Mourning Dove Ministries was such an incredible blessing to our marriage. We received counseling during a very difficult time in our marriage and Mourning Dove Ministries not only provided wisdom and guidance, but we had hope for the first time in many years. After finishing counseling, our marriage was stronger and more "real" and not only that, but God began opening amazing doors in our lives and we've been truly blessed. Thank you Gary and Elvira!
As a founding member of Mourning Dove Ministries, I was driven by the desire to help the many struggling marriages that I saw. That passion was driven by the changes that I had seen in my own marriage when others came alongside me and my husband to help us develop a stronger relationship. I want to offer that same hope to others.
I was the former Chairman of the Board of this amazing ministry. I am fortunate to have a close relationship with Gary Delaplane who I would also consider a great friend. MDM provides a counseling service that is unique and also very powerful for its clients. I have seen marriages transformed through their counseling.
From a divorce perspective, I feel strongly that my marriage would have been saved if MDM would have been around at the time.
Unlike any other ministry serving married couples out there, Mourning Dove Ministries provides a unique way of counseling because of their approach to meet as a couple with couples.
Gary and Elvira are personally committed to doing God's will and to influencing each couple they meet in ways that will be life-changing for them.
I first met Gary and Elvira in 2005 when we all were volunteering to mentor people in need at North Point Community Church. They were giving their professional expertise and helped so many. I am a member of their prayer team. I feel honored to help in this way. Both Gary and Elvira have unique strengths and talents and together there is not a better couple to counsel those in need. They glorify God in their approach and in their loving nature. The successes with many, many couples and individuals make Mourning Dove worthy of all contributions.
I have served on the board for MDM since the inception and have seen the Lord's hand on every single aspect of this ministry. They are uniquely qualified to work with couples given their personal experiance, training, heart for ministry, and most all, being Christ centered. I too have been blessed in my marriage thru my association with MDM.
Gary and Elvira helped my wife and I for our Marriage Intensive prework, which consisted of 8 hours of counseling. We got our money's worth of help within the first couple of hours! Their insight, counsel, listening skills, discernment is excellent. They have an easy-going manner, and are kind and non-judgmental. They are no strangers to deep, intense emotional pain, and can therefore speak with authority and by experience.
T
I was introduced to this couple by a common friend when my wife and I were beginning a marriage ministry at our church. They helped us by leading an "Intimate Encounters" 10 week long workshop! While we did it to impact other cou[ples, it improved our marriage in major ways. We have since offered the same material in our church numerous times.
Knowing this Biblical approach is the basis of Morning Dove's ministry, I have recomended them to every couple I encounter dealing with maritial issues. The resulting impact on many of those couples speaks to the effectiveness of the ministry.
When Morning Dove moved from a part time to a full time ministry, I was asked to help by serving on the board of directors. I love this ministry because this is very much a heart felt calling for this couple rather than a carear in professional counseling. As a Board member, our challenge is to keep them from trying to do too much.
Gary and Elvira helped my husband and I so much. I felt an immediate connection with them in our first meeting together. I love that the help wasn't just from the point of view of a man or woman only. It was one couple, helping another couple. Their experience in so many areas provided much useful wisdom for us. They knew what we were going through as they had been through it before and came out on the other side. They helped to renew our realationship. Their help changed the way we view each other and interact with each other. I would absolutely recommend Mourning Dove Ministries to any/every couple.
I am one of the co-founders of Mourning Dove Ministries which operated as simply a volunteer organization for the first four years of existence. The goal was to "come alongside" those who were grieving the loss of a loved one or who were struggling in their marriage. In 2006, MDM became a full-time counseling ministry supported by those who shared our passion for strengthening marriages. It has been a labor of love.
This husband and wife team run an extremely tight ship and make sure that each and every dollar is used to help couples in need of restoration and healing. Over and over again we see couples lives transformed through their unique 2-on-2 approach to ministry. I would strongly recommend that anyone who has a heart for marriage and believes that restoration is possible support this wonderful ministry.
They are not about "counseling". They are not about "therapy". They are about helping couples who have given up hope - find hope and restore their marriage.
Mourning Dove Ministries is no guarantee, but after some of the results I've seen and stories I've heard, it's the next best thing.