Pastor Ted Bichsel writes, “God called our church years ago to be a resource to churches, pastors and missionaries. The NAME Center has allowed us to help in unprecedented ways of touching the marriages in their churches. Through the NAME ministry we have been able to strengthen and empower couples in our church, in other churches and in the market place. Through NAME we now have 20 plus couples speaking life into many marriages. God has built bridges to other churches and their pastors as we have sent healed, equipped families back to them. Just recently we were contacted by a senior pastor asking us to counsel one of his staff… what an honor! It is no surprise that the design of our new addition will include the new NAME Center. It has been my joy to encourage other pastors about establishing a NAME Center in their church as well. Who knows what God has for Long Island!”

Tony and Diane have been working with the NAME marriage ministry at Smithtown Gospel Tabernacle since 2004, first as Certified Marriage Specialists (CMS) and later as administrative assistants to the previous directors and as trainers of NAME Certified Marriage Specialists. They believe that the foundation of all families and communities depends on the strength of marriages based on faith in Jesus Christ and the application of biblically based principles. They are certain that all marriages can become strong and are honored to serve others while serving their savior, Jesus.  They are convinced that as one marriage heals and becomes strong, there will be a domino effect into their immediate families and beyond.