Growing Better

Daniel & Rachel Sachs

Music brought them together, and almost pushed them apart.

For Daniel and Rachel Sachs, performing beautiful music on stage masked the discord in their marriage—until they discovered The Third Option at The Marriage School. Today, as they approach their 20th wedding anniversary, their marriage tells a story of slow transformation that brings hope to other couples.

From the beginning of their relationship, they didn’t date—they rehearsed. Rachel says, “We performed together in America and Europe. That’s how we got to know each other and fell in love. It seemed like it should have been perfectly harmonious, although to be honest we started fighting at our very second rehearsal.”

Painful rehearsals, marked by disrespect and arguments, threatened to end their musical partnership. Performing together is a gift from God, but they almost lost it because they didn’t have the relationship skills to know how to be in tune with one another. 

They looked for marriage help in Bible studies, in prayer groups, in marriage counselors, in Christian books… everything they could think of. “We did everything you’re supposed to do as a Christian couple,” Rachel said, “What we didn’t know at the time was that we had no relationship skills whatsoever. … When we hit a crisis point,someone told us about The Marriage School, and it totally transformed our marriage.” It was The Marriage School that finally gave them the community, the tools, and the hope that they needed in order to change and heal.

Just as musicians practice scales and techniques separately before combining them to make music, The Marriage School helped Daniel and Rachel develop essential relationship skills one at a time. Through commitment and faith, they experienced a breakthrough that transformed both their marriage and their music.

After the experience of healing in their own marriage, they discovered a passion to help others. “It was a calling of the Lord, that’s how we ended up in this ministry,” Daniel says.

“We’re using all of the skills that God gave us: the musical training, the passion for healthy marriages and families, and most of all our love for the Lord when we worship Him in these concerts,” says Rachel. “It’s important for me to tell people quite frequently that we are not living ‘happily ever after’ with a perfect marriage. No one does. We’re just growing better and better each year.”

Performing on stage in front of an audience is a high-risk moment, opening one’s self to criticism and judgement. However, being vulnerable and willing to take the risk to connect to others is also a conduit to God’s power. In the same way, The Marriage School provides a safe place for married couples to be vulnerable and open themselves to healing. As Rachel describes it, “Being honest resonates with the audience and becomes powerful when we realize we are not alone—others have experienced similar issues in marriage.”

The upcoming concerts provide the opportunity for their two passions to come together: music and healthier marriages!