Services & Specialties

You will find Marks’ list of services to be a lot different than most ministers. Included are any of the following that you wish to include:

• all introductory meetings, either in person, by phone, Skype or FaceTime
• an five week Marriage Enrichment class, either in person in Carson City, or by webinar, focusing on honest, open, vulnerable communication.
• a pre-rehearsal meeting with you and your fiancé,
• the presiding over your rehearsal, based on your instructions,
• the presiding over your ceremony, with prior input from the two of you,
• a framed souvenir copy of your marriage license,
• a booklet copy of your ceremony, to include a copy for your parents
• and possibly most important, free marriage counseling for life. I check in with you every year on the anniversary of your wedding, and see how you are doing. If you need me to meet with the two of you, I am available.

I think it is important to meet with a couple to get to know them, and for them to get to know me, before we ever sign a contract. At that initial meeting, I begin to get a feel for what kind of ceremony you will want. If you decide to invite me to perform your ceremony, I write your ceremony, email you a copy and you are allowed to make any changes that you would like to make. I personally like to blend seriousness, spirituality and humor, but it is your ceremony, so it is your decision how it should be conducted.

So, you are not just getting the best minister in the whole world (possibly an exaggeration) but you are enlisting the help of someone who cares about you and about your future as a couple. I like for a special bond to develop between the three of us, and to be there for you when you need me … not just to show up on the day of your wedding, and then drive off and leave you to the whims of your environment, be it good or bad.

“The Marriage Class”
Online Classes Taught by Pastor Mark E. Frady

Subtitled “Honest, Open, Vulnerable Communication for a Happy, Successful Marriage”
Using the Book Titled “Intimate Encounters”, by David and Teresa Ferguson

In 1998, Carla and Pastor Mark Frady, then married for 20 years, were looking for something to help save their marriage. Their biggest problem: they did not communicate on an honest, open, vulnerable level. The argued incessantly. Carla heard about a class offered by their church and as a last-ditch effort to save their marriage, they took the class. They began to communicate and learned to give rather than to take in their relationship.

As a result, they wanted to share this material with other couples, especially engaged and newly married couples, in the hopes that these couples would not have to go through so many years of pain like Mark and Carla had endured. So, they began to share the material with other couples, and now, after 20 years of doing so, 389 couples have taken the class from them, of which 368 of them are still married as of January 2022. Most of these couples have taken the class online, in the comfort of their own homes, along with four to six other couples, in an five-week class using the software called Zoom. Mark shares with the attendees, in one-hour sessions, the author prepared video, as well as his journey with Carla, being very vulnerable about his shortcomings during the first twenty years of their marriage. Whenever Carla is able to be present during these sessions, she does the same. I think that is one of the reasons why the class has such a high success rate.

Two other reasons why the class is so successful: 1) the material is based on Biblical principles. One example: “do unto others as you would have them do unto you”, or more simply stated, treat other people like you would like to be treated. Although the book is based on Biblical Principles, it does not, as I like to say, “try to cram the Bible down your throat”. 2) the way the book is set up, it is designed for me to share each chapter with you, then you independently read the chapter and answer the questions in the chapter. Then before me meet again in seven days, you, the couple, sit down and have a “Marriage Staff Meeting” where each of you shares what you read, wrote, thought and felt. One of the most important rules of these meetings is that your mission is to listen…you do not get to interrupt, argue or get defensive.

I could probably give you an email address for all of the couples who have taken the class, and you could ask them how they liked it. I think that every single one of them would tell you that you should take the class. But here are some reviews that might be of interest to you:

What I (her) loved most about the class is how revealing it was. When you're in a long-term relationship and planning a wedding, you got very caught up in everything, but the fact is: you are about to begin a marriage! This class put everything into perspective for me. And also, it made me realize how important it is to put “us” first. The weekly date night, and the weekly marriage staff meetings are something that every couple should be doing on a regular basis. I thought it was such a wonderful reminder to put your relationship first and enjoy each other. I feel this book is the beginning of healthy habits to build a great foundation for a loving and intimate relationship. I'm so glad we did it!

What I (him) loved most about the marriage class was learning about all the new ways to make myself better for my marriage and my wife. I appreciate the time Mark set aside for us. And I'm really looking forward a lifetime of intimacy with my new wife.
Alexxis and Jeremiah

We were both hesitant to take the class but we are so glad that we did! Communication was always an area in which we struggled prior to taking the class. Now it is the strongest aspect of our relationship. The class teaches you how to constructively work through issues together as a couple. The class helped us open up to each other and identify what each of us needs from our partner. By identifying each of these needs, it has greatly helped our relationship and our understanding of one another. We have already recommended the class to several friends and family members.

