FocusOnTheFamily

DATE NIGHT CHALLENGE 2013

Last year’s Date Night Challenge was an unprecedented success, reaching couples from over 900 churches. And now it’s back with brand new content featuring 14-time Dove Award nominee Mark Schultz, big laughs from comedian Michael Jr. and fun marriage tips from pastor Ted Cunningham, all in a convenient DVD format—giving you the flexibility to host your marriage event for Valentine’s Day or whenever works best for you.

This fun, easy-to-host event gives you the opportunity to provide couples with a special evening out . . . and a powerful challenge to discover how regular dating can strengthen their marriage and ignite romance. With the new DVD format, you can host this event at a time that meets the needs of your individual church, making strengthening marriages easier than ever before.

Meet our entertainment:

Mark Schultz

Listeners have come to expect inspiring and remarkable stories in songs from Mark Schultz, a 14-time Dove Award nominee and platinum-selling artist who touches hearts whether he sings about parents praying for a sick child (“He’s My Son”), or writes in honour of his great-grandmother’s sons who fought in World War II (“Letters From War”).

And with his latest effort, All Things Possible, Mark continues to tackle matters of the heart and spirit with uncommon craftsmanship–though the past five years have impacted this artist in ways he could have never predicted or expected. He’s lived in Europe, started the Remember Me Mission with his wife to help orphans (Mark himself is adopted) and became a father in 2012 to a boy, Ryan Samuel Schultz.
>See Mark's music video, "I Have Been There."

Michael Jr.

Once in a generation, a comedian comes along who speaks to everyone. Today, that comedian is known simply as Michael Jr. Watch him onstage and you’ll see a man at ease with himself, his audience and his message. Listen to his voice and you’ll detect a comfortable, conversational style that hides a sly sense of mischief. Hear his words and you’ll laugh at the universal themes that connect us all.

Hailed as one of today's most gifted comedians, Michael’s entry into comedy was almost preordained. Years ago in a crowded Grand Rapids, Michigan movie theater, the projector malfunctioned. The film snapped, the house lights came on and, acting on a dare, young Michael jumped in front of the restless crowd and took centre stage. When the theatre manager tried to usher him out, the audience demanded he stay . . . and Michael Jr. discovered his gift. On the home front, Michael is happily married. He and his wife are the proud parents of five beautiful children.
>Watch a clip of Michael Jr.'s comedy show.

Ted Cunningham

Ted Cunningham is the founding pastor of Woodland Hills Family Church in Branson, Missouri. He is the author of Young and In Love: Challenging the Unnecessary Delay of Marriage and co-author of four books with Dr. Gary Smalley: The Language of Sex; From Anger to Intimacy; Great Parents, Lousy Lovers and As Long as We Both Shall Live. He enjoys teaching on marriage and family straight from Scripture.

Ted is a graduate of Liberty University and Dallas Theological Seminary. Having met his wife, Amy, on a blind date at Liberty University, Ted determined to marry her that night. Although he didn’t ask her then, she said “yes” to his proposal one year later. Now married for 15 years, they both love taking road trips and boating with their children, Corynn and Carson.

Dr. Greg & Erin Smalley

Dr. Greg & Erin Smalley recently celebrated 20 years of marriage! They are the proud parents of four children. Together, they make their home in Colorado as Greg is the executive director of marriage at Focus on the Family. In this role, Greg helps prepare individuals for marriage, strengthen and nurture existing marriages and provides support for couples in crisis.

Greg is the author of 12 books including The DNA of Relationships, The Wholehearted Marriage and Fight Your Way to a Better Marriage. He earned his doctorate at the Rosemead School of Psychology at Biola University and a counselling degree from Denver Seminary, and Erin earned her master’s in clinical psychology from Evangel University.
>Hear about Greg's strange conversation with his wife.