Around a decade ago, Willie and JoLynn Carter found their marriage at a critical crossroads: Either it was going to get better, or it was going to die.

In a recent interview in their southeast Topeka home, the Carters said someone at that time invited them to go to a marriage enrichment workshop in Branson, Mo.

The workshop, titled “Marriage Rejuvenation,” was sponsored by New Life in Christ ministries.

The Carters say that workshop helped get their marriage back on track, putting a much-needed focus on God as the centerpiece of their relationship.

After attending Marriage Rejuvenation workshops for several more years, the Carters said they believed they needed to share what they had learned with others.

With virtually no experience on running a workshop, the Carters said they set out by faith to do just that.

The couple launched the Sweeten Your Marriage Ministry seven years ago. Each year, the ministry has held marriage workshops in early February in Topeka.

The next edition will be a three-day event titled “The H.E.L.P. — Hope, Empower, Love and Protect” from Friday, Feb. 3, to Sunday, Feb. 5, at the Capitol Plaza Hotel, 1717 S.W. Topeka Blvd.

Guest speakers will include some ministers who may be familiar to capital city residents, including the Rev. Delmar White, of Ninth Street Missionary Baptist Church in Lawrence, and Apostle Evan Watson III, of El Shaddai Ministries Church in Topeka.

Other workshop leaders will be Apostle Louis Greenup, of Denham Springs, La.; Ministers Thomas and Surrina Greene, of Grandview, Mo.; and Richard and Louella Marks, of Jacksonville, Fla.

Friday and Saturday workshops are $15 per person or $25 per couple for the entire weekend.

A candlelight dinner on that Saturday at 7 p.m. is $75 per couple, and doors will open at 6:30 p.m.

At 8 a.m. Sunday, a citywide worship service, for which there is no admission charge, will be led by Greenup.

Willie Carter, 48, who is a member of the Kansas National Guard, said three relationship components must be grasped if a couple is to realize an improvement in their marriage.

“People need to put God first in their lives, followed by their spouse, then their own needs,” he said. “Many times, when we get these out of order, we start having problems in our marriages.”

JoLynn Carter, 52, a Topeka cosmetologist, said couples need to be intentional in working on their marriage.

“The more you study the Word of God and understand the principles of why he created marriage, the more you’ll see that you need to die to yourself and put other people before you,” she said. “It is a daily challenge.”

As part of that challenge, the Carters, who are parents to three children, say they encourage couples to “pray with each other every day.”

For tickets or more information on the Topeka workshop, call (785) 235-0404 or visit www.sweetenyourmarriage.com.

The registration deadline is Thursday, Jan. 26.