If you are feeling unsure or are hesitant to take the class like we were, at least give it a try and complete the first chapter with your significant other. It’s like going to the gym...you never regret going…it’s just a struggle to get your shoes on and get your rear end out the door!
Nancy and Mason

Devon was hesitant about taking this class, but once he started, he seemed to enjoy it. Cops are hard-headed and not accustomed to letting their guard down...for anything. I’m thinking that he felt he's going to be exposed and perhaps "ganged up on" if his dirty laundry is aired for complete strangers. What he needed to understand is that he didn’t even have to talk at all if he didn’t want to. .Devon found just listening to you and the others who did want to share was helpful in itself. In our sessions, Jason was really the only male who did any talking......Devon and Riley began to share also and that was great for me and Danielle. As you know, Devon and I hit a rough patch midway through the sessions, which was painful for me since we had been married less than a year. But guess what, God showed up, as always.....and we're as strong as ever.

Cops, in general, do not trust people. Satan knows this, so he exploits their fears of intimacy. All they have to do is "show up." Tell him it's like a "call for service." He just needs to respond. Let God handle the rest. :)
Michelle and Devon

We weren't quite sure what to expect at the onset, and we've jumped in completely to what you and the book have been teaching us. We have had some very deep and intimate conversations as a result of the exercises, which has really strengthened our bond as a couple, and also our bond with our daughter as parents. We cannot stop evangelizing the course to our friends and family, and hope that they pick it up too. So I guess that means we liked it :)
Gary and Monika

The most valuable lesson I have learned from taking this class is that Jason is just as interested in having a healthy and happy relationship as I am. In the past, it had always felt to me that I was struggling so hard alone to make our lives better and to stop the fighting. This class gave us a way (after 5+ years) to come together on neutral ground and discover that our relationship goals were actually the same: to have a happy and peaceful marriage with minimal fights. Realizing that we share that common goal has made our lives so much easier.

The most helpful thing I have learned from this class is how to better understand where Jason's stress comes from. I had always known in vague terms where his stress came from, but this class provided an easy way for us to better explain our perspectives in a non-confrontational way. I feel like we are each better able to support each other now and have remembered how to treat each other as best friends instead of adversaries. We have more fun with each other than anyone else again; just like when we first met. I am honestly excited to get home from work each day to hang out, and I feel lucky that we get to do this for the rest of our lives.

I was afraid that taking this class would be all about talking about our feelings and crying about past experiences, and it wasn't. It felt a little strange at first, but we actually had fun with it. By the end of the 7th week class, we would pour ourselves a glass of wine and enjoy the company of each other and of those in the webinar sessions.
Danielle and Jason

This class gives you time to sit down and discuss things that typically go unspoken. Even though you might think you are a couple that is good at communicating it really just helps to put you on a totally different level. We are so thankful that we took the first half of the class and feel closer than ever. Can't wait to finish it after the wedding.
Lauren and Tyler

We were excited about the class from the beginning, but our biggest concern was time, especially since our lives were busy with wedding planning. We were considering taking the class after the wedding but decided it would be most beneficial to take it before so we could work on having a stronger relationship going into the marriage. As the class began, we noticed it only took about two hours of our time per week, which is not a lot, especially if you really love and care about your partner. One hour of reading/staff meeting and another hour for the group meeting.

Looking back, we are very happy we took the class because it helped with our communication skills. It also allowed us to take a step back and analyze how we were acting in certain situations. For instance, I (Vicki) noticed how defensive I would get when Zhenya pointed out something I did that hurt him. After completing chapter four, I learned how to take responsibility for my actions and stop creating excuses. We believe that chapter four was the biggest value of the class because we were able to heal past hurts and we learned the true meaning of forgiveness. We also really enjoyed chapter two while discovering each other's emotional needs, such as affection and approval.

Zhenya's favorite part of the class was the staff meetings we would have after reading each chapter. It was a good time to forget about daily distractions and anxieties, while focusing on each other and real conversation. We would hold hands, giggle and cuddle on the couch while really connecting with our feelings and thoughts about the material. He also really enjoyed chapter seven, in which one of our tasks was to treat one another as royalty for a day. He really enjoyed being a King!

Overall, we feel that our relationship is stronger after completing the class and we promised to each other that throughout our lives we will revisit the chapters of this book. We would definitely recommend this class to other couples, especially to couples that would benefit from improving their ability to communicate with each other in a kind and loving way.
Vicki and Zhenya

The marriage enrichment class was really valuable for my fiancé and me. We already have a great relationship, but this class helped us make it fantastic. We learned so much about each other's needs, how to work through an argument and ultimately how to communicate best with each other. This is a class we would like to do yearly as we believe it's giving us a solid foundation for having a great marriage. I would highly recommend this class to anyone who wants to have a great relationship with their future spouse or current spouse. The format of the class is very open and not intimidating at all.
Ashley and Dustin

I must say that at first I didn't think I would be that interested, but as it was free, it wasn't a big deal to at least try it! After the first few lessons, WOW, I immediately realized what it could bring to a couple’s relationship.

Growing up, I never saw my parents loving each other and it was not a surprise that they got divorced when I was six years old. Then I lived with my mother and missed having the example of a father. So even though I was very confident when I proposed to Justyna, somewhere, a part of me wondered if I could be a good husband or father.

