Dorcas and Benjamin embarked on their Marriage Preparation Programme (MPP) with EMCC well before their engagement, eager to build a strong foundation for their relationship. In this interview, they share their motivations for attending MPP early, the challenges they addressed, the benefits they experienced, and why they felt inspired to pay it forward by sponsoring a friend to attend the programme.
Why did you attend EMCC’s Marriage Preparation Programme (MPP)?
Benjamin: We attended MPP at the end of 2022, more than a year before getting engaged. We wanted to prepare ourselves for marriage as early as possible. We felt that it was better to address any potential challenges sooner rather than later, and we saw MPP as a valuable tool to help us grow in our relationship.
Dorcas: My sister also attended MPP with EMCC and strongly recommended it to me, so we took her advice and signed up.
Why did you decide to come for MPP before getting engaged?
Benjamin: We didn’t like the idea of rushing through MPP right before the wedding. Since we had already decided to pursue marriage while we were dating, we thought it would be beneficial to go through MPP early on. We encountered some roadblocks in our relationship and wanted to address them with guidance from the programme.
How was the Marriage Preparation Programme helpful?
Dorcas: The programme was very structured and provided us with the space and courage to discuss topics we might not have addressed on our own. Our counsellor, Irene, was particularly skilled at helping us see things objectively and guiding us to find our own answers, which made the experience deeply meaningful.
What was one of the best parts of MPP?
Dorcas: Active listening exercises were incredibly impactful for us. They helped us slow down, truly listen to each other, and understand each other’s perspectives. This practice has continued to benefit our relationship, helping us build trust and better communication.
Benjamin: We try to bring what we’ve learnt into our daily lives, so this practice has continued to benefit our relationship even now, helping us build trust and better communication
Why did you decide to pay it forward and sponsor your friend to attend MPP?
Dorcas: The idea actually came from a friend in our church group. We had a friend who was considering marriage but wasn’t taking active steps to prepare. We thought MPP could be helpful for them, so we all chipped in to cover the cost as a gift and blessing. We wanted to help them build a strong foundation, just as we had.
How do you think MPP will benefit other couples?
Benjamin: MPP offers a safe and structured space to discuss crucial topics that are vital for a healthy marriage. The guidance from a skilled counsellor like Irene can uncover issues and provide practical tools to address them. We believe it’s better to have these discussions before entering marriage, rather than figuring things out later. The programme is especially beneficial for couples who might not know how to navigate certain topics on their own.
Dorcas: I shared our MPP experiences with my mum and she also agreed that what we’re learning is very important. Since then, she has also been encouraging others to attend MPP with EMCC.
Dorcas and Benjamin’s experience with EMCC’s Marriage Preparation Programme highlights the importance of early preparation and the benefits of structured, guided conversations in building a strong foundation for marriage. Their decision to pay it forward underscores the lasting impact MPP can have on couples as they journey towards a lifelong commitment.
To learn more about EMCC’s our Marriage Preparation Programmes, click here.
If you’d like to Pay It Forward and gift an MPP package to a couple preparing for the next step in their journey, please email training@emcc.org.sg
