After David had suggested re|engage to countless hurting couples and heard great feedback, the Howards knew it was time to dive in themselves and take their marriage from mediocre to thriving.
May 15, 2019
God's Power to Resurrect a Dead MarriageMichael & Melinda Parisi • Jul 17, 2024 • Dallas |
Kirk & Lori McGregor / Blended Families Panel DiscussionJul 10, 2024 • Dallas |
Nate & Megan MickishJun 12, 2024 • Dallas |
Shane & MaKenzieJun 5, 2024 • Dallas |
Kevin & Kelli MainzMay 22, 2024 • Dallas |
Rob & Haley ThomasMay 15, 2024 • Dallas |
Wes & Angie TalleyApr 24, 2024 • Dallas |
Jim & Judy WimberleyApr 10, 2024 • Dallas |
Jared and Leigh Anne SullivanApr 3, 2024 • Dallas |
Ivan and Martha IllaremendiMar 13, 2024 • Dallas |
Mark and Kathy ThomasMar 6, 2024 • Dallas |
Jodi and Neil CurranFeb 21, 2024 • Dallas |
Mary Kay and Markus JabekFeb 7, 2024 • Dallas |
Denise and David RenkenJan 31, 2024 • Dallas |
Doug and Dyann KiersteadJan 24, 2024 • Dallas |
Robbie and Teri VedrenneJan 10, 2024 • Dallas |
Michelle and Scot BuchananDec 20, 2023 • Dallas |
Ben and LK OrtizNov 29, 2023 • Dallas |
Bobby and Shari JohnsNov 8, 2023 • Dallas |
Monte and Marsha DunnNov 1, 2023 • Dallas |
Julie and Mark NicholsonOct 25, 2023 • Dallas |
Steve and Amie BradleyOct 11, 2023 • Dallas |
Marcus and Carol BrownSep 20, 2023 • Dallas |
Nancy and Mark RovenstineSep 6, 2023 • Dallas |
Kyle and Lucina ThompsonAug 23, 2023 • Dallas |
David and CaitAug 9, 2023 • Dallas |
Mandy and Leonard BagdanovAug 2, 2023 • Dallas |
Michelle and Nate BallJul 26, 2023 • Dallas |
David and Tara JensenMay 3, 2023 • Dallas |
David and Manuela AcostaRe|Engage • Mar 26, 2023 |
Jared and Leigh Anne SullivanJared & Leigh Anne Sullivan • Jan 11, 2023 • Dallas |
Markus and Mary Kay JabekJan 4, 2023 • Dallas |
Neil and Jody CurranDec 7, 2022 • Dallas |
Scot and Michelle BuchananNov 30, 2022 • Dallas |
David and CaitNov 16, 2022 • Dallas |
Michael and Melinda ParisiMichael Parisi, Melinda Parisi • Oct 12, 2022 • Dallas |
Jim and Judy WimberleyJim & Judy Wimberley • Apr 28, 2021 |
Ryan and Callie NixonAug 28, 2020 |
Steve and Amie BradleyJun 2, 2020 |
Troy and Julia BussmeirFeb 7, 2020 |
Nick and Rachel KleinFeb 7, 2020 |
Mike and Shelly AhlemeierFeb 7, 2020 |
Matt and Andrea WalkerFeb 7, 2020 |
Luis and Kaylee CaceresFeb 7, 2020 |
Graham and Stacey RobbinsFeb 7, 2020 |
Andy and Jenny MarshFeb 7, 2020 |
Jared and Leigh Anne SullivanFeb 5, 2020 • Dallas |
Michael and Selena ThompsonOct 21, 2019 |
Brandon and Brittani TravelsteadSep 7, 2019 |
Martin and Lenore GaoJul 24, 2019 • Dallas |
John and Debbie WingfieldJun 12, 2019 |
Alex and Jen LeskoJun 12, 2019 |
Tim and Kalyn GeregJun 5, 2019 |
Jimmy and Michelle ComeauxMay 29, 2019 |
Jason and Mandy CastroMay 15, 2019 |
David and Robin HowardMay 15, 2019 |
Robert and Linda GreenRobert and Linda Green • Apr 10, 2019 |
LaDale and Cynthia BuggsApr 10, 2019 |
Markus and Mary Kay JabekApr 3, 2019 |
Brett and Jan BrusterBrett & Jan Bruster • Mar 13, 2019 |
Greg and Emily GoodinMar 6, 2019 |
Charles and Karen BundrenCharles & Karen Bundren • Feb 6, 2019 |
Bobby and Shari JohnsBobby & Shari Johns • Jan 9, 2019 |
Simon and Katrina SaugierKatrina Saugier, Simon Saugier • Oct 10, 2018 |
David and Denise RenkenDavid & Denise Renken • Sep 10, 2018 • Plano |
Shane and Alissa MauldinAug 22, 2018 |
Greg & Tonya GilmerGreg & Tonya Gilmer • May 30, 2018 |
Paul and Kelly RutherfordPaul & Kelly Rutherford • May 9, 2018 |
Nate and Michelle BallNate & Michelle Ball • May 2, 2018 |
Kevin and Kelli MainzKevin & Kelly Mainz • Apr 18, 2018 |
Brett and Chrisey BillmanBrett & Chrisey Billman • Feb 21, 2018 |
Todd and Alex WagnerTodd & Alex Wagner • Feb 7, 2018 |
Robert and Liz WhiteRobert & Liz White • Nov 8, 2017 |
Kyle and Lucina ThompsonKyle & Lucinda Thompson • Sep 13, 2017 |
John Paul and RenaAug 16, 2017 |
Trey and Shera O'NealTrey O'Neal , Shera O'Neal • Jul 19, 2017 |
Erick and Gina FrankJun 28, 2017 |
Mark and Kathy ThomasMay 17, 2017 |
Peter and EleanorMay 10, 2017 |
Eric and Catherine CouchEric Couch, Catherine Couch • Apr 19, 2017 |
Bill and Ann DalyMar 29, 2017 |
Michael and Stefanie SantiagoMar 6, 2017 |
Steve and Natalie HammRe|Engage • Feb 20, 2017 |
Chris and Charece RobbinsFeb 8, 2017 |
Klein and Holly SwannieJan 18, 2017 |
Dean and Tawney MacfarlanJan 11, 2017 |
Mark and Nancy RovenstineDec 21, 2016 |
Rick and Michele HowardRe|Engage • Aug 10, 2016 |
Scott and Laura DeBowRe|Engage • Jul 27, 2016 |
Zech and Kim LumpkinRe|Engage • Jul 20, 2016 |
Scott and Kristen KedershaRe|Engage • Jun 22, 2016 |
Newly and Karen SpikesJun 2, 2016 |
Jon and Kathy FlamingRe|Engage • May 11, 2016 |
Robert and Linda GreenRe|Engage • Apr 30, 2014 |
Mike and Laura LabunskiRe|Engage • Nov 6, 2013 |