And here is what I like the best about this class: it helps each person to think about what they bring to the relationship…and how to live together

The class helps each person to find his/her own answers. Some exercises are fun, some others can be a bit challenging, but in the end it really makes the couple closer to each other, and I can't think about any other way to experience that, especially in the present day, where everything goes so fast, where we seem to have time for nothing more to add to our schedules. This class teaches us how important it is to make time for each other and how to simply enjoy spending time together.

I think that when it comes to being married, everyone agrees that at some point it involves some work to obtain the relationship we were hoping for.

But to be practical, what is this work? What are we supposed to do? What if some problems get in the way of happiness? This class gives many practical examples on how to create a healthy environment where the relationship can grow and last. Or how to get back to a healthy relationship when that’s not the case anymore.

Only one thing I wasn't too particularly happy about were the parts about the Bible in the book. As I don't have any special religious conviction it was a bit hard for me to translate the spiritual intimacy into other meaningful things. But is was possible, and I did it! I agree with the ideas of faith and redirecting our expectations towards some hope rather than onto each other. And I thank you Mark for allowing people with any (or no) religious beliefs to participate in this class.

For sure I am going to talk about this book to some of my close friends. And I wouldn't advise a couple to wait if the are having problems…take this class, because even when everything is good (which was our case) there is a lot of room to make the relationship even better, more intimate and more fun!
Justyna and Adrien

I think what we learned in the class that helped us the most is that we can solve our problems in a positive way. We use "I" statements now which helps with our communication and understanding. I, personally, feel more like compromising to make him happy on some things than I did before. Ted was a little hesitant to take the class at first because he thought, "we don't need counseling", but he saw that it was not “counseling” and he enjoyed the class, realizing that it was good information for communicating with one another and that you can never have enough information about making a marriage work.
Jackie and Ted

It's a great class because you learn a lot about your partner that you most likely would've never taken the time to sit down and talk about before, including some delicate subjects. It helps you understand why your partner acts the way they do and say some of the things they say. It also shows you valuable ways to try to combat some of the things you say and do that are negative in your relationship. We have gained wonderful tools to help us with communication in the future.

Although the book is bible based, Mark focuses on the practical teachings and not the religious aspects (for those that are contemplating taking the class if they are not religious). Overall-highly recommend!
Megan and Rob

Danielle: The most valuable lesson I have learned from taking this class is that Jason is just as interested in having a healthy and happy relationship as I am. In the past, it had always felt to me that I was struggling so hard alone to make our lives better and to stop the fighting. This class gave us a way (after 5+ years) to come together on neutral ground and discover that our relationship goals were actually the same: to have a happy and peaceful marriage with minimal fights. Realizing that we share that common goal has made our lives so much easier.

The most helpful thing I have learned from this class is how to better understand where Jason's stress comes from. I had always known in vague terms where his stress came from, but this class provided an easy way for us to better explain our perspectives in a non-confrontational way. I feel like we are each better able to support each other now, and have remembered how to treat each other as best friends instead of adversaries. We have more fun with each other than anyone else again; just like when we first met. I am honestly excited to get home from work each day to hang out, and I feel lucky that we get to do this for the rest of our lives.

I was afraid that taking this class would be all about talking about our feelings and crying about past experiences, but it wasn't. It felt a little strange at first, but we actually had fun with it. By the end of the 7th week class, we would pour ourselves a glass of wine and enjoy the company of each other and of the other couples in the class.

Jason: As a peace officer in the state of California there is a profile surrounding us with a high divorce rate. I think there is some validity to that and it’s because we bring our baggage home from work. The last thing we want to do is come home and deal with more stressful situations because of stress at work. When faced with problems, I often become a "yes man" in attempt to satisfy Danielle in arguments. With the class, a lot has changed. Danielle often told me we needed counseling sessions to get through this marriage and come to agreements on certain hot button topics. I don't believe we ever needed counseling, just a solid line of communication (which was provided in the class).

The greatest value was just that, a solid line of communication. We were never very spiritual, all though we do go to church in and around holidays (Easter, Thanksgiving, Christmas etc.). We learned how to speak to each other. Words are just 10 percent of communication, the way they are spoken and body language are key. People like options to say yes or no. Since the class I no longer tell Danielle what I am doing, I ask her politely if she would object to something if I did it (golf, snowboarding, drinks with friends etc..). If she expresses displeasure one or two times out of ten that is fine, which is what happens now.

And lastly, how to get over the past. Certain aspects of your mate may not bother you individually, but when they do something 5, 6, 7, times you come to a culminating point. The class helped us get rid of things that bothered us in the past, identify them for change in the future and to become more flexible.

In the end the class was great. It was a compromise to counseling and it taught us lessons we would not have if we went to a counselor. In a counseling session, the counselor is the one helping you overcome obstacles. In the class, it is purely up to the married couple to come up with solutions to the problems, the class is just a tool to identify them. We were definitely hesitant to take the class but very happy that we did.
Danielle and Jason