PLC Transformed
Marriage Network
A covenant community for couples pursuing authenticity, transparency, integrity, and Christ centered transformation. Six months. One cohort. A ministry built to last.
What happened, and
why the next 6 months
cannot be wasted
The Transformed Marriage Intensive drew nearly 80 to 100 people. That is not attendance data, that is a mandate. The hunger is real and the window is now. This playbook is the blueprint for channeling that momentum into a sustainable, Spirit led marriage ministry that will shape families at Purpose Life Church for a generation.
Why It Matters
When 80 to 100 people show up for a marriage intensive, they're not just attending an event, they're responding to a deep and unmet need. The church now has a mandate to build something lasting, not just memorable.
What We're Building
Married Ministry serves as the umbrella for all marriage-related touchpoints. Inside that, the PLC Transformed Marriage Network is the covenant cohort, for couples committed to intentional growth, community, and transformation.
Why Now Is Critical
Momentum has a shelf life. May through December 2026 is the strategic runway to launch Cohort One, build the infrastructure, develop leaders, and position the church for a full Marriage Conference in 2027.
The Spirit Behind the Strategy
This is not a program. This is a covenant community. Every system, form, and gathering should feel like it was designed by people who understand what it means to fight for a marriage, and believe no couple has to do it alone.
Consistency."
How the ecosystem
is structured
The ministry is built in layers, from a broad umbrella welcoming all married couples, down to a covenant cohort for those who want to go deeper. Everything connects. Everything serves a purpose. Nothing is accidental.
Two groups.
Two messages.
One week to act.
The cohort closes Saturday. There are two distinct groups that need two completely different messages this week. Every communication should honor where each person is and move them toward their clearest next step, with pastoral warmth, not corporate urgency.
Intensive Attendees
Everyone who attended but has not yet joined the Network. They experienced the night. They need a thank you, affirmation, and one last clear invitation before Saturday.
Network Members
Couples who already joined via Planning Center. They said yes. Now they need to know exactly what they stepped into and what to do next to complete onboarding.
Important, Planning Center Issue
Couples were added directly to the Planning Center Group, not a Registration Event, which means the church does not yet have complete intake data for each couple. The solution: once the cohort closes Saturday, immediately send a Couple Profile / Intake Form to collect all missing information. Dwain and Shelena own this process. Do not wait.
Everything we need
to know and collect
The intake form went live June 2, 2026. Because couples joined via the Planning Center group and WhatsApp community rather than a registration event, all profile data is gathered through this form. Every field matters, for pod matching, communication, anniversary recognition, and ongoing pastoral care.
Eight weeks.
Eight themes.
One transformation.
Each week is designed to build on the last, moving couples from welcome and culture all the way to prayer and recommitment. Dwain and Shelena lead every step with pastoral support at key moments. Click any week to expand the full action plan.
Welcome & Culture
Setting the Covenant ToneIntentionality
Building on PurposeCommunication Reset
How We Talk to Each OtherPraying Together
The Spiritual FoundationHealing Micro-Hurts
The Unspoken ThingsFriendship & Fun
Enjoy Each Other AgainPurpose & Vision
Why Our Marriage MattersPrayer & Recommitment
Closing the Covenant CircleBuilding
covenant pods
that work
Pods are 2 to 3 couples matched to foster authentic connection, accountability, and growth. The first matching happens within two weeks of cohort close. Every pod gets reviewed at 30 to 45 days. Imperfect and adjustable is better than perfect and late.
Matching Criteria
Years Married
Pair couples in similar seasons when possible. Mix mature and growing when a mentorship dynamic is desired, but be intentional, not random.
Life Stage
Young couples, couples with young children, empty nesters, similar stages create natural empathy and shared experience that makes conversation easier.
Growth Areas
Match couples who share similar growth focus areas so conversations are mutually resonant and relevant, not one-sided.
Availability
Scheduling compatibility is not optional. A pod that can never meet is not a pod, it's a good intention that will produce guilt, not growth.
Relational Maturity
Include at least one steady, mature couple in each pod to anchor the dynamic and model covenant well without creating pressure.
Existing Dynamics
Honor any request to not be paired with a specific couple. Avoid pairing couples with existing tension or awkward history. Safety is non-negotiable.
Leadership Distribution
Don't overload your highest-capacity couples. Distribute leadership potential and relational strength evenly across all pods.
Sample Pod Structure
A sustainable,
consistent cadence
Covenant is built through consistency, not intensity. The rhythm of this ministry is designed to be simple enough to sustain and meaningful enough to matter. Select a frequency below to explore the full rhythm for each layer.
Community Prompt
Dwain and Shelena post a simple, open ended question in the Planning Center group each week. Designed to create safe, transparent dialogue about real marriage life, not curated highlight reels.
