Contact: Dick & Diane Baumbach, Worldwide Marriage Encounter, 321-453-2475 dickanddiane66@bellsouth.net

HOUSTON, July 27 /Christian Newswire/ -- Statistics released at the recent meeting of the North American Secretariat of Worldwide Marriage Encounter show that 97 percent of the over 2000 respondents to a detailed survey indicate the experience was good to excellent.

The statistical data was collected over the past six months and also showed that 73 percent of the survey participants said the Worldwide Marriage Encounter weekend changed their relationship with the church and they decided to become more active in the church after their weekend.

"This information truly validates what leaders of Worldwide Marriage Encounter have believed for many years.  The WWME weekend does change lives and marriages and the relationship couples have with the church," said Jose & Marilyn Garcia and Fr. Mitch Walters, the North American Secretariat Ecclesial Team.

"The results of the survey really give each of us so much hope for the Worldwide Marriage Encounter movement's effectiveness in the church,  and for what we are attempting to do in helping couples in good marriages attain better ones," the ecclesial team members added.

Other statistics show that 90 percent of the survey respondents encouraged family members to attend a WWME weekend and 84 percent said that the program helped to keep their marriage healthy and vibrant.

Worldwide Marriage Encounter has been offering weekend experiences for over 40 years and is considered the original faith-based marriage enrichment program.  It is continually updated to keep abreast of changes in society, and now offers evening and half-day programs that are presented at parishes.  The weekend program, traditionally presented as an overnight experience at a hotel or retreat center, can also be presented at the parish where the couples return to their homes in the evenings.   WWME has a presence in over 90 countries, which makes it the largest pro-marriage movement in the world.  In North America, the WWME programs are presented in English, Spanish, French, and Korean languages.

Worldwide Marriage Encounter offers married couples the opportunity to spend time together away from the busyness of the world to focus on each other.  It offers tools for building and maintaining a strong, Christian marriage in today's world.  To learn more about the Worldwide Marriage Encounter weekends online, go to www.wwme.org, or you can call 1-800-795-LOVE (English) and 1-800-599-AMOR (Spanish), or contact the WWME Office at (909) 863-9963.

WORLDWIDE MARRIAGE ENCOUNTER
2210 East Highland Avenue, Suite 110
San Bernardino, CA  92404
(909) 863-9963