BY ELISSA LINDSEY

Several weeks ago, Northview Church’s Carmel campus held its first Significant Marriage retreat, a workshop completely different from the Dynamic Marriage class that so many Northview Church attendees have already taken.

The Significant Marriage workshop was developed about 15 years ago by Dave and Mary Gothi, with the help of several respected Christian authors who included Dave and Claudia Arp, Linda Dillow, Lorraine Pintus, and Drs. Les and Leslie Parrott. Shortly after getting married, Dave Gothi, an engineer, and Mary, a psychotherapist, began to feel a call to minister to couples together. The Gothis have been Dynamic Marriage leaders and leaders for a course for couples in crisis called “A New Beginning” for Family Dynamics Institute since 2001. Dave and Mary studied The Purpose Driven Life by Rick Warren at Saddleback Church “which helped crystallize how we believed God was calling us to serve as a couple,” Mary said. As far as they can tell, there is no other workshop in existence that is exactly like this one.

What is “Significant Marriage”? A brief definition displayed on the Gothi’s history page is “…choosing to be and do something ‘momentous, noteworthy, having an outstanding impact that has the potential to change lives.” The Significant Marriage workshop was originally formed as a premarital coaching course to help couples create a marriage that makes a difference by answering God’s call in their lives. Dave and Mary realized that no matter how good a marriage may be it can typically be strengthened by lessons in how to be more intentional in living your marriage as God intended. To challenge other couples in their marriages and to help them focus their direction for the future became goals for the Gothis.

Mary said that the format of the workshop is “a fun, relaxed one, but couples can also expect to dig deep to learn more about each other and what God wants for them.” The course meets couples where they are. There are teachings along with assignments done by each couple out of a workbook, titled Significant Marriage—Creating a Marriage That Makes a Difference. Each couple has time to talk together about every topic and there is some group discussion. The workbook also includes a planning/design book to help couples go forward with a plan and goals to achieve together.

Couples from Northview Church recently attended the Significant Marriage retreat held at the Carmel campus.

“Couples can expect to be encouraged and challenged to discover God’s purpose in bringing them together as a couple,” Mary said. “God has a unique purpose for them. They can discover that purpose or redefine their current purpose through this workshop.” She also said there will be lots of laughs and opportunities to make new friends, as well as to learn and experience growth.

The course workbook is not a one-time resource, but a living book that can be changed or redone when life events change so that new goals/purposes can be set. At the end of each chapter is resource websites. A new design book will be available on the website.

The Significant Marriage course is not merely a weekend “retreat” but an ongoing plan for living in God’s purpose. Dave and Mary have also created a follow-up course to this workshop. Accountability groups are available if the host church chooses to offer this. The Gothis are currently talking with churches about the possibility of holding the workshop and a follow-up class as a regular program of the church.

The hearts that Dave and Mary have for helping others is evident in their lives. They founded their own nonprofit organization, Sunshine Kids International (SKI), which was set up to help change the lives of orphans and other at-risk children in Mumbai, India. India is Dave’s home country.

Further information on the Significant Marriage course may be obtained by contacting Mary at the following email address: marygothi@sbcglobal.net.