Insights from Dr. Kim: Thanks

This week I was thinking back to November of 2010 when we launched Awesome Marriage.  Three guys sat with me and brainstormed how to reach people with God’s plan for marriage. I will forever be indebted to Brandon Donaldson, Tony Steward, and Daniel DeMoss. We wanted to go where people were gathering and Facebook was growing like crazy. Someone said, “Why not launch on Facebook?” Literally, in just a few minutes the Awesome Marriage Facebook Page was created. We set a launch date and I started creating content.   

I remember that first weekend watching our following grow quickly from zero to 10,000. It was awesome. God began doing amazing things as we helped people, gave them free resources and prayed for them. We saw God heal marriages and walk with people through tough times. Honestly, I had no idea what I was doing but God did. We quickly grew to 50,000, then 100,000. We expanded to other social media outlets. We tried some things that worked and some that did not. God continued to bring people that added great input. Tanner Herriott became my first video guy and he created some amazing videos for us. I never, ever pictured myself in front of a camera but there I was as we taped month after month. It felt like we were building an airplane named Awesome Marriage but we were still putting it together mid-flight. It still feels that way at times.

Today we have an amazing team. Christina Dodson is our COO and everything podcasts. She has been a blessing since day one. Nils Smith is our social media guru and innovations leader.  So much of what has happened the past four plus years has come from Nils. David Underwood and Tiffany Miller are on the front lines helping people and answering questions. They are the first contact that many people have with Awesome Marriage. Lindsay Few is my editor and looks over everything I write before anyone else. She is amazing. Megan Peverall is over our Date Boxes and does an incredible job for us. Sarah Jane Richards keeps my schedule in order and does a ton of administrative work for us. Martha Fisher leads our Facebook Groups, where we are seeing great growth and engagement. Andy Knight is the reason our website looks so amazing. On the writing side, Greg Roberts is my literary agent; the great people of Zondervan and Hatchette believed in me enough to publish my books. The people of Life.Church, YouVersion, and Open Network have given us opportunities to reach people in amazing ways around the world and there have been so many others along the way that God has used in specific ways to help us grow.  

From the beginning, Nancy never looked at me like I was crazy! In fact, she has been supportive and encouraging from day one.  

I am so thankful for all of them and to you that follow us and are passionate about marriage.  The coolest thing is that we are really just beginning. From day one my goal has been a zero divorce rate. I know that sounds outlandish, but what if every couple got serious about their marriage and God’s incredible plan for them? It can happen and it starts with me and you! Happy Thanksgiving!