Michigan Interfaith Prayer Assembly
RESTORING MARRIAGE & FAMILY LIFE IN 2015
Dear Friends,
Marriage is God’s first institution. It unites us as one human family. Man and woman across societies, cultures, races and religions become one with God, family, and community by their vocational vow, “I do.”
America’s marriage rate has fallen to a hundred year low as households formed by married moms & dads become ever more uncommon (see data). American unity and spirit plummet also as citizens forego committing to God or to one another. As hearts abandon timeless core values of virtue, caring, sacrifice, and forgiveness that once united our households and neighborhoods, America’s bright beacon of greatness glimmers ever more dimly.
God’s first institution faces termination in the United States. Divorce, cohabitation, and unwed birthing now dominate our America. We allow powers and principalities to abuse marriage and persecute children, faithful citizens, and men and women who promise “I do.” Social and moral decline promotes crime and violence, weakens our civil liberties, and threatens America’s economy, national security and viability. St. John Paul II once observed, “As the family goes, so goes the nation and so goes the whole world in which we live.”
Hope abounds amongst God’s people as we seek our Lord’s mercy and forgiveness to restore our hearts, households, and Godly way of life. Please join us June 1st as we unite in humble prayer to:
- Build up men, women, and children in their family lives.
- Promote and strengthen marriage everywhere.
- Grow congregations spiritually and financially.
- Increase married households in every community.
- Reduce divorce, cohabitation, and unwed birthing.
- Implement marriage mentor ministry in congregations for singles hoping to marry and for couples.
- Promote prayer for marriage and family throughout Michigan
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Michigan Interfaith Prayer Assembly
CLERGY LED PRAYER
Myrtha Grice, Emcee
HARRIET TUBMAN CENTER
DOUBLETREE BY HILTON HOTEL
5801 SOUTHFIELD EXPRESSWAY
DETROIT, MI 48228
9:00 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Cost: $20
($30 at the door)
Includes lunch & refreshments
Validate ticket at event for free parking.
Featured Presentation:
MARRIAGE: A CANDLE IN EVERY WINDOW
Implementing pastoral care and mentoring for couples
Rev. Dr. Nick Philips
NORTHRIDGE CHURCH
On September 6, 2014 citizens assembled from across Michigan on the Capitol Building steps in Lansing to pray for restoration of our natural rights to life, marriage and family, and religious freedom, which government and other powers and principalities violate with increasing invasiveness. Prayer remains a vital resource. Let us pray and work diligently to restore our United States of America.
Myrtha Grice
Myrtha is a lifelong resident of Detroit. Married 58 years, Myrtha and her husband are proud great grandparents. A businesswoman and entrepreneur since 25, Mrs. Grice has also served as a vocational teacher in the Detroit Public Schools and as a Sunday school teacher in her congregation. Her love for fairness for all people inspired her to lead her Church to develop a 6-week training workshop to help people struggling with drug addiction.
Myrtha Grice has always been the person asked to speak for a group regarding justice. Most recently, she has contributed her energies and gifts as part of the Detroit Clergy Gathering, a project of the Harriet Tubman Center (www.tubmanorganizing.org). This project seeks to unite Detroit clergy in the common mission of lifting up the city by leading citizens to be all they can be while overcoming challenges shared by many. For Martha, making a difference in the lives of others remains a constant source of joy and inspiration.
Dr. Nicholas Phillips
Dr. Nicholas Phillips is pastor of Marriage Ministries at NorthRidge Church in Plymouth Mich. He has earned a doctorate of ministry degree in marriage and family, and teaches at various academic setting in marriage and family systems. He is a consultant in developing infrastructures to safeguard marriage for each stage of marriage vulnerability, as well as training staff and volunteers in preparing, enriching and restoring marriages.
He has spoken locally, nationally, and internationally at marriage conferences, seminars, workshops, and retreats. He is a national trainer for Prepare-Enrich, a marriage assessment and mentoring training program, as well as certified in pre-marriage, enrichment, and weekend marriage intensives. He has guided over 950 pre-marriage couples through a preparation and mentoring system that has created less than 6 percent divorce rate at his current ministry setting in the last 12 years.
Dr. Phillips and his wife Carol have four adult children.