is also when we invite our friends and partners—people like you—to join us in ensuring that stories of transformation continue to unfold in the months ahead. 

Throughout this month, we will be sharing Stories of Impact. These are not abstract statistics or program overviews, but the real-life journeys of couples, parents, and individuals whose lives have been touched by Encompass. Each story is a reminder of why we exist and how your support makes life-changing moments possible. 
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Let me share one story that continues to inspire me. ​

A Couple at a Crossroads* 

When this couple first reached out to Encompass, they were at a breaking point. Years of repeating the same arguments, circling the same frustrations, and walking away from conversations in silence had worn them down. They weren’t sure what they needed. What they did know was that the marriage they were living in wasn’t the one they had dreamed of when they first said, “I do.” 

In our first meeting, each of them admitted—though hesitantly—that they had both reached the point of wondering if things could ever change. “I thought maybe this was just the way marriage is,” the wife said. The husband echoed her sentiment: “I didn’t think there was any point in trying anymore.” 

Like so many couples, they came in quietly hoping that the other person would change. 

*Details and names are left out for confidentiality reasons. 

Discovering a Different Way 

As they began working through coaching and the RINGS skills, something started to shift. We focused less on “fixing” the other and more on building shared tools for communication, conflict resolution, and connection. 

At first, progress was slow. Old habits die hard, and frustration still bubbled to the surface. But then came a breakthrough moment. After practicing one of the RINGS exercises together, the husband looked at his wife and said, “This feels different. For the first time in a long time, I feel like you’re hearing me.” She nodded, and with tears in her eyes replied, “And I feel like I can actually say what’s in my heart without it blowing up.” 

It wasn’t instant perfection. But it was a new pathway. They were no longer trapped in the cycle of the past—they were learning that growth, healing, and deeper connection were possible. 

That moment was a turning point. Not because everything suddenly became easy, but because hope had entered back into their relationship. They realized, together, that they didn’t have to keep doing marriage the way they always had. 

We have seen this scenario repeated time and time again. 

Why Stories Like This Matter 

At Encompass, we believe that healthy marriages and strong families are not just good for individuals—they are essential for thriving communities. Every time a couple like this chooses growth over giving up, the ripple effect spreads to children, extended family, workplaces, churches, and neighborhoods. 

This couple’s story is just one of many we’ve seen this year. Parents learning new tools to connect with their kids. Fathers finding their footing and confidence in parenting. Individuals discovering resilience and freedom in their relationships. Each story is unique, but together they point to the same truth: change is possible, and hope is real. 

And here’s the key: none of this happens without you. 

Because of the support of people like you, this couple had a place to turn. Because of you, a door of possibility was opened. Because of you, transformation became their story. 

Why Your Support Matters Now 

As we close our fiscal year on September 30, we have set a goal of raising $15,000 to ensure that more stories like this one can be told in the year ahead. Every dollar you give equips couples, parents, and individuals with the tools they need to move from frustration to flourishing. 

When you give, you’re not just funding a program--you’re investing in real breakthrough moments like the one this couple experienced. You’re making it possible for more families to find hope, more marriages to be restored, and more children to grow up in homes where love and connection thrive. 

Join Us in Finishing Strong 

Every story we share this month is only possible because of people like you. As we approach our September 30 fiscal year-end, your gift today helps ensure more marriages are strengthened, more parents are equipped, and more families thrive. Together, we can finish strong and make an even greater impact. 

👉 Click here to give today.​