By Ebunoluwa Sessou

It was a moment of gratitude, reflection and renewed commitment to God as Rev. Israel Kristilere, Lead Pastor of Shepherdhill Baptist Church, and his wife, Pastor Mary Kristilere, celebrated 29 years of marriage alongside the launch of two new books.

The thanksgiving service, marked by heartfelt testimonies and exhortations, highlighted the couple’s journey since their wedding on March 1, 1997; a date they described as divinely ordained.

Speaking during the celebration, Pastor Mary Kristilere shared an emotional testimony about the realities of their marital journey, describing it as a story of God’s faithfulness rather than human perfection.

“Celebrating 29 years of marriage, my heart is overwhelmed with gratitude. It is not because our journey was smooth, but because God has been faithful,” she said.

She recalled that the first 10 to 15 years of their marriage were particularly challenging, marked by misunderstandings, communication struggles and moments of emotional distance.

“There were tears, there were prayers, and there were difficult seasons. We had to learn real forgiveness, daily forgiveness, the kind that costs you something,” she added.

According to her, forgiveness, patience and intentional communication became critical tools that helped rebuild trust and strengthen their friendship over time. She emphasized that their survival as a couple was anchored on faith in God.

“When our strength failed, God became the third cord that held us together,” she noted.
Addressing couples experiencing difficulties, she urged them not to give up but to choose commitment and forgiveness, stressing that “the same God who carried us through will carry you.”

In addition to celebrating their anniversary, Pastor Mary also launched her first two books, which she described as a 10-year journey of obedience and perseverance.

The first book, Owning Your Season: A 30-Day Devotional for Singles focuses on identity and purpose for unmarried individuals. She explained that her interactions with singles in ministry revealed gaps in understanding self-worth and purpose outside of marriage.

“Some people have tied their identity and purpose to marriage. They are waiting for marriage before they begin to live. But purpose is not postponed until marriage,” she said.

The second book, Your Daily Inspirational Dose, is a compilation of daily motivational and faith-based reflections she began posting on social media in 2016. She recounted a defining moment when a woman reached out to her, saying one of her posts stopped her from taking her own life.

“That was when I realized these messages needed to go beyond social media and reach more people,” she said.

In an interview with Vanguard, Rev. Israel Kristilere described their 29-year journey as one marked by divine help and deliberate effort.

“God has not designed marriage for suffering. His intention is for us to enjoy it. But a happy marriage will not come by chance; it will come by choice,” he said.

He explained that couples must be willing to pay the price of commitment, endurance, forgiveness, faithfulness and maturity.

“You do not enter marriage and expect everything to work automatically. If it will go well, there is a price to pay,” he cautioned.

On raising godly children, the cleric emphasized intentional parenting, describing it as one of the core purposes of marriage.

“God expects us to raise for Him godly offspring. That will not happen by accident; it must be intentional,” he stated.

He added that parents must lead by example, noting that children learn more from what they see than from what they are told.

“Your life must make sense to them for your words to make sense,” he said.

The service featured Bible readings from the book of 1 John 4:7–12, emphasizing love as the foundation of Christian living and marriage, alongside worship sessions and prayers.

The celebration concluded with prayers for couples and families, as the congregation gave thanks for what many described as a living testimony of enduring love, faith and commitment.