Building Strong Marriages: A 7-Year Roadmap of 84 Classes (Part 2)

In Part 2 of this ongoing conversation, Don and Natalie move from why marriage ministry matters to how the church can intentionally invest in it. Drawing from their vision for long-term discipleship, they introduce a structured plan: 84 classes designed across a 7-year cycle—a comprehensive roadmap to help couples grow, season by season.

Rather than offering quick fixes or one-time events, this approach recognizes that strong marriages are built over time. Each year is divided into focused phases, with groups of three sessions forming quarterly units. These units create rhythm, continuity, and depth—allowing couples at every stage of marriage to engage meaningfully without feeling overwhelmed.

The classes cover a wide range of topics, including:

• Foundations of biblical marriage and covenant commitment
• Communication, conflict resolution, and forgiveness
• Spiritual unity and leading a home in faith
• Parenting, finances, and life transitions
• Intimacy, trust, and enduring through hardship

What makes this model unique is its intentional design: couples can enter at any point, yet over time, they will walk through a full, balanced framework that strengthens every area of marriage. It’s not about perfection—it’s about progress, consistency, and community.

Don and Natalie also explain how this structure fosters deeper relationships within the church. As couples journey through the material together, they build trust, accountability, and lasting connections—turning a program into a true ministry.

This episode casts a clear vision: if churches are serious about strengthening families, they must be just as intentional in discipling marriages. These 84 classes aren’t just lessons—they’re an investment in the future of the church, one marriage at a time.

Why Marriage Ministry Still Matters Today

In this episode, drawn from a recent talk with their church, Don and his wife Natalie begin unpacking a question many congregations are quietly wrestling with: Why do we need a dedicated marriage ministry today?

Speaking from both personal experience and pastoral insight, they lay out the reality that strong marriages don’t happen by accident—and they certainly aren’t sustained without intentional investment. In a culture that often redefines, minimizes, or even undermines marriage, the church has a unique responsibility to come alongside couples and help them build something rooted in truth, commitment, and grace.

Don and Natalie explore how many churches unintentionally assume marriages are “fine” unless there’s a visible crisis, when in reality, many couples are struggling silently—disconnected, overwhelmed, and unsure where to turn. They highlight the need for spaces where couples can grow together, be encouraged, and find biblical guidance before problems reach a breaking point.

More than just identifying the problem, this conversation sets the foundation for a vision: a marriage ministry that fosters community, discipleship, and long-term health. It’s not about programs for the sake of programs—it’s about strengthening the very relationships that form the backbone of the church.

This episode is the beginning of that conversation—calling churches to be proactive, intentional, and deeply committed to investing in marriages for the glory of God and the good of His people.

Originally Recorded for the Small Town Summits Podcast

In this reflective episode, Don revisits an article he wrote in 2025—later recording it that same year as a personal audio journal—sharing a moment where life forced him to slow down and truly listen.

What began as a medical issue became something far deeper. Through the uncertainty, frustration, and recovery, Don came face to face with a lesson he admits he had long overlooked—one that had been present all along, yet hidden in plain sight.

With honesty and humility, he walks listeners through that season, unpacking not just the physical challenge, but the spiritual awakening that followed. It’s a story about perspective, about the limits of our own understanding, and about how God often uses disruption to reveal what comfort can conceal.

This episode isn’t just a reading—it’s a testimony. A reminder that sometimes the very things we try to push past are the very moments meant to shape us most.

Small Town Summits

Proper etiquette for pastors visiting other churches isn’t about rigid rules—it’s about honor. Honor for the local shepherd, honor for the gathered body, and ultimately, honor for Christ.

When pastors get this right, it strengthens unity across churches and models the kind of servant leadership Scripture calls us to live out.

When a pastor visits another church, he does not stop being a shepherd—but he does change roles. He is no longer the one leading that flock in that moment. He is a guest. And how he carries himself speaks volumes—not only about his character, but about the church he represents and the Christ he serves.

This first part looks at the often-overlooked question: What is proper etiquette for pastors when visiting another church?

Why younger men are leading the charge—and why the church can’t afford to miss it

Across many churches, especially here in New England, something unexpected is happening: men’s ministry is coming back to life. Not as a relic of the past or a recycled program—but as a renewed, grassroots movement. And at the center of it? Younger men—Millennials and Gen Z—who are not just participating, but leading the charge.

For years, men’s ministry in many churches quietly faded. After the pandemic, some ministries never resumed operations. Others were reduced to occasional breakfasts or sidelined altogether in favor of broader, more generalized programming. But what many leaders assumed was “outdated” is now being rediscovered as essential.

A Generation Looking for Something Real

In this previously unreleased episode of the Keeping Moving Forward Podcast, we take a thoughtful look at the film Sound of Freedom—not just as a piece of storytelling, but as a cultural moment that sparked intense conversation.

The episode explores both the heart behind the film’s message and the controversy that surrounded its release. We examine the real-world issue it seeks to highlight, how audiences responded across the spectrum, and why it became such a flashpoint in public discourse.

Rather than offering quick reactions, this episode aims to slow things down—separating fact from speculation, emotion from evidence—and encourages listeners to think critically while remaining compassionate. It’s an honest, balanced conversation about truth, media, and the responsibility we carry when engaging with difficult topics.

Though it never originally aired, this “lost episode” remains deeply relevant—inviting us to keep moving forward with clarity, conviction, and discernment.

In this candid and deeply personal conversation, Micah Smith opens up about the unique challenges of serving as a bi-vocational pastor in New England—a context where ministry often happens quietly, faithfully, and without much recognition.

Drawing from his own experience, Pastor Micah sheds light on what many never see: the long hours balancing secular work and shepherding a congregation, the emotional weight of caring for people through life’s hardest moments, and the constant tension of trying to be fully present in both callings. In a region where churches are often smaller and resources more limited, the role demands resilience, sacrifice, and a deep dependence on God.

He also addresses a common misunderstanding—many assume pastoral ministry is confined to Sunday mornings, but for the bi-vocational pastor, it’s a 24/7 calling layered on top of everyday responsibilities. From late-night hospital visits to early morning sermon preparation, the work is both unseen and unending.

More than just highlighting the struggle, this conversation is a call to greater awareness and support. It invites listeners to better understand, pray for, and come alongside those who are faithfully serving in this dual role—reminding us that behind every sermon is a shepherd carrying far more than most will ever know.