WORLDWIDE MARRIAGE ENCOUNTER
National Office
2210 East Highland Avenue, Suite 106
San Bernardino, CA  92404
(909) 863-9963

 Nov. 15, 2007

 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Chicago, IL -  When Oprah Winfrey hosted a Worldwide Marriage Encounter couple on her show this week she said, “This is something you can do!” as she let her audience of millions see that couples can have great marriages and can communicate every day in a loving way.

Alton and Patricia Hassell from Texas were guests on Oprah’s show, whose theme was Married Couples and Love Stories.  The couple explained that they have been writing love letters to each other every day for over 27 years.  “It’s something we will always do,” said Patricia.           

Alton explained that they found the concept for the love letters when they attended a Worldwide Marriage Encounter weekend.  “At first it was hard to write every day, but then it became more and more natural.” Alton said.So natural in fact, that they have over 105 pounds of notebooks containing love letters collected over the years.

The Worldwide Marriage Encounter weekends start on a Friday evening and end on Sunday afternoon.  There is no group sharing and no couple is ever asked to share during the weekend.  Weekends are held in various locations, including hotels and retreat centers.

There is a cost for the weekend, but in the 40 year history of Worldwide Marriage Encounter, no couple has ever been turned away from a weekend because of lack of money.

Worldwide Marriage Encounter is a non-profit organization and all donations from the weekend are used to continue offering additional weekends throughout the country and the world.

Married couples who want to learn more about making their “good marriages better” as Alton said on the Oprah show, can find out more about Worldwide Marriage Encounter Weekends by calling 1-800-795-LOVE,  by visiting www.wwme.org on the web, or by contacting the National Office at (909) 863-9963.

Contacts:
Dick and Diane Baumbach
Worldwide Marriage Encounter
Phone: 321-544-3440
Website: http://www.wwme.org

Tom and Katie Watson
Worldwide Marriage Encounter
Phone: 303-503-9756
Website: http://www.wwme.org

Mike and Jeanne Emry
Worldwide Marriage Encounter - Section 12
Section 12 Coordinators
Phone: (925) 672-2016
Email: mj4ever@lovemoredeeply.org
Website: http://www.wwme12.org