To The Editor:

Last fall, the Bee shared my story about how COVID forever changed my marriage ministry (“Pandemic Over, But Changes Live On Through 60-Second Marriage Tips”).

Back then, my ministry had moved from church sanctuaries and fellowship halls into the online world almost overnight. Instead of leading couples through an eight-week, in-person workshop, I was producing 60-second videos on marriage, faith, and daily life, shared on YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. It was a radical shift — and at the time, it felt like the biggest change my ministry would ever face.

I was wrong.

The next wave of change came not from a virus, but from technology: artificial intelligence. Over the years, I had created about 1,000 videos. Suddenly, with AI tools like Google Notebook, I could organize, review, and repurpose those clips in ways I had never dreamed possible. Using ChatGPT, I began crafting daily devotionals for Facebook. Soon, my online content was being reintroduced in live formats — and that’s when something remarkable happened.

We launched I Do Dates, a program where couples meet at church for a 10-minute marriage enrichment video I’ve written and produced. Then, the church sends them out on a three-to-four-hour date while providing childcare. The only rules? No talking about work, no problem-solving, and no kid talk — just enjoy each other.

Before they leave, we break the ice. Two weeks ago, we played Are You Smarter Than a Newlywed? Couples stood, answered questions, and were “out” if their answers didn’t match. Years ago, in our pre-COVID Not So Newlywed Game, the newlyweds won. But this time, the champs were a couple married for decades — living proof that love can deepen, not fade, with time.

Looking back, my ministry has come full circle — from in-person events, to an all-online presence, to new in-person gatherings built on digital and AI resources that didn’t even exist when I started. What began as a survival strategy during the pandemic has now become a bridge: connecting technology, the church, and the timeless need for couples to strengthen their marriages.

And in a culture where relationships are under constant pressure, maybe that’s the story worth telling — that even in unexpected change, there’s room for hope, laughter, and love that lasts.

Kenneth L. Schaefer

Newtown