PRESS RELEASE
The 2024 Adams County Strong marriage conference was sponsored in part by a grant from the Adams County Community Foundation. The marriage conference was February 9-10 in various locations in Adams County: First Mennonite Church (Berne), First Missionary Church (Berne), St. Mary’s Catholic Church (Decatur), The Bridge Church (Berne & Decatur). There was also an online session. To learn more about this conference please go to: adamscountystrong.org or email with questions to: acs@adamscountystrong.org.
The ACS Committee is proud to report that 131 couples attended or participated in the weekend-long marriage conference. With active participation and survey feedback, some couples reported:
“It is always nice to stop and take time to focus on marriage / Stop and ask to talk and to be heard / It opened by eyes to a different and effective ways to handle conflict in our marriage / Learning about the reactive cycles / A broader viewpoint / To be able to get away from the distractions and listen to Biblical counseling / Taught us how to better communicate and have a heart talks / Good topics to think about and good pointers to communication how we feel to each other / Gave us some great tools to end some bad cycles / We always look forward to a weekend of reflection and learning / Reopened lines of communication / Gave a roadmap to healthy conflict and reaction to button pushing / To focus on better community and take time out when upset.”
Susan Zurcher, ACCF BoD member and ACS chairperson, added that the ACCF is very proud to be a sponsor of the efforts of Adams County Strong and the quality, family friendly programs the ACS organization has brought to our community. A marriage conference for 2025 is being discussed. If you are interested in sponsoring this event or participating, contact your church minister or email acs@adamscountystrong.org.
Rich and Wendy have enjoyed partnering in ministry together throughout their marriage. Wendy maintains a private practice in the Atlanta area where she has served as a counselor and marriage therapist for over 20 years. She is also a Focus on the Family Marriage Intensive Therapist.
Rich has dedicated over 25 years to full-time ministry with Young Life where he has enjoyed sharing the gospel with high school students. He is currently responsible for new area growth and development for the ministry. In addition, Rich has over 30 years of experience as a professional magician and is one of Atlanta’s premier corporate presenters and entertainers. The Crawfords have been married since 1999 and live in the Atlanta area with their three teenagers. They enjoy speaking to couples and encouraging them to embrace laughter and remind them that every marriage has the potential to flourish and find unity.
In the past five years, the ACS organization’s marriage conferences have shared this educational opportunity with hundreds of couples with a single common goal: to build stronger marriages. The efforts of Adams County Strong is to provide opportunities to equip individuals, couples and families with the tools needed to enhance, improve and restore family relationships thereby strengthening the Adams County community.