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Marriage in Focus creates experiences for couples to connect meaningfully with God and one another.
About marriage in focus
Marriage in Focus is a 501(c)(3) Christian marriage ministry. We exist to glorify God by impacting marriages. Our mission is to resource couples with Biblical principles for a godly marriage and create experiences that refresh them allowing them to connect meaningfully with God and one another.
meet the
founders
Chris and Karla hines
… were married on December 9, 1995. They were high school sweethearts and have been together since 1988.  Chris and Karla have three children, Hunter, married to RaeAnn, Harris and Hannah and are the proud grandparents of Georgia Ann.  

Chris and Karla have a passion for marriages.  Marriage in Focus was birthed out of a vision from God to create a ministry where couples could connect meaningfully with God and one another.

Prior to starting Marriage in Focus, Chris served as a pastor on staff at Church of the Highlands and also spent 20 years in the business world.  Karla has taught school for 26 years. Chris and Karla are both graduates of Auburn University and Highlands College. They are more in love with one another today than ever before. They would be the first to tell you they don't have a perfect marriage, but want to share their passion and life experiences to equip and empower married couples to live marriage by God's design.
connect with us
Board of Directors
Chris & anne champion
Chris and Anne Champion were married in 1995 and have four children: Graham, Grace, Luke, and Andrew. Anne received her nursing degree from Auburn University at Montgomery, but has been a full-time practicing wife and mother for many years. Chris completed his B.A. in business at Huntingdon College and has a law degree fromthe University of Alabama School of Law. He is currently an attorney and senior executive at Fruit of the Loom, Inc., in Bowling Green, KY, where they now reside.
Chris & karla hines
Chris and Karla Hines are the founders of Marriage in Focus and also serve on the board of directors. They have been happily married since 1995. They have three children, Hunter (wife RaeAnn), Harris, and Hannah, and one granddaughter, Georgia. Chris spent 20 years in the private sector before resigning to pursue full-time vocational ministry, and Karla has taught elementary school since 1997. They live in Auburn, AL.
rob & dana pate
Rob and Dana Pate were married in 1999. The Pates have five children, Claire (husband David Scharf), Ellie, Jenna, James, and John David. Rob and Dana are both graduates of Auburn University, and Rob also earned his OD from the University of Alabama Birmingham.  Rob is an optometrist and Dana recently retired after teaching elementary school for twenty years. They live in Auburn, AL.
Trent & Mallory Wilson
Trent and Mallory Wilson have been happily married since 2003. They live in Auburn, Alabama with their three teenage children. Trent is an orthopedic surgeon and Mallory is a stay-at-home mom and wife who also owns and operates a concierge jewelry design company.
statement of beliefs

Bible

We believe the Bible to be the inspired and authoritative Word of God. It is trustworthy, true, and without error. In its original writing, it is inspired, infallible, and inerrant. 2 Timothy 3:16; 2 Peter 1:20-21; Proverbs 30:5; Romans 16:25-26; Matthew 5:18; John 16:12-13

GOD - TRINITY

We believe there is one God, eternally existing in three persons – Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. These three are coequal and co-eternal. Genesis 1:1, 26, 3:22; Psalm 90:2; Matthew 3:16-17, 28:19; 1 Peter 1:2; 2 Corinthians 13:14

Jesus

We believe Jesus is the Son of God. He is fully God and yet came to earth fully man. He is the one and only path to a relationship with the Father. We believe he was born of a virgin, lived a perfect sinless life, died on the cross, and provided atonement for the sin of mankind through the shedding of his blood. We believe Jesus defeated death through his resurrection so that we could have life. We believe he ascended into heaven and will return to earth. Isaiah 7:14, 9:6, 53; John 1:1,14, 10:30, 11:25-27,17:1-5; Matthew 1:20-23, 3:17, 14:33, 28:5-6; Luke 24:46-47; Acts 1:9, 2:23-24; Romans 1:3-4, 3:23-26, 8:1-3; 2 Corinthians 5:19-21; Galatians 4:4-5; Philippians2:5-11; Colossians 1:15, 2:9; 1 Timothy 2:5-6

Holy Spirit

We believe The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of God, fully divine. He is the representative by whom Christ baptizes all believers into His body. The Holy Spirit indwells the believer and guarantees the inheritance until the day of redemption. Through Him, believers are empowered to live a godly life, through the ongoing sanctification of the Holy Spirit. He cultivates Christian character, comforts believers, and bestows the spiritual gifts by which they serve God through His church. He calls men to the Savior and effects regeneration. Genesis 1:2; Isaiah 11:2, 61:1-3; John 15:26; Acts 1:8; Romans 8:9-11, 26, 12:3-8; 1 Corinthians 2:10-13, 12:3-11; 2Corinthians 1:22, 5: 5; Galatians 4:6; Ephesians 1:13-14, 4:7-13; Titus 3:5, 1 Peter 4:10

Salvation

We believe that salvation is the gift of God received only by faith in Jesus Christ. Salvation is not earned by any work or deed of man, but only through the blood of Jesus. Ephesians 1:7, 2:8-9; Galatians 2:16; Titus 3:5; Romans 10:9-10; 1 Peter 1:18–19

Creation

We believe that man was created in God's image and likeness and intended to partner with God to be his priestly representative on earth. We also believe that human life is sacred from conception to its natural end. Through the sin of Adam, man was separated from God and inherited a sin nature that left him incapable of providing a remedy for his lost condition. Genesis 1:26-27; Psalm 139:13-16; Psalm 127:3; Romans 3:22-23, 5:12; Ephesians 2:1-3, 12

