Quote:
Originally Posted by Mrs. LPW
...now if only there was something we could do to shake the ministry up on this one. Our district hasn't had a good marriage retreat in years... first they got rid of them altogether, and the last few were more expensive to go to than previous years.
You said something Rhoni, that struck a chord with me. You mentioned how there is the worry that if a separation or divorce would occur it would bring reproach on the church.
One (just one) of the big factors for us sticking it out was the fact that my mother's entire family are Anglican, and they've never known this wonderful Holy Ghost experience... and not one of her sisters and brother's marriages have broken up. At some of our lowest points it was in my mind that I wanted to keep the best witness possible for their sake...
Other factors were of course, I loved my dysfunctional hubby in spite of everything and I didn't want to displease the Lord either.
We have a young couple friend... married just a short time compared to us... but we know they argue alot... and it hurts us to hear them. It brings back a PILE of memories! I don't think they've gotten as bad as we had, but if they don't learn to work through these differences now, in five years they may have drifted too far apart. Our movement is going to suffer greatly if they don't figure out how to minister to the married. (as well as the single/never married and the divorced)
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The church does not know how to effectively minister to marrieds, singles and divorced b/c we have learned to not deal with the issues that are very real to us today.
We have infidelity, AIDS, the down low, finances, conflict resolution, domestic violence just to name a few.
We need to married folks who been together for a minute to give seminars and counsel to young marrieds on how to stick it out. We need folk who have struggled with their sexuality-and came out VICTORIOUS on the other side of it and are happily married to minister to the guys on the down low and women struggling with their sexuality.
We need to hold financial seminars
just for married folks.
We need teach folks how to fight fair and not take it to a physical level.
And what about AIDS/HIV???? We are dealing in a time when some folks are gonna come in positive or dyng of AIDS. Do we marry them or forbid it?
Can we effectively inform the couples of what is going to happen when you marry an HIV positive partner?
And it is my belief that there is
absolutely not enough pre marital counseling.
I think one year of pre marital counseling would not be a bad idea.
Folks have issues, let's be real. And in three to four sessions, they can hide those issues if it means they can get down the aisle in a hurry.
But time has a way of revealing all things. Even those things folks don't want to come surfacing to the top.
Take your time. Make an informed decision.
That's my motto...
Sis Wenona
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