Lavern and Ronda Nissley passing Springfield relationship center's leadership to David and Theresa Mabry. Springfield News-Sun article, May 20, 2024
By Darci Jordan, contributing author In 1990, Lavern and Ronda Nissley attended a marriage conference; their lives were changed, and a spark was ignited. With a desire to share what they had learned with other couples, the Nissleys founded the Marriage Resource Center (MRC) in 2004. Now known as the Encompass Connection Center (ECC), the Nissleys have coached upwards of 20,000 couples, but the time has come for change: beginning in June, David Mabry will serve as executive director of ECC, while Theresa Mabry will serve as co-director. “Ronda and I have had incredible fulfillment,” said Lavern Nissley. “When we put the gifts that God has given us together, there is a synergy there that is incredibly fulfilling. We love to work together.” Lavern Nissley said it is time to hand the baton to a younger couple to be able to bring new and fresh ideas from their background and experience. “We will continue to stay involved in this realm until we die,” he said. “We want to keep doing this the rest of our lives in terms of making a difference in relationships, but that can take a variety of forms.” Theresa Mabry has been shadowing the Nissleys throughout this month, and her husband will come on board June 3. The Nissleys will continue in a supporting role through June before stepping away at the end of the month. “We will continue with everything as is, though there may be some development that takes place within each program,” said Theresa Mabry. “If we can add to it, we will, but mostly we are going to continue the same set of services.” ECC strives to inspire and equip relationships to thrive using timeless values and skills. The organization offers training, support and classes to couples and families. The Nissleys — who have been married 45 years — said what has been most valuable is watching transformation “right in front of our eyes.” “You see what can happen when couples go from being prickly, to walking side-by-side, connected. We want to see that continue,” said Lavern Nissley. At the start, ECC offered in-person classes known as The RINGS Experience. However, at the start of the COVID pandemic in 2020, RINGS was “forced” to change format. “We quickly put together a virtual course with all videos and teachings,” said Lavern Nissley. The virtual format became a permanent part of the RINGS experience, allowing the ECC to reach couples and families around the world. “It’s quite different but has given us a lot more traction,” said Lavern Nissley. “COVID really was a blessing because it forced us to learn technology like Zoom.” ECC is currently coaching a pastor couple in Kenya who wants to bring the training to pastors in their network of churches. Founders of One Another Marriage, a non-profit in Columbus, the Mabrys have worked with couples, families and organizations to achieve healthy and vitalized relationships using proven tools and skills. David Mabry also worked with ECC from 2006 to 2008 before the couple moved to Columbus. “We are grateful for the opportunity to return to Encompass Connection Center to continue this work in such a strong and vibrant organization,” said David Mabry. Theresa Mabry said she is excited to be back in the Springfield area and community, and she is looking forward to reconnecting with people and getting to know the partners that Lavern and Ronda have within ECC. “This is a lot, but they have done a great job being organized and helping us get our arms wrapped around what we can before they step away,” she said. “We look forward to being able to call them up and continuing the mentoring relationship.” David Mabry said healthy marriages and families are particularly important for a healthy community and society at large. The Mabrys will celebrate 31 years of marriage in June. “Having an organization in the community that is focused upon healthy and vibrant relationships is critical for solid societal foundations,” he said. Lavern Nissley said this transition is not about “Lavern and Ronda” but it is about a cause. “It’s a metaphor — like a book — it is time to turn the page,” he said. “The Lavern and Ronda chapter has passed, but the David and Theresa chapter is starting. Ultimately, it is about healthy relationships; that’s the thing that ties this all together. This cause can continue. Keep reading the book.”
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By Kermit Rowe
Encompass Relationship Facilitator This month’s blog theme is “more than words.” So let’s take those three words and put them at the end of the following sentence to “explore the more” of a time-tested relational truth: Communication is more than words. How do we communicate besides talking? Well, we should know because we certainly do it a lot. A Psychology Today article famously reported that only seven percent of our communication happens through words. That means 93 percent of your intended message is left up to tone and non-verbal cues. Other estimated percentages may vary a bit, but one thing is clear: When it comes to communicating in relationships, it’s more than words can say. We’ve all heard the saying “actions speak louder than words.”. There are few places that is more apparent than in our intimate relationships. We may be able to talk a good game to acquaintances or on social media, but our closest loved ones are the ones who know whether we live those words out! This is why it’s so important in romantic relationships to not only be saying loving words to our partner but for our actions to back it up. Let’s look at a few practical ways this can happen!
