Because they got so much out of the program, the Reynoldses recommended that it be put on at their new church, New Hope Baptist. The program was put on at New Hope in 2003 and is being put on again this spring.
"The program is Bible-centered, and that is so important to couples who not only want a successful new marriage but also want that marriage and their lives to be Christian," said Reynolds.
"Each of the 13 seminars is based on a video tape featuring a separate topic and conducted by a nationally recognized expert on divorce and divorce recovery, and every week there is a devotional and a Bible reading appropriate to the topic," she said. "During the week following each seminar, couples are to work each and every day on the topic, using the Bible as their support and their guide and inspiration.
"The program brings out emotions and pains that people have suppressed. But it also teaches you how to handle the emotions and pain, get them out of your life and get you on the path to a good, loving, Christian marriage."
First series was just for church members
At the recommendation of then-new members Larry and Carol Reynolds, New Hope Baptist put on the DivorceCare series a year and a half ago with the Reynoldses serving as facilitators. But that series was only for church members. When it decided to put on the series again, church leadership decided to open it to the public with the Reynoldses again in the facilitator roles.
"We felt the program had such a strong impact to our members who attended it the first time, we wanted to share it with the community, the general public," said New Hope pastor David Fralix.
"We have a great number of people in our congregation who have been divorced or who are from homes where the parents were divorced, or both, and we believe our congregation reflects the broader community," said Fralix. "There are many programs that offer counsel to divorced people but what makes this one so special is that it is Christ-centered and Bible-based."
Fralix cited a couple passages from the Bible which reflect his views on the matter of divorce.
"Malachi says that God hates divorce, while in Romans we are told that where sin increased, grace increased as well," he said. "We must always remember that God hates divorce but His grace is there to help divorced people."
And that grace, the pastor said, is reflected in the church's second DivorceCare series, which began March 18 and will continue on Friday nights, from 7-9 p.m., through June 10.
"Each of the 13 seminars is a completely separate and self-contained presentation," Fralix said. "The program is structured that way because we realize that the busy lives people lead make it hard for everyone one to come every Friday."
The remaining seminars
Here are the remaining 11 DivorceCare seminars:
* Today - "Facing your anger."
* April 8 - "Facing your depression."
* April 15 - "Facing your loneliness."
* April 22 - "What does the owner's manual say?"
* April 29 - "New relationships."
* May 6 - "Financial survival."
* May 13 - "KidsCare I."
* May 20 - "KidsCare II."
* May 27 - "Forgiveness."
* June 3 - "Reconciliation."
* June 10 - "Moving on, growing closer to God."
If you want to do go
What: DivorceCare seminars
Where: New Hope Baptist Church, Ky. 1194, Moreland
When: 7-9 p.m. Fridays, today-June 10
For more information: Larry and Carol Reynolds, 270-692-1891 or 270-692-3740; or Joey Harness, 606-669-30232; or David Fralix, 606-346-4545.
