Embedded Files
Mission Statement:
Mission Statement:
"Our heart Is to create safe, real, grace-filled spaces where couples can connect with the Lord to intentionally build something beautiful in their marriage; process pain, rediscover each other in connection and find real hope... together."
"Our heart Is to create safe, real, grace-filled spaces where couples can connect with the Lord to intentionally build something beautiful in their marriage; process pain, rediscover each other in connection and find real hope... together."
A Little About Us...
A Little About Us...
Hi, we are Chris and Jennifer.
Wow, where do we start!!??
Its hard to put your life In short summary, but here goes...
We have been married going on 30 years.
We have had the privilege of raising three amazing sons who now have beautiful families of their own. Together with God's help, we have built a truly special life together, but not without also experiencing the ugly side of what life can bring.
We can honestly say that our story has been marked by both incredible joy along with chapters that were deeply painful as well...
We started our marriage young, with a baby in our arms and a fierce determination to build a loving, stable home. Life came at us hard—financial struggles, long working days, and for a time, the silent weight of addiction. In our later years of marriage we navigated major health scares, the heartbreak of infidelity, and the slow, hard work of committing to rebuild life after so much brokenness.
We started our marriage young, with a baby in our arms and a fierce determination to build a loving, stable home. Life came at us hard—financial struggles, long working days, and for a time, the silent weight of addiction. In our later years of marriage we navigated major health scares, the heartbreak of infidelity, and the slow, hard work of committing to rebuild life after so much brokenness.
Over the years, behind closed doors, we often wrestled with pain, fear, and heartbreak, while simultaneously fighting for each other and adamantly doing our best to create stability and enjoy the growth and joy of our family.
Over the years, behind closed doors, we often wrestled with pain, fear, and heartbreak, while simultaneously fighting for each other and adamantly doing our best to create stability and enjoy the growth and joy of our family.
Most people know what that is like. Living the day to day, enjoying the joy while moving through seasons of pain. We get really great at pretending we are just fine while wearing a mask for others to see our smile, while we are breaking Inside. This should not be.
Most people know what that is like. Living the day to day, enjoying the joy while moving through seasons of pain. We get really great at pretending we are just fine while wearing a mask for others to see our smile, while we are breaking Inside. This should not be.
At times we felt the world was an open door and we could do anything. And at times, it felt like everything was falling apart, but we always faced everything together, kept our hope and found our joy In the Lord and in raising our family, despite any hardship we faced.
At times we felt the world was an open door and we could do anything. And at times, it felt like everything was falling apart, but we always faced everything together, kept our hope and found our joy In the Lord and in raising our family, despite any hardship we faced.
God always met us in joy and in our chaos
God always met us in joy and in our chaos
and reminded us of who He Is and the power
and reminded us of who He Is and the power
He carries to heal our humanity.
He carries to heal our humanity.
We’ve seen firsthand that NO situation is beyond His reach. His faithfulness has carried us through every valley, and we are living proof that healing and hope are possible.
We’ve seen firsthand that NO situation is beyond His reach. His faithfulness has carried us through every valley, and we are living proof that healing and hope are possible.
Out of our journey, the Lord grew a passion within us to walk with other couples—especially those who feel stuck, wounded, or hopeless.
Out of our journey, the Lord grew a passion within us to walk with other couples—especially those who feel stuck, wounded, or hopeless.
For over 15 years, we have served in different aspects of ministry, offering pastoral care, mentoring, and trauma-informed support, and have found that marriages are our passion. We long to see couples walk In wholeness, just as the Lord has Intended.
For over 15 years, we have served in different aspects of ministry, offering pastoral care, mentoring, and trauma-informed support, and have found that marriages are our passion. We long to see couples walk In wholeness, just as the Lord has Intended.
Altar Your Marriage was born from our own altar moments,
Altar Your Marriage was born from our own altar moments,
where we laid down our own way,
where we laid down our own way,
surrendered our brokenness,
surrendered our brokenness,
and let God rebuild something uniquely beautiful.
and let God rebuild something uniquely beautiful.
Our desire is to help others do the same, no matter
Our desire is to help others do the same, no matter
what stage of marriage they are In.
what stage of marriage they are In.
We share the details of our story because we want you to see that we know hard, like most people do, but we also know His faithfulness to keep us, and to keep you too!
We share the details of our story because we want you to see that we know hard, like most people do, but we also know His faithfulness to keep us, and to keep you too!
New beginnings are a great place to start,
New beginnings are a great place to start,
and
and
Rockbottom can often be such a blessing to get it right the next go around.