Eternal Life

We believe in the eternal life of man, and that through belief in Jesus Christ, we spend eternity with the Lord in Heaven. To be eternally separated from God is Hell. Heaven and Hell are places of eternal existence. Matthew 25:31-46; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; John 3:16, 36; Romans 6:23; 1 John 2:25, 5:11-13; Revelation 20:15

Marriage

We believe marriage is a covenant relationship ordained by God to be between one man and one woman with God at the center. We believe marriage is the foundation of the family. We believe God’s design for sexual intimacy is only within the context of marriage. Genesis 1:27-28, 2:18, 23-25; Matthew 19:5-6; Mark 10:6-9;Romans 1:26-27; 1 Corinthians 6:9, 19-20, 7:3; Hebrews 13:4

Bible

We believe the Bible to be the inspired and authoritative Word of God. It istrustworthy, true, and without error. In its original writing, it is inspired, infallible, andinerrant. 2 Timothy 3:16; 2 Peter 1:20-21; Proverbs 30:5; Romans 16:25-26; Matthew5:18; John 16:12-13

GOD - TRINITY

We believe there is one God, eternally existing in three persons – Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. These three are coequal and co-eternal. Genesis 1:1, 26,3:22; Psalm 90:2; Matthew 3:16-17, 28:19; 1 Peter 1:2; 2 Corinthians 13:14

Jesus

We believe Jesus is the Son of God. He is fully God and yet came to earth fully man. He is the one and only path to a relationship with the Father. We believe he was born of a virgin, lived a perfect sinless life, died on the cross, and provided atonement for the sin of mankind through the shedding of his blood. We believe Jesus defeated death through his resurrection so that we could have life. We believe he ascended into heaven and will return to earth. Isaiah 7:14, 9:6, 53; John 1:1,14, 10:30, 11:25-27,17:1-5; Matthew 1:20-23, 3:17, 14:33, 28:5-6; Luke 24:46-47; Acts 1:9, 2:23-24;Romans 1:3-4, 3:23-26, 8:1-3; 2 Corinthians 5:19-21; Galatians 4:4-5; Philippians2:5-11; Colossians 1:15, 2:9; 1 Timothy 2:5-6

Holy Spirit

We believe The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of God, fully divine. He is the representative by whom Christ baptizes all believers into His body. The Holy Spirit indwells the believer and guarantees the inheritance until the day of redemption. Through Him, believers are empowered to live a godly life, through the ongoing sanctification of the Holy Spirit. He cultivates Christian character, comforts believers, and bestows the spiritual gifts by which they serve God through His church. He calls men to the Savior and effects regeneration. Genesis 1:2; Isaiah 11:2, 61:1-3; John15:26; Acts 1:8; Romans 8:9-11, 26, 12:3-8; 1 Corinthians 2:10-13, 12:3-11; 2Corinthians 1:22, 5: 5; Galatians 4:6; Ephesians 1:13-14, 4:7-13; Titus 3:5, 1 Peter 4:10

Salvation

We believe that salvation is the gift of God received only by faith in Jesus Christ. Salvation is not earned by any work or deed of man, but only through the blood of Jesus. Ephesians 1:7, 2:8-9; Galatians 2:16; Titus 3:5; Romans 10:9-10; 1 Peter 1:18–19

Creation

We believe that man was created in God's image and likeness and intended to partner with God to be his priestly representative on earth. We also believe that human life is sacred from conception to its natural end. Through the sin of Adam, man was separated from God and inherited a sin nature that left him incapable ofproviding a remedy for his lost condition. Genesis 1:26-27; Psalm 139:13-16; Psalm127:3; Romans 3:22-23, 5:12; Ephesians 2:1-3, 12

Eternal Life

We believe in the eternal life of man, and that through belief in Jesus Christ, we spend eternity with the Lord in Heaven. To be eternally separated from God is Hell. Heaven and Hell are places of eternal existence. Matthew 25:31-46; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; John 3:16, 36; Romans 6:23; 1 John 2:25, 5:11-13; Revelation20:15

Marriage

We believe marriage is a covenant relationship ordained by God to be between one man and one woman with God at the center. We believe marriage is the foundation of the family. We believe God’s design for sexual intimacy is only within the context of marriage. Genesis 1:27-28, 2:18, 23-25; Matthew 19:5-6; Mark 10:6-9;Romans 1:26-27; 1 Corinthians 6:9, 19-20, 7:3; Hebrews 13:4

testimonials
"
During our premarital sessions, Chris and Karla prompted us into meaningful conversations that deepened our understanding of one another, God’s heart for us, and the true meaning of marriage (while also keeping it light and fun!). It has played a foundational role for us in our day-to-day as a married couple… in the big moments and the small ones!
anders & Abigail carlson
"
Our marriage wouldn’t be the same without Chris and Karla’s premarital ministry. In each session, we learned more about each other, discovered practical tools that we still use in our marriage, and most importantly, received Godly values that have carried us through every season.
William & madi bradwell
"
Our marriage wouldn’t be what it is without Chris and Karla. They met with us frequently and spent time pointing us to Jesus and strengthening us individually. Once we were engaged they led our pre-marital counseling, and since then we continue to talk about the immense impact our pre-marital counseling has had on our marriage. We worked to set expectations and talk through potential pressure points. Through our first two years of marriage, they have fought for us in prayer and we are forever grateful for that. They’ve been our advocate, a fountain of wisdom, and a source of encouragement.
Will & ashley macoy
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info@marriageinfocus.org100 N Gay Street
Suite 120, Box 101
Auburn, AL 36830
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