MARRIAGE & RELATIONSHIPS—
Welcome!
We believe marriages require a lifetime of attention and investment to grow and accurately reveal Jesus. At Fullerton Free we want to provide resources that help you do just that. Whether you're in a place of great health or you can use a tune-up, there's never a bad time to invest in your relationship. If you’re in a place of crisis you can always reach out to one of our shepherds for counsel and support or take advantage of one of the ministries below.
Pastoral Care
Pastoral care is available to anyone who may be in crisis or have questions about following Jesus. Please call 714-529-5544 during our reception hours, Monday - Thursday, 9am - 4pm for an appointment or feel free to leave a message anytime and your call will be returned as soon as possible.
If you need to speak with someone after hours, a Fullerton Free shepherd is on call every day to assist with spiritual needs or questions and can be reached by calling the church office at 714-529-5544 and selecting the Shepherd on Call option.
Short-Term Marriage Coaching:
MARRIAGE MENTORING
Three private meetings with a seasoned (not “perfect”) Christian couple to review an 18-page report about YOUR marriage. Marriage Mentor couples are not professional therapists, but are certified in the SYMBIS assessment (see SYMBIS.com).
Each spouse privately answers questions online, and a report is created about YOUR marriage. It will help you understand each other’s personality types, be encouraged by the strengths you have, and gain insights into next steps in “growth” areas. Plus, you’ll develop a relationship with your volunteer Marriage Mentors, who have a heart for helping marriages, and are here for you!
Engaged and Seriously Dating:
LOVE FOR LIFE nine-week class for SERIOUSLY DATING or ENGAGED couples who are considering marriage.
Coming Fall of 2024 | 7:00-9:00pm | NC 180
In this class you will build skills in:
- Communication and conflict resolution
- Handling finances together
- Roles and expectations in marriage
- Understanding the influence of family of origin
- Nurturing your spiritual relationship as a couple
- Learning about your sexual and emotional intimacy needs
The cost of $225 per couple includes all materials and a customized couple assessment. This printed report identifies personality strengths and differences in YOUR specific relationship, based on your answers to a group of questions, and provides personalized suggestions for your ongoing growth together.
Marriage Coaches will walk you through several important in-class conversations and are an ongoing resource for your relationship even after the class has ended.
Questions? Contact our office at 714-529-5544.
Year-Round Practical Support:
THE THIRD OPTION
Attend IN-PERSON or ONLINE (on Zoom)
Every Tuesday night | 6:30 - 8:30pm
The Third Option is a weekly relationship skills program that is good for anyone in any stage of relationship—dating, engaged, married, or separated. It offers help and hope for those in healthy relationships, as well as those in distressed ones. Both spouses don’t have to attend—it will help even if only one person wants to work on the relationship. This class is open to all—general public, friends, co-workers, neighbors, and extended family. All participants make a commitment to confidentiality within the group.
The class cycles through 14 different relationship topics, one topic per week. Topics covered are:
- Respect
- Responsibility and Blame
- Expectations
- Power Struggles
- Listening
- Personality Differences
- Childhood Issues
- Handling Anger
- Speaking the Truth in Love
- Control Issues
- Conflict Resolution
- The Hurt Spiral
- Forgiveness
- Rebuilding Trust
IN-PERSON MEETINGS: Located on North Campus in Room 120, at 2904 N. Brea Blvd., Fullerton. North Campus is on the northeast corner of Rolling Hills Drive and Brea Blvd., behind the "Cigarette Plaza" stores. No registration needed for the "in-person" class — just show up!
ZOOM MEETINGS: Register here to get the link to attend online.
COST: The first two weeks of the class are free; after the first two weeks there is a suggested donation of $10 per person per week. If finances are a concern, please come anyway; no one is ever turned away due to lack of funds.
CHILDCARE: We're sorry but childcare is not provided.
Attend alone or as a couple. You can join on any Tuesday night; there is no start or end date. If you have questions, please call the church office at 714-529-5544.
So if you could use some help (learning useful skills) and some hope (a support group, and by hearing actual couples tell their stories of overcoming tough marital struggles), then we invite you to join us at The Third Option.