Rockbottom can often be such a blessing to get it right the next go around.
Whether starting with a clean slate or beginning all over again, both reveal the mercy and grace of a loving Father.
Whether starting with a clean slate or beginning all over again, both reveal the mercy and grace of a loving Father.
He is so willing to give you the tools to prosper and grow in Him!
He is so willing to give you the tools to prosper and grow in Him!
How Did Altar Your Marriage Begin??
How Did Altar Your Marriage Begin??
Altar Your Marriage originally began as a non-denominational home church that we pastored called "The Altar".
Each Wednesday evening we, along with 3 other home churches would split from our main church, to gather in our homes. We would meet and fellowship over a meal together and share the word of God and dive into discussion. Investing In those around us, has always been our heart, especially In a home setting where It feels like you can be In surrounded in peace and safety.
After experiencing a major health scare and much recovery, we eventually felt that the Lord was pulling us to step aside from all ministry to rest and heal and deepen our relationship with Him. With much prayer, and careful contemplation, we decided to return to simplistic roots of the church that we raised our children In. We put "The Altar" on hold with the understanding that If the Lord wanted us to begin again, that we would as He allowed.
After walking through physical healing and our marriage almost coming to an end, we came to the end of ourselves and recommitted to the Lord all of our junk.
We knew He had so much more for us, which was why we were under such attack. During those 4 years, we committed to the process of healing ourselves and together as a couple. We connected during this time with our now church family In Oklahoma. We were open to share both our struggles and redemptive story with our pastor and other trusted leadership, who never judged us, but just walked alongside as we healed. After sharing our passion to help other couples find that same healing that we did, we were encouraged and supported to pursue our heart for marriage ministry.
On a beautiful August morning, our pastor and church family prayed over us, ordaining and sending us out In ministry to reach the couples that the Lord would put In our path. That day, "Altar Your Marriage" was born. ♥️
"Marriage Is a mosaic you build with your spouse. Millions of tiny moments that create your love story."
~Jennifer Smith
"I saw that you were perfect, and so I loved you. Then I saw that you were not perfect and I loved you even more."
~Angelita Lim
What Does "Altar Your Marriage Mean??
What Does "Altar Your Marriage Mean??
Simply put,
The word "altar" in Altar Your Marriage Is not a misspelling of the word. It is definitely on purpose.
Hear our hearts..
Sometimes in life we find that we have taken the altar that was meant to be built to and for the Lord, and have dismantled it to build our own altars to serve ourselves.
Piece by piece we place stones strategically in honor of “me”, for our own benefit. It is usually not until our unstable structure falls that we realize that our own altars to anything other than the Lord, were built only to crumble. (John 15:5)
It’s understood, we have all done it, even if unintentionally.
We find ourselves there, devastation and all, in what looks completely hopeless, but is actually a beautiful place! A perfect opportunity!
If we allow it to be.
Some altars just need to be repaired, some built/ rebuilt from the ground up, and some restored to new again. (1 Kings 18:30)
We have been at a place before in our marriage where building again in the midst of the destruction was the only option we had left, or to call it quits, which just isn’t us.
So we built, one stone at a time, and the Lord was faithful to guide our hands, even in moments when they shook, He steadied them in the process.
Only He could take the love we carried for each other, our crumbled mess, the intentionality of our surrender, and make us a new altar.
An altar to Him, for His glory, and for our good!
Our altar is our surrendered life, and that's where we begin to thrive!
So we simply want the same for others.
Repair, Build, Restore. The altar. The place you originally met to vow in love, the place you wake to each day with the promise of building forever together. This place needs intentional attention and care In any marriage. And even if your feelings have shifted from that promise, it doesn’t have to be too late.
This is where we hope to offer an outside perspective to you as an individual or to your marriage. A helping hand along the way, so that you can begin the repair, build or restore the altar of your life or the altar of your marriage back to the Lord.
When we put Him first in all things, something shifts, and everything falls into place. (Matthew 6:33) Why? Because He loves you, and making all things new (2 Corinthians 5:17), well, that’s just who He is!
So, wherever you are, just starting out or in a seasoned marriage. No matter if you feel like you can take the world by storm together, or that everything keeps crushing down on your shoulders, know that His intent and plan for your marriage and for yourself as an individual is nothing short of great purpose and complete wholeness. (Jeremiah 29:11)
We would count It an honor to walk with you through your journey!
Message us for more details.
"A successful marriage requires falling In love
many times, always with the same person."
~ Mignon McLaughlin
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