Andy and I attended our first Time for Marriage weekend in 2002, celebrating 10 years of marriage—a milestone that felt like a huge achievement. Andy had his heart set on a Caribbean getaway, while I chose a marriage enrichment weekend! Thankfully, we did both—but it was Time for Marriage that truly changed our lives.
When we got married, we believed marriage was forever, and divorce wasn’t an option. So, finding ourselves questioning our future just three years into parenthood was devastating. We didn’t have the tools to navigate the struggles we were facing. But that Time for Marriage weekend was nothing short of a miracle for us. Having uninterrupted time to focus on our relationship was transformational. We left feeling like newlyweds, having renewed our vows with a fresh passion for each other and our marriage.
It wasn’t long before we got involved in what was then called Marriage Review (later One Accord), and we loved our training with John & Hazel Kerr. We’d drive long journeys, dropping our kids at our parents on the way, only to be greeted with open arms and John’s signature warmth: “Dear ones! Let me get you a gin.” We felt so loved, and we were so excited to use our experience to help other couples.
After John passed away, we stepped into the calling we had felt for some time and took on the leadership of One Accord. Our passion was to give it a fresh, relevant feel that would secure its legacy—so we renamed it Time for Marriage. Over the years, we updated resources, rebuilt the website, and were blessed with an incredible leadership team who supported, worked alongside, and constantly cheered us on.
There were so many unforgettable moments—interviews with Premier Radio, attending events at the Houses of Parliament, and leading weekends in Norway and Wales. At its peak, Time for Marriage ran 16 weekends in one year, something we were incredibly proud of. But one of our greatest joys was TfM for Leaders. Creating a safe space for church leader couples to navigate the highs and lows of ministry life—and its impact on marriage—was a true privilege.
Our team became like family to us. But more than anything, the greatest gift has been witnessing marriages healed, enriched, and restored.
Although our season of leading Time for Marriage has come to an end, our passion for marriage remains unchanged. We continue working with couples one-to-one, creating safe spaces where honest conversations can flourish.
Time for Marriage hasn’t just enriched our marriage—it has enriched our lives. And for that, we are grateful beyond words.
