Lessons from 30 Years of Marriage: Fighting Fairly and Growing Together

When we first welcomed Chris and Karla Hines to The Redeemed Man two years ago, Chris, a former pastor and businessman, had just founded the Marriage in Focus ministry in Auburn, Alabama. Since then, Marriage in Focus has grown by leaps and bounds, Karla has joined the ministry full time—and they’ve celebrated 30 years of marriage. Chris and Karla talk with Nate Dewberry this week about what they’ve learned from guiding dozens of marriage retreats and what they share with those couples about communicating openly, “fighting fairly,” encouraging vulnerability—and keeping God at the center of it all.

Segments/chapters

0:00 Intro/A little bit of Chris and Karla’s backstory

4:19 The mission of Marriage in Focus and recent developments in the ministry

11:08 What MIF’s premarital counseling entails

18:34 How their counseling work has helped Chris and Karla’s marriage grow

24:55 Tips on “fighting fairly” and communicating well

31:09 How men can better articulate their true emotions in times of conflict

39:53 How women can encourage their husbands to be honest and vulnerable

48:22 Every couple’s situation is different—but God’s love is universal

53:53 Finding hope on the other side of infidelity and betrayal

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