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Family Ministry Feature

Marriage Conference - Philidelphia, PA

“A Sabbath for your spouse…a day of connection.” That is how NAD Family Ministries Director Willie Oliver described the From This Day Forward (FTDF) conference held in Philadelphia on April 25th at the Renaissance Philadelphia Hotel Airport.

More than 60 couples gathered for the conference with the desire to improve their relationship. Some traveled from as close as Philadelphia and others from as far away as Florida. Attendees ranged from engaged couples to those who have been married for nearly half a century. Stephen Roberts and fiancé Kristi De Melo from Louisville, Kentucky made the journey to gather as many tools as possible for a successful marriage before their June 7th wedding.

Nicole and Joel Soto from the Capital City church in Albany, New York, who have been married for 2 ½ years, attended because they wanted to gain more knowledge and experience to fulfill their goal of one day leading out in their own marriage seminars.

After 49 years of marriage, veteran couple Jesse and Thelma Spencer from Philadelphia, still felt there was room for improvement in their marriage. “We never had any lessons prior to getting married, and we’re never too old to learn,” said Jesse Spencer.

Many churches brought large groups, such as the Chestnut Hill Seventh-day Adventist Church located in Chestnut Hill, Pennsylvania who was 8 couples strong. The Angaza Sharon Seventh-day Adventist Church in Newark, Delaware represented with 18 couples, all from the church’s marriage club.

by LaTasha Hewitt
LaTasha writes from Royersford, PA where she lives with her husband Andre and daughter Omara. She is the managing editor of a healthcare journal and attends Germantown Seventh-day Adventist Church in Philadelphia, PA.

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As Marriage Declines, Church Attendance Falls

by Devon Williams, associate editor of CitizenLink.com

"It exaggerates only a little to say that Americans in their 20s and early 30s divide into two groups of about equal size: those who are married, the majority of whom participate in religion; and those who are not married, the majority of whom do not participate," Wuthnow said at a conference at The Heritage Foundation.

Brad Wilcox, an associate professor of sociology at the University of Virginia, said the biggest factor driving the decline in church attendance is delayed marriage.

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Poll Shows Distorted View of Cohabitation

by Devon Williams, associate editor of CitizenLink.com

"One of the best ways to sandbag a marriage before it starts is to live together before marriage."

Nearly half of American adults believe that cohabitation can be good for marriage, according to a recent USA Today/Gallup poll. Similarly, almost half believe living together before marriage has no effect on children.

The survey of 1,007 adults found that 49 percent believe cohabitation makes divorce less likely. Brad Wilcox, associate professor of sociology at the University of Virginia, said there is a growing body of evidence that suggests otherwise.

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Family Celebration Sabbath held at Seventh-day Adventist Theological Seminary

Berrien Springs, Mich.? Family was the central theme of the aptly named Family Celebration Sabbath, held July 18-19, 2008, at the Andrews University Seventh-day Adventist Theological Seminary. The weekend's worships and workshops featured Pastors Mike and Gayle Tucker of the Faith for Today television ministry and culminated with an award ceremony and reception highlighting accomplishments of individuals who have dedicated their lives to family ministry. Music ministry, led by Michaela Lawrence, an M.Div. student, enriched the fellowship experience.

Couple Praying

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