St. Marys couple brings marital wisdom to new book

The Emmaus Road to Marriage: A Couple’s Journey to Love’s strength

Most love stories start with a spark of romantic attraction, but enduring love is cultivated through dedication and unwavering commitment. for Joe and Audra Sutton,a couple from St. Marys, their journey represents a powerful testament to this truth, spanning a remarkable 35 years.

“We’re far from a perfect marriage, and we never claim to be,” Audra Sutton acknowledges honestly. “We work on our marriage daily, and I think that’s a key thing.” this commitment to ongoing growth and advancement has become their driving force, leading them to mentor young couples and those on the precipice of marriage.

Inspired by their deep Christian faith,the Suttons sought to transform their years of experience into a practical resource,culminating in the publication of their book,”The Emmaus Road to Marriage.” Released in late 2024, the book offers a 10-session program designed to equip couples with the tools to build strong, healthy relationships.

“This is an improve-your-marriage book,” Joe Sutton explains. “This gives points from Scripture verses and our experiences,and what we see can help people form a marriage that’s closer to Christ.” The program delves into the importance of prioritizing quality time together, mastering effective dialog and active listening, and embodying selfless love by putting their partner’s needs first.

Their personal journey toward a stronger marriage took a pivotal turn through their involvement in the Walk to Emmaus program, a 72-hour retreat focused on spiritual renewal. Both experienced this life-changing journey in 2000. While not specifically designed for married couples, the program became a catalyst for deepening their relationship with God and each othre.

“We had a good marriage, but we had those troubles that most everybody has, like we didn’t communicate the best and we didn’t look at the priorities we needed to have for each other,” Joe Sutton reflects.”I think the biggest change in our marriage and in our lives came with our emmaus Walks that we took.” This transformative experience laid the foundation for their ministry, guiding them to share their insights and wisdom with others.

Their path to ministry wasn’t a straight line, though. A year ago, the Suttons joined Celina First Church of God, where their involvement sparked a new direction.

The Emmaus Road to Marriage: An Interview with Joe & Audra Sutton

Love stories frequently enough begin with romance, but true love blossoms through years of dedication and unwavering commitment. For Joe and Audra Sutton, a couple from St. Marys, their journey spans 35 years, a testament to their passion for nurturing a strong and healthy marriage.

“We’re far from a perfect marriage, and we never claim to be,” Audra Sutton admits candidly.”We work on our marriage daily, and I think that’s a key thing.”

This commitment to continuous growth and refinement has become their passion, guiding them to mentor young couples and those on the brink of marriage. Inspired by their deep Christian faith, they sought to share the wisdom they’ve gathered over the years, transforming their experiences into a tangible resource – the book, “The Emmaus Road to Marriage.”

“This is an improve-your-marriage book,” Joe Sutton explains. “This gives points from Scripture verses and our experiences, and what we see can help people form a marriage that’s closer to Christ.”

Released in late 2024, the book offers a 10-session program designed to equip couples with tools for building positive relational habits. It delves into the importance of prioritizing quality time together, mastering effective interaction and active listening, and embodying self-sacrificial love, placing their partner’s needs first.

Their journey toward strengthening their marriage found a pivotal turning point through their participation in the Walk to Emmaus program, a 72-hour retreat focused on spiritual renewal. Both experienced this life-changing journey and found inspiration in Jesus’s transformative encounter with his disciples on the road to Emmaus, an episode described in the Bible.

“We met with the pastor and we said, ‘we are very passionate about marriage, and we would love to disciple young people getting ready to get married or are just starting in marriage,’” Audra Sutton shares. “And he’s like, ‘Oh my gosh. We don’t have that, but we need that here at church.’

Now, their vision extends beyond their church walls. The suttons aspire to share their wisdom through in-person workshops and retreats, reaching couples across various communities.”If we have changed one marriage and they turn towards Christ with what they do, this book has done what we needed it to do,” Joe says with quiet conviction.

“The Emmaus Road to Marriage” is available online at

bit.ly/4gmGI28.