Our theme for blog posts this month is "more than words." That may sound a bit vague or even ominous, but our writers have been given freedom to develop their relationship reflections that somehow relate any communication beyond words.
By Lavern Nissley Encompass Executive Director I opened our garage door from the inside as Ronda returned from grocery shopping. I was planning to help her unload. A tinge of concern hit me as I noticed her struggling to back into the garage in a straight line. Then her passenger side mirror lightly touched the mirror of our other vehicle parked in the driveway. She stopped, got out, and joked about the awkward position she was leaving the vehicle in. After putting the groceries away together, I thought I'd bring up her backing challenges as this wasn't the first time I had seen her struggling. So, here are the words that came out of my mouth. (You'll need to click the button below to see what they were!) By: Joe Kowalski
Encompass Champion Like many of you I have a few choice verses and even books of the Bible I gravitate towards. The first book of the Bible I can remember reading was James, New testament, not very long and very practical for new a believer. There are several verses that even non-Christians would likely be familiar with even if they couldn’t cite them: John 3:16 (for God so loved the world…), Genesis 1:1 (In the beginning…), and then there are the verses that are often misquoted: ‘God helps those who help themselves’ most often attributed to Ephesians 2: 4-5, and ‘Money is the root of all evil’ pulled from 1 Timothy 6:10. And then there are those verses that we just can’t seem to get away from….in a good way. They pop up in sermons, in small group, and seem to apply to so many situations we are going through in life. By: Cindee Johnson Encompass Relationship Coach Some years ago a wristwatch that gives the time in 42 cities around the world sold at auction. This 1939 timepiece garnered more than 6.6 million Swiss francs. That was 4 million US dollars. Can you imagine spending 4 million dollars on a watch? How about 4 thousand? Four hundred? Okay…$40?!? A Timex that costs a relatively few bucks is probably going to keep time nearly as well as that 1939 model, though maybe not in 42 cities around the world. So, why would someone spend that kind of cash on a wristwatch? Obviously, it’s not about keeping time. It’s about investment. A timely investment. Our promotions coordinator, Hollie Kowalski, selected a scriptural encouragement from 2 Timothy 1:7 as our blog theme for April. "For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline." By Ronda Nissley
Encompass Co-Director Recently a friend shared with me the Three Costs of Leadership by Kirby Smart, Georgia Bulldogs.
Our promotions coordinator, Hollie Kowalski, selected a scriptural encouragement from 2 Timothy 1:7 as our blog theme for April. "For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline."
By Lavern Nissley Encompass Executive Director This is not a Bible study, but the central premise comes from scripture. And it can have a positive effect upon our relationships. There are hundreds of things in the world that are just plain scary and intimidating - that is, making us feel timid and tentative. Another word that comes to mind is "reactive", pretty much controlled by circumstances around us. This is so different from that which is characterized by power, love and self-discipline. It will become even more obvious when you see 2 circles, one of my favorite concepts from Stephen Covey's bestseller, The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People. Our blog post theme for March is "Growth Areas." So, our blog post authors will be challenging us toward growth in personal awareness for the sake of strengthening relationships.
By Lavern Nissley Encompass Executive Director Thursday evenings, 7-8 pm, were times I looked forward to for about 2 1/2 months. Why? It wasn't for recreation, spending time with family, or a favorite TV show. It was to spend quality time with Ryan and Julie Preas, a couple who signed up for our RINGS Experience education and coaching. Even though Ryan and Julie weren't where they wanted to be in their 22-year marriage, they had a lot of the intangibles down like mutual respect, seeking peace, and growing together. But they didn't want to stay where they were. What a joy it was to watch them moving their health needle into more and more positives! By: Kermit Rowe
Encompass Relationship Facilitator For better or worse, till death do us part, our family remains our family. We can ignore them, refuse to have a personal relationship with them, but we can’t ignore the blood connection to them given to us by God through our birth. If God is the God He claims to be – the holy, perfect one with no beginning or end, who has no evil or error in Him – then it follows that He makes no mistakes. And it follows that the family He placed us in is the family we are meant to be a part of. In His perfect, infinite wisdom. To question our family origin is therefore questioning Him. He could have sent us into any family, in any hometown, in any native country, at any point in history. But He chose to send us into the life and family we currently occupy. |
HostsLavern & Ronda Nissley are co-directors of Encompass. Married since 1978, both enjoy coffee, riding their tandem bicycle and working together to build strong relationships. TOPICS
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