Contact: Melissa Teutsch, 800-858-4109 ext.144

MEDIA ADVISORY, March 13 /Christian Newswire/ -- Briefing # 2 on the new book, "Living Together: Myths, Risks & Answers" by Mike & Harriet McManus will take place on Friday, March 14th at 2 p.m. Eastern time.

To participate in the teleconference, call (641) 715-3200, Access Code 640718#.

In the first briefing, Mike McManus outlined that two-thirds of couples marrying today are living together. Such couples often believe a myth that they are in a "trial marriage." But they are really in a trial divorce in which they face an 85% chance of breaking up either before the marriage or afterwards.

According to a Peter Hart Poll, 86% of marriages are blessed by clergy. Thus, organized religion has unwittingly contributed to America's soaring cohabitation and high divorce rate. However, the church can become the architect of a new culture that honors marriage once again. It can orchestrate five Answers that better prepare couples for marriage. Three will be covered on the 3/14 call:

#1: Require a premarital inventory

Every couple considering marriage should be given a detailed premarital inventory to help the couple get an objective assessment of their strengths as a couple and where they need to grow. PREPARE and FOCCUS inventories are given to 800,000 of the 2.2 million couples who marry. They are a series of one-sentence statements such as:

• At times I am concerned about the silent treatment I get from my future spouse

• I am concerned that my future spouse spends money foolishly

#2: Train Mentor Couples

More than 90% of couples taking a premarital inventory have it reviewed by a pastor. The result is that a tenth of couples decide not to marry. Studies show their scores are equal to those who marry and later divorce. But clergy can take only an hour to discuss results. A better answer is to train couples in healthy marriages to administer it.

#3: Teach Communication & Conflict Resolution Skills

Mentor Couples can be trained to administer a series of exercises to help couples learn to resolve conflict amicably. The result in the McManus' church is that of 288 couples prepared for marriage over a decade, 55 decided not to marry. Of the rest, there were only seven divorces in a decade. That's a 3% failure rate. That's marriage insurance!

To receive a review copy of "Living Together" or to schedule an interview, contact Melissa Teutsch at 800-858-4109 x144.