NOTE: Names have been changed to protect the identity of the couple

Our Pastor referred John & Linda to my husband and I about 3 years ago. When we heard the story of where they came from emotionally and mentally, we knew we would need God's divine intervention to help this couple stay together. Linda had told John that it was over and had already emotionally divorced him. John was an indifferent, cold, and unemotional man that did not seem to hear or comprehend just how seriously in trouble their marriage was.

Linda had been sexually abused as a child and later became involved with two different abusive men one of whom she married and later divorced. Her self-esteem was in the dumps and she trusted absolutely nobody. John was physically and verbally abused by his father who told John he wished John's mother (his wife) had gone ahead and aborted him!

Needless to say, it took many sessions, phone calls and mostly lots of fervent prayer, but I am so thankful to Jesus for where this couple is right now. They attended NAME Canada's Canadian Marriage Conference this past November, which marked the beginning of the softening of Linda's heart towards John. They also attended our church's marriage retreat where they gave their testimony thanking God for the speakers at the NAME Canada Conference and the counsel and mentoring support from my husband and me.

They have recently taken our NAME Canada training to begin doing what we did for them with other couples who seem to be 'coming out of the woodwork' asking them for help! Even though they are tight with finances, they have given sacrificially to NAME Canada and will be helping us with our next marriage retreat because they now want to help other couples stay together. They frequently say to us that they just want to help other couples stay together and to work alongside us with our retreat.

I truly praise the Lord for the work He has done and is continuing to do in the lives of this couple. My husband and I are truly humbled to think that the Lord could use such ordinary people like us to help bring such extraordinary change in the lives of hurting couples like this.