David: We were married 26 years ago, coming up on 27. We both came from Christian homes, have always been faithful going to church and studying God’s word – very much in love with each other, but really had, at that point in time, not developed a strong sense of the purpose of marriage.
Robin: We were in a church that studied the Bible, but we didn’t have community. And we didn’t really have a good form of resolving conflict well. And that just caused a lot of unnecessary pain and struggle at different times in our marriage.
David: It wasn’t one big thing. There weren’t any structural cracks in our marriage, but it was the little things that kept adding up. But after 26 years, we were processing our kids leaving home, an empty nest stage.
And one of the things in my law practice is I kept getting phone calls from clients, although I’m not a divorce lawyer. They would, in talking about business transactions, say, hey, by the way, do you know of a divorce lawyer? I’m having some trouble. And I would always suggest re|engage.
And they would always come back with this, wow, I’m so glad you gave us that message and gave us that opportunity, it’s made a huge difference. So over the years after hearing that, that was a curiosity piqued me and said, well, if it can really be good for marriages that are in trouble and on the brink of divorce, it could also be good for a marriage that just wants to improve.
Robin: It’s a great place to process and learn. And you learn from God’s Word what His plan is for marriage. And you do it in context of community. And you’re encouraged by the other marriages who are going through the same process.
David: And one of the reasons we wanted to go through re|engage is one of our couples out of three had been through re|engage, but two of our couples in our community group had not been through re|engage. Now that all of us have been through re|engage, we have a common language that we can talk to each other about whenever we’re talking through our marriage issues.
Robin: The things we learned in re|engage was just how both of us had our own tendencies toward selfishness. And the principle of drawing the circle around yourself was really helpful in just focusing on what my triggers were and what my default patterns were in dealing with conflict – and to deal with those, it was going to translate to a much better marriage. Whether he changed or not, that wasn’t up to me.
David: Because I think there are these go-to defense mechanisms we all fall into – these common traits that we have or bad habits that we’ve gotten into. And there are some blind spots sometimes that we have. And by going through and identifying those, it’s much easier to be able to deal with them.
It’s really inspiring for a spouse to see them dealing with their own issues. It really makes you want to then start focusing on yourself.
Robin: I think we’ve been able to laugh at things easier, and be able to call each other out on things, and not be so sensitive or defensive, and just say, hey, yeah, you’re right. The other was just the model that God really designed for marriage to what He wanted it to be is a reflection of His love for us. And it’s a mutual sacrifice, a mutual submission. And this is something He’s designed to bring Him glory. And this isn’t something designed just to make me happy.
David: Mediocrity is just not the standard God calls us to. When you have Paul saying we should love our wives as God loves the church, and we really take that apart and figure out what that means, it’s an incredibly high standard. In fact, it’s probably one we can’t even do on our own. We need community, we need the Holy Spirit. So to me, it was the challenge of not wanting to accept mediocrity in our marriage but take ground.
We’re not only accountable to ourselves, but we’re accountable to Christ in how we help our spouse live out their destiny in Christ. So we’ve got to answer for that someday. So to love them well with the standards that Christ has given us is really what God calls us to in marriage.
This series contains teachings and testimonies of God's transforming power in marriages at re|engage. re|engage is designed specifically to address needs in marriage by helping couples move towards oneness in their marriage through stories of grace, teaching and small groups. Whether your marriage needs to be reignited, or is in need of a complete resurrection, re|engage is a safe place for couples to reconnect. It is a 16-week experience which includes a time of praise and worship, a teaching or a testimony by a couple who has experienced victory in the midst of hard times, and small group time which follows a specified curriculum. We meet every Wednesday night, 6:30-8:15 p.m. in The Loft (7540 LBJ Freeway @ Park Central, Dallas). Kids Ministry is available with advance registration.