Following the success of the course last year, St Mary's in Cheadle is running its Restored Lives course once again. The course is both practical and supportive and is for anyone who has been impacted by the end of a serious relationship whether separated, currently going through a divorce or already divorced, either recently or at any time in the past.
The course runs for 7 weeks and costs just £35.
Although based on Christian principles, the course is suitable for those of all faiths or no faith at all.
Mark and Helen Tomlinson worship at St Mary's, Cheadle, and are part of the team leading the course. They got married in 2015 and have both experienced painful divorces. Mark and Helen say they are finding ways to turn a painful experience into something that can help others.
Marks says: “The course has a biblical foundation but isn’t evangelistic. We’re open about our faith and we pray for the people we meet, but there is not a requirement to have faith to attend. We simply want to support people who are going through what we went through; we want to share our story and help others.”
They say they both know what betrayal and deceit feels like and that it was their faith, family and church family that helped them deal with the pain of separation and divorce.
Mark and Helen completed their first course last November, where they had 14 attendees. All responded positively about how the course had helped them to cope with their personal situations and move forward with hope.
Mark and Helen got married in 2015. They will lead the Restored Lives course.
Divorce rates for opposite-sex couples in England and Wales are at their lowest level since 1973, which is around forty per cent lower than their peak in 1993. However, there will still be an estimated 100,000 divorces in 2019, of which an increasing number will be among older people.
There is a limited number of spaces on the course. Applications to take part can be made via this application form.
Find out more
Restored Lives will be taking place in ‘The Upper Room Cafe’, First Floor, The Upper Room, Cheadle, Cheshire, SK8 1DW, beginning on Tuesday 07 May.
Read Mark and Helen's story
Download the Restored Lives poster
Download the Restored Lives flyer
Download the Restored Lives application form