Jim & Sarah

At first glance, Jim and his wife, Sarah, appeared to have achieved the American dream. Both were well educated and employed in executive positions for the first several years of their marriage. When Sarah became pregnant, she quit her job to stay home with their daughter.

Jim appeared to be happily married and a model father. In truth, he felt desperately alone, overwhelmed and angry. When the problems within Jim’s marriage escalated to the point of intense arguments, hitting walls and throwing things, Jim moved out.

After months of living apart from Sarah, Jim picked up the phone one evening and called his pastor, admitting everything. His pastor called HopeNet the following morning hoping our staff could help Jim and Sarah uncover the root issues that caused the brokenness within their marriage.

Desiring change and to restore their marriage, Jim and Sarah met with us and began to understand that their anger and violent way of relating were symptoms of their own brokenness—deep, personal pain that had occurred long before they were married. By bringing that truth into the light, Jim and Sarah received a powerful moment of hope. Nearly three years after coming to HopeNet, their marriage and family have been restored.

While both Jim and Sarah continue working to repair their individual brokenness, they have been an encouragement and support to other couples who have broken marriages. Jim faithfully meets with a small group of married men. Through the relationships he has formed in his small group, he now offers support, accountability and encouragement for other men to remain committed to their marriages. Sarah meets regularly with women in her neighborhood who appear happily married but, in truth, are struggling and in need of hope for healing and restoration.