By Agbonkhese Oboh

The family remains the smallest, but vital building block of the society; so when it is positively bonded, the society will be better for it.

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Senior Pastor, Praise Arena, Kingdom Light Christian Centre, Pastor Jummy Adetoyese-Olagunju, said this to husbands and their wives at a couples’ retreat, Couples’ Day Out, organised by the church to rekindle love and marital vows.

According to the cleric, “many challenges in homes can be addressed when the family find time to bond and play together. So couples should create an atmosphere of relaxation, make out time to play, have fun and laugh together indoors and outdoors. Brighten and lighten the mood around the home.

“A family that laughs together, sticks together. Stable homes makes up stable societies, because the state of our homes will rub off on the society.”

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The Couples Day Out was part of the Family Series programme for the church in Lagos, which had about 30 couples in attendance, who were taken to a game centres, fun places and the beach to interact.

Reacting, a couple said it was an engaging and beneficial event, as it was the first for them since they got married seven years ago.

Effect on children

Asked factors that will make marriages endure, Pastor Adetoyese-Olagunju said the institution of marriage was created by God and it can only work out successfully by following the principles laid out by God in the scriptures for marriages.

He attributed the rise in divorce to non-compliance with Christ teachings, love, patience, mutual trust and tolerance, which are never changing, noting that societal ethos that run contrary to Christ’s principles for marriage will lead to divorce, broken homes, breed delinquent children and feed terrorism.

His words: “Some countries are recording decrease in number of inmates in their prisons because the principles of love, compassion, due-consideration, selflessness, parity are ingrained in the minds and heart of their youths right from their homes.

“Countries where basic principles of love and compassion are espoused and celebrated have less cases of divorces, because children are taught values for life, integrity, honesty and selflessness.”

He posited that husbands should see their wives as help-meet and reverence her at all times, while the wife should honour and support her husband as they work together in fulfilling God’s purpose for their lives.

He stressed that intending couples must be willing to follow God-given instructions and to ask God for direction before getting into marriage, because “God who instituted marriage and family life, is also interested in helping us to make the right choice of who to married.”

Olagunju implored single men and women not to be carried away with mere show of love or choose a life partner because such an individual is a member of a denomination, without taking into consideration the Godly values he or she holds.

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He added that asking God for direction on whom to marry and following the scriptural teachings will save from a lot of trouble in the future.

Vanguard