As divorced Christians, Amy and I did not want to repeat our mistakes. We wanted to lay hold of the blessings promised for those who are married and follow Christ, and we had missed the mark in our previous relationships. Being in our 40s and both unmarried for over 10 years, we both felt that pre-marital counseling was a non-negotiable.
Because we met online, we needed distance counseling. While both of our pastors could have done it, we felt led to find someone that neither of us had history with, and Todd was the first person we found. Our pastors checked out his site and material, and gave the blessing. Starting late with Todd (only a few months before our wedding due to a short engagement) there was a time crunch.
We can only say that we experienced the most incredible blessings from Todd and his wisdom, experience and humble counsel during our sessions.
Everyone brings baggage to the relationship, but we had more than our fair share. Although we had sought individual counseling years earlier, Todd's approach was both fresh and well-grounded. A few times we needed to go "off-syllabus," because we were experiencing challenges based upon our history. Todd helped us through those areas and also helped us confirm that we were well-suited to be with each other. What a blessing!
We can't recommend Biblical pre-marital counseling in general, or Todd LaVine's ministry specifically, more highly. Todd has been given a gift and the Holy Spirit uses him well!
Marshall and Amy
May of 2013
Just checking in with you to let you know everything is going really good! We are applying everything you taught us and putting GOD first in our marriage. I know it hasn't been that long, but I have never been happier and Martine feels the same way. Like I have said before, God sent us to you with a purpose. You helped us and guided us, best of all you told us things we didn't want to hear. You were honest with us and it made us open our eyes to really work on our differences and apply the teachings of JESUS into our marriage. So from the bottom of our hearts we thank you again.
Nicola & Martine
Married - August 2011
We have found that premarital counseling has been a great help to our relationship. I've learned to be more open with my husband and together we have torn down many walls. James has started to communicate more freely with me and we have really bonded and I can honestly now call him my best friend. We share an amazing connection that no one can hinder.
We hold our "Preparing for Marriage" workbook as one of our prized possessions. We are really satisfied with the material and guidance we received from Todd. We are really happy and feel that we could not have done this without his help. Premarital counseling was our first step together. We both agree that it was a great help and we walked away with our initial goals met... finding the tools needed to start the bond of a cohesive marriage. Thank you Todd so very much for your dedicated time, advice and help.
James and Elizabeth
Married June of 2011
Taking advantage of premarital counseling was the best decision we made before getting married. The counseling really gave us the extra foundation we need to build a healthy Christian marriage. We did a lot of research and felt that Agape Premarital Counseling was the best fit for us. Finding a Christian counselor was also very important. We wanted to be sure we knew what God expected of us in marriage.
The counseling helped us to communicate better, and express our feeling openly. The skills we learned have been very beneficial to the success of our marriage. We also learned what unconditional love really was, and how God expects us to love each other.
We are very appreciative to Pastor LaVine and the Agape Premarital Counseling and the continuing support that has been offered thru our first year of marriage. May God continue to bless you to be a blessing to others.
Toron and Veronica
April of 2011
r and resolve, we found Agape Pre-Marital Counseling online which turned out to be a blessing. We were able to schedule sessions over Skype or by conference calls during the weekends irrespective of whether we were together or apart. Pastor Todd expertly navigated us through our sessions accompanied by a very good workbook. We addressed so many significant issues and we found it amazing how he guided us to concrete resolutions using scripture.
Our sessions with Pastor Todd were extremely valuable to us in obtaining the firm foundations necessary for a joyous and everlasting union. The sessions were also lots of fun and we thoroughly enjoyed them under his direction; therefore it was only natural that we asked him to officiate our marriage ceremony which was performed superbly and to us was the best wedding ever.
Considering how valuable we feel our experience with Pastor Todd has been to our “Journey of Love”, we will not hesitate to recommend Agape Pre-Marital Counseling services to any Christian couple serious about a happy lifelong union with God at the center. The confidence we have in the certainty of our future in love and marriage is in part a tribute to the quality of our pre-marital counseling sessions.
Thank you Pastor Todd.
Bola and Tola
Married August 2010
Jonathan and I have had the honor of having Todd mentor us through the long distance challenges that helped us to have a better understand of what a marriage is and how it works. Lots of ideas were sparked and new ways of looking at things have challenged us to be better individuals and a better couple. We would recommend the Agape marriage counseling to anyone! It has definitely been a blessing and help to Jonathan and I relationship.
Thank again Todd! - Jessica
Jessica and I met over a year ago. As she is Canadian and I am American, we have been having a long distance relationship. I proposed to Jessica this past Christmas and realized that in order to have a solid relationship and marriage, we needed some extra help!
We found Todd to be a great help and mentor to us as he took the time to explain the values of a marriage and what it takes to have a successful one. Todd is a great mentor and teacher – and it especially helped us when he used his own life to give us examples of a working marriage.
Jessica and I are excited to start our lives together and we owe a big thank you to Todd. - Jonathon - Spring of 2010
We utilized Agape Premarital Counseling prior to our wedding and have nothing but great things to say about the experience. We were slightly apprehensive about counseling over the phone, but it turned out that Todd was an excellent counselor and the course curriculum was superb.
We appreciated Todd's genuine interest in our marital well being and felt very comfortable talking to Todd about any issue engaged couples face. The Christian focus was absolutely the best choice for any Christian couple who wants to do things according to God's Word. We took pages of notes and have reviewed them during our first year of marriage.
For any couple wondering if Agape Premarital Counseling is right for you, it is! We will recommend Todd's services to any engaged Christian couple we know.
With Love,
Jason and Lisset - 2009
“Dave and I were in a long distance relationship prior to getting married. Dave
is in the military on the West Coast and I had just finished school in the
Todd offered to do the long distance counseling with us, which consisted of weekly assignments from a workbook and an hour session on the phone with him. To be honest, we were both a little nervous about how this might work, and whether or not we would actually learn anything in the process.
But it turned out to be an AMAZING experience for both of us. We both learned things about each other that we wouldn't have without doing this counseling, and grew even closer through the process. Talking on the phone with Todd became natural and comfortable very quickly for all of us, and his easygoing demeanor facilitated some great conversations.
Pre-marital counseling was very beneficial for our marriage and for our relationship with God. Many couples don't have the option to do traditional counseling in person, just like we didn't, but doing the long distance counseling with Todd was not only the easiest method that we had available, but it also turned out to be the best.”
Thanks for everything Todd!
Brittany and David
Married October 17th, 2008