What can we do to save marriages in our churches?

[Charlene Clevenger]

Belinda's post about how to start talking again after an argument made me think about the marriages in our church that have failed over the last several years. Way too many.

What can we do, as women with more established marriages, to help the couples, especially the women, who are going through problems, and stop a divorce?

Two young couples, in particular, come to mind. Wonderful, Christian people, from Christian families, who dated for some time and had beautiful weddings. Then in less than two years it's over. I prayed and prayed on my own, but I didn't feel I knew either of the young women well enough to step in and speak to them. Maybe I should have been more pushy.

I can't think of anything like this going on in our church at this time, but, no doubt, it will happen again.

[Alisa Stoll]

The easiest way to fix is to help avoid the breakage. Giving advice to young married couples or even better yet - engaged couples so they know how to communicate before the problems get big is important. I'm in a Bible study and the example recently was roots of sin. The speaker thought the plants coming up were flowers, she went away on vacation and when she got back, she found out they were weeds! It took significanlty more effort and time to get rid of them when they were full grown than it would have taken if she had pulled them up when they first sprouted.

I think the same is true in relationships. Unfortunately many times, as outsiders, we don't see the problems until they are full grown and very difficult to pull out. So the weeds overtake the marriage and divorce occurs.

I think in a church a young marrieds Sunday School class is important. I also think having supporters for Marriage Encounter type weekends is also helpful. Pre-wedding counseling is crucial. And as I said before, advice given before the problem starts makes utilizing the advice a whole lot easier.

Alisa

[Belinda Y. Edwards]

It isn't just young adults.

i just learned last evening of a very dear friend. A very wealthy friend - who - made choices in life that has cost the family greatly.

i am grieved today.