Pennsylvania Family Institute has announced a new statewide initiative, in partnership with Communio, to equip churches across Pennsylvania to strengthen marriages, support families, and renew their communities.
The announcement comes as the 2026 Family Structure Index ranked Pennsylvania 34th in the nation for family stability for the second consecutive year. The data tells a sobering story: just 53.4% of prime-aged adults in Pennsylvania are married, the state’s fertility rate remains at 1.55, and only 61.9% of teens are raised in homes with married parents.
These are not abstract statistics. They represent families in congregations and communities across the Commonwealth — families the local church is uniquely positioned to serve.
The initiative will be deployed through Pennsylvania Family Institute’s Church Ambassador Network, a statewide network connecting thousands of pastors and positioning local churches to take the lead in addressing one of the most pressing challenges facing both the Church and society: the breakdown of marriage and family.
“Across Pennsylvania, pastors are seeing firsthand the strain on marriages and families,” said Kurt Weaver, Executive Director of the Pennsylvania Family Institute Church Ambassador Network. “Through our Church Ambassador Network, we are mobilizing churches to lead solutions in their communities. And this partnership equips them to do that with real, measurable impact.”
Through the initiative, churches across the Commonwealth will serve as catalysts for renewal — inviting couples and families into relationship-centered ministry, strengthening marriages, and building stronger, more stable communities.
Pennsylvania Family Institute leaders were clear about the stakes. “At Pennsylvania Family Institute and through the Church Ambassador Network, we believe the three primary spheres of authority are the church, the government, and the family,” said Weaver. “When families are strong, communities are more stable, neighborhoods are safer, and the burden on public systems decreases. This initiative allows churches to address challenges upstream, before they become crises.”
Communio, a national ministry specializing in relationship and marriage formation, will serve as the strategic partner — equipping churches with tools, data, and coaching to implement a proven, sustainable model of ministry.
“Churches already have the trust, relationships, and mission to lead this kind of renewal,” said JP De Gance, founder and president of Communio. “Our role is to come alongside them and provide the tools, data, and strategy to help them succeed and produce Gospel-inspired family transformation across their community.”
The model — known as the Data-Informed, Full-Circle Relationship Ministry® — helps churches move individuals and couples from initial outreach into ongoing engagement and ultimately into deeper formation through skills-based relationship ministry.
“What stood out to us was the ability to deliver real outcomes — restored marriages, growing churches, and stronger communities — through a model pastors can actually implement and sustain,” said Weaver. “This strengthens the work of our Church Ambassador Network by giving pastors practical ways to serve families in their communities.”
Communio-supported churches across the country have already seen measurable results. Churches partnering for 12–24 months average 24% growth in Sunday attendance. Tens of thousands of individuals participate annually in relationship ministry experiences, many coming from outside the church. Among couples in intensive programs, 74% report high or complete satisfaction in their marriages afterward.
The impact of this initiative is expected to extend far beyond individual congregations. “Pastors, through their churches, can become catalysts for generational change,” said Weaver. “Stronger marriages lead to stronger families, healthier communities, and a culture where both the Church and civil society can flourish together.”
As the initiative expands, Pennsylvania Family Institute aims to see churches across the state increasingly serve as anchors of relational, spiritual, and community renewal.
The initiative has been covered nationally by Fox News and reported on by the Pennsylvania Family Institute.
To learn more about how Communio partners with churches in Pennsylvania, visit communio.org/pa-family-policy.
Latest Articles
When Culture Gets Marriage Right and What the Church Can Do About It
Curry says healthy marriages work through tension. Most couples don’t lack conviction – they lack formation. Here’s how your church can lead the way.
Marriage Is Falling Apart. Is It Still Worth It? | Q&R Podcast
Shared faith and intentional practice can deepen marital bonds and strengthen family life. When couples prioritize God together, they build resilience against common cultural pressures.
For healthy families and thriving churches, these practices matter: marriages rooted in faith don’t just survive – they flourish, become sources of love and stability for children, and embody the kind of relational nourishment that strengthens the wider faith community.
Hard Parenting, Better Relationships: New Evidence
A new analysis from the Institute for Family Studies suggests that the kind of parenting that feels hardest in the moment—setting clear rules, enforcing boundaries, and maintaining structure—may actually lead to stronger relationships with children over time. Survey data from thousands of parents found that teens in homes with consistent expectations, such as curfews or screen limits, often report closer relationships with their parents.
For families, this insight points to an important truth: love expressed through guidance, accountability, and stability helps children grow in trust and resilience. Strong parenting, rooted in committed families and supported by healthy marriages, lays the groundwork not only for thriving children but also for vibrant churches and communities.