Finding Strength in Faith: A Couple’s Journey to Marriage Ministry

Joe and Audra Sutton’s path to marriage ministry wasn’t a straight line. While their marriage was strong, they faced common challenges, admitting, “We had a good marriage, but we had those troubles that most everybody has, like we didn’t communicate the best and we didn’t look at the priorities we needed to have for each other,” Joe reflects.

A turning point arrived through the Emmaus Walk,a spiritual retreat. Joe shares, “I think the biggest change in our marriage and in our lives came with our Emmaus Walks that we took.” This transformative experience deepened their faith and ignited a passion for helping others.

A year ago, they joined Celina First Church of God, where their desire to serve blossomed. Audra recounts, “We met with the pastor and said, ‘We are very passionate about marriage, and we would love to disciple young people getting ready to get married or are just starting in marriage.’” Their church recognized the need for guidance in this area, creating a perfect opportunity for the Suttons to lend their expertise.

Now, their vision extends beyond the church walls. They dream of leading workshops and retreats,sharing their wisdom and experiences with couples across diverse communities. Joe expresses this mission with quiet conviction, saying, “If we have changed one marriage and they turn towards Christ with what they do, this book has done what we needed it to do.”

Their message of faith-filled marriage guidance is captured in their book, “Emmaus Road to Marriage,” available online at bit.ly/4gmGI28.

Have faith played a significant role in shaping your marriage journey? Share your experiences and insights in the comments below. Let’s explore the powerful impact of faith on relationships.

How did the Emmaus Walk impact Joe and Audra Sutton’s marriage and inspire their desire to help others?

The Emmaus Road to Marriage: An Interview with Joe & Audra Sutton

Love stories frequently enough begin with romance, but true love blossoms through years of dedication and unwavering commitment. For Joe and Audra Sutton, a couple from St. Marys, their journey spans 35 years, a testament to their passion for nurturing a strong and healthy marriage.

“We’re far from a perfect marriage, and we never claim to be,” Audra Sutton admits candidly.”We work on our marriage daily, and I think that’s a key thing.”

This commitment to continuous growth and refinement has become their passion, guiding them to mentor young couples and those on the brink of marriage.Inspired by their deep Christian faith, they sought to share the wisdom they’ve gathered over the years, transforming their experiences into a tangible resource – the book, “The Emmaus Road to Marriage.”

“This is an improve-your-marriage book,” Joe Sutton explains. “this gives points from Scripture verses and our experiences, and what we see can help people form a marriage that’s closer to Christ.”

Released in late 2024, the book offers a 10-session program designed to equip couples with tools for building positive relational habits. It delves into the importance of prioritizing quality time together, mastering effective interaction and active listening, and embodying self-sacrificial love, placing their partner’s needs first.

Finding Strength in Faith

Joe and Audra Sutton’s path to marriage ministry wasn’t a straight line.While their marriage was strong, they faced common challenges, admitting, “We had a good marriage, but we had those troubles that most everybody has, like we didn’t communicate the best and we didn’t look at the priorities we needed to have for each other,” Joe reflects.

A turning point arrived through the Emmaus Walk,a spiritual retreat. Joe shares, “I think the biggest change in our marriage and in our lives came with our Emmaus Walks that we took.” This transformative experience deepened their faith and ignited a passion for helping others.

A year ago, they joined Celina First Church of God, where their desire to serve blossomed. Audra recounts, “We met with the pastor and said, ‘We are very passionate about marriage, and we would love to disciple young people getting ready to get married or are just starting in marriage.’” Their church recognized the need for guidance in this area, creating a perfect prospect for the Suttons to lend their expertise.

Now, their vision extends beyond the church walls. They dream of leading workshops and retreats,sharing their wisdom and experiences with couples across diverse communities. Joe expresses this mission with quiet conviction, saying, “If we have changed one marriage and they turn towards Christ with what they do, this book has done what we needed it to do.”

Their message of faith-filled marriage guidance is captured in their book,“Emmaus Road to Marriage,” available online at bit.ly/4gmGI28.

Have faith played a notable role in shaping your marriage journey? Share your experiences and insights in the comments below. Let’s explore the powerful impact of faith on relationships.