Pod Check-In
Each pod connects, even just a text thread or voice note. The goal is a consistent point of contact, not a formal meeting. Accountability through relationship, not obligation.
Prayer Encouragement
A prayer focus or scripture posted each week by leaders. Couples are invited to respond with an emoji, "praying," or a brief comment to build community presence and spiritual momentum.
Marriage Devotional
A written or video devotional crafted or curated by Dwain and Shelena, aligned to the current season. Each devo includes a couple conversation prompt and a closing prayer.
Monthly Focus Theme
One growth theme per month, communication, intimacy, partnership, finances and unity, spiritual disciplines, or legacy. Posted with a resource recommendation couples can use together.
Video from Leadership
A short 3 to 5 minute video from Pastors Heston and Sharese, or Dwain and Shelena. Honest, warm, personal. Not a polished production, an authentic touchpoint that keeps the human connection alive.
Quarterly Intensive / Gathering
Either a virtual or in-person intensive, a hosted dinner night, or a connection gathering. These are the high water marks that deepen what the weekly rhythm quietly builds over time.
Marriage Convos Episode
A quarterly podcast-style or video conversation featuring a couple from the Network or a curated guest. Raw, honest, strategic. Published to the eCampus and social channels for wider reach.
Leadership Review
Dwain and Shelena meet with Pastors to review engagement data, pod health, leadership pipeline, and 90-day roadmap. Quarterly alignment keeps the vision sharp and the team unified.
Bi-Annual Group Date Night
Two hosted couple events per year, a dinner night, curated experience, or group outing that creates joy and social bonding across the Network. June and October are ideal windows.
Annual Marriage Sermon Series
One sermon series per year dedicated to marriage, all campuses. Creates on-ramps for couples not yet in the Network and celebrates those who are. The whole church participates.
2027 Marriage Conference
The annual anchor event. The 2026 Network is both the farm team and the launch crew for the 2027 Marriage Conference. Everything built this year feeds that stage and that legacy.
Month-by-month
implementation
Every month has a primary focus, a set of key actions, and a clear milestone. The calendar is a living document, adjust as God leads, as momentum builds, and as couples show you what they need most.
The team
behind the vision
Every great ministry is carried by clear roles and empowered people. This team is not a committee, it is a covenant. Each role carries specific responsibilities, clear authority, and the full spiritual backing of Purpose Life Church's pastoral leadership.
Vision & Spiritual Covering
The ultimate vision holders and spiritual covering for the entire marriage ministry. They do not run the day to day, they anchor the why, speak into the what, and show up at critical moments.
- →Cast and protect the ministry vision across all campuses
- →Final direction on all major ministry decisions
- →Appear at intensives, cohort milestones, and the 2027 conference
- →Provide pastoral covering for couples in crisis flagged by Dwain and Shelena
- →Record quarterly video messages for the Network community
Day-to-Day Ministry Leads
The operational heartbeat of the Transformed Marriage Network. They own execution, community culture, the intake process, pods, and weekly rhythm. They report to and are covered by the Pastors.
- →Administer the Planning Center Network group
- →Own all intake data, pod matching, and couple care coordination
- →Coordinate weekly prompts, monthly devotionals, and pod check-ins
- →Lead all Network communications and community engagement
- →Track engagement and report to Pastors quarterly
- →Identify, develop, and release the next layer of leaders
Wisdom & Presence
Experienced, mature, and trusted couples who anchor pods with steadiness and model covenant well. They do not carry administrative load, they carry relational wisdom.
- →Anchor their assigned pods with steadiness and grace
- →Available for pastoral support within their pod
- →Help identify future leaders for board consideration by late 2026
- →Facilitate at gatherings when needed
- →Participate in Marriage Convos conversations
Host Couples & Future Board
Host Couples create intimate, safe connection spaces, small dinners, living room gatherings, couple meetups. The Future Board will be the formal advisory and governance layer, formed from the most faithful, mature, consistent voices in the Network by late 2026 or early 2027.
- →Host Couples: lead small dinners and gatherings for pods
- →Create relational, comfortable spaces for real conversation
- →Future Board: provide strategic counsel and ministry oversight
- →Candidates identified and invited by October–November 2026
Ready-to-send
message templates
Every message should feel pastoral, personal, and clear. Use these as starting points, always add the recipient's name when possible, and let your own voice add warmth to every word. Select a message type from the left to view and copy.
Building Toward the
Marriage Conference 2027
Everything built in 2026, the cohort, the pods, the community, the testimonies, the leaders, the devotionals, the relationships, is the foundation for a full Marriage Conference in 2027. The Network is not just a ministry. It is a farm team. The couples deepened this year become the faces, the voices, and the leaders of the most significant marriage event Purpose Life Church has ever hosted.
Covenant. Community. Consistency.