A Local Church Centered Ministry
Preparing, repairing and strengthening marriages and families in Central California

Ron & Joan McLain
Working together, we can make a difference!

"Gail and I wish to express our enthusiasm for the work of Joan and Ron McLain. They have always demonstrated a powerful conviction concerning the vitality of Christian marriage. In a time when the entire structure of family and marriages are being challenged, the McLains have some solid answers to the question: how are strong marriages built and sustained." Dr. Gordon MacDonald, author of ORDERING YOUR PRIVATE WORLD, REBUILDING YOUR BROKEN WORLD.

"Ron and Joan McLain are seasoned veterans of pastoral care. They know how to mentor people and marriages from a Christ-centered perspective. I highly recommend them." Neil T. Anderson, author of THE BONDAGE BREAKER, VICTORY OVER THE DARKNESS, STEPS TO FREEDOM

" I can personally attest to Ron McLain's effectiveness as a marriage counselor and agree with he and Joan's heart to train mentor couples who will come alongside other couples in churches in central California. Their 35 years of marriage, coupled with nearly 25 years of work in strengthening marriages, will be used by God to help couples live more effectively for the glory of God and for the health of our community. I would encourage any pastor to welcome the McLains as they seek to minister in their church to train mentor couples." H. Spees, Senior Pastor, Northwest Church, Fresno

• 50% of all marriages end in divorce; 65% of second marriages fail.
• Twice as many couples live together than get married. There has been an 11-fold increase in cohabiters from 1960 until 2000. Couples who live together have a 46% higher dissolution rate than married couples. In 15 years of premarital counseling, approximately 70% of all couples sent to me by local churches were living together.
• Most houses of worship are wedding factories, inadequately preparing couples for lifelong marriage.
• One-third of all births in America are out of wedlock.

• Working with local churches, there needs to be a revolution on how we approach preparing, repairing and strengthening couples in marriage.
• There needs to be rigorous premarital counseling.
• Revive existing marriages with an annual enrichment retreat.
• Reconcile the separated with a course conducted with a same gender support partner.
• Revive stepfamilies by creating Stepfamily Support Groups for parents in remarriages with children, which can save 80% of marriages that normally fail at a 65% rate.
• "We have an epidemic of failed marriages in the Kingdom of God! It is time to sound an alert to the churches. God has raised up Ron and Joan McLain to stand for Him against this spiritual tragedy. I am confident that they will effect a movement in the central valley churches to reverse this trend. I have know them for 15 years and enthusiastically recommend their ministry to you." Rev. Greg Sumii, Director of Church and Pastoral Care, California Southern Baptist Convention, Fresno

There is a positive solution & it's happening in other places in local churches (see MarriageSavers.org website)

• Some churches whose mentors were trained by Michael McManus and his wife (MarriageSavers) have virtually eliminated divorce.
• Killearn United Methodist in Tallahassee has prepared 150 couples for marriage, none of whom have divorced.
• Christ Lutheran in Overland Park, KS has had no divorces of 38 premarital couples.
• Bread of Life, an African-American church in Kansas City, KS has had only one divorce.
• Such churches can tell couples, "If you will do serious marriage preparation, we can say with 95% certainty your marriage will last."

Can it happen here?

Can the divorce rate be slowed?

Can healthy & lifelong marriages be produced?

The answer is YES!

Through the establishment of a new non-profit, church-based ministry, Marriage Mentoring Ministries my wife, Joan, and I have a vision for being catalysts to help bring revolutionary change to the way churches approach marriage preparation, repairing, and strengthening.

We aim to be catalysts through:

1. Premarriage counseling and training mentors in local churches to help encourage these couples.

2. Marriage counseling and training mentors in local churches to walk with couples
through difficult times.

3. Marriage retreats and workshops to encourage and reinvigorate couples.

4. Life Issues Pastoral Counseling with individuals, premarital couples and
married couples.

5. Stepparent support groups started and directed by trained lay people. .

You can be a part. Here's how . . .

Join our team!

We are always in need of prayer supporters and financial supporters to help sustain this vision. For more information, contact Ron & Joan McLain at

559-431-6664

Donations (made payable to MMMI) may be mailed to:
MMMI, P. O. Box 3571, Pinedale, CA 93650

Thank you!

"I have seen Ron and Joan McLain minister effectively to many couples at our church. Ron and Joan are a godly influence and positive role model in and through their individual lives and their marriage. Ron's personal counseling ministry has been a blessing to scores of people in the Fresno area. I am privileged to endorse their desire to launch a ministry to couples and families."

- Jan Van Oosten, Senior Pastor, New Covenant Community Church, Fresno