All works and no play makes Jack a dull boy goes a saying. It was no surprise to see married members of CAC Festac Cathedral summoned by the senior minister in charge to a special banquet for married couples, and so Ministers, Elders, Deaconesses and their spouses were all gathered for Couples’ Luncheon put together by the senior Pastor Joe Jacobs and his amiable better half Evangelist Mrs. Funmi Joe Jacobs.
As at 12 noon when the programme was supposed to start on Saturday July 30, 2022, participants had been coming in in trickles and at about 1.00pm the programme commenced in earnest.
After the opening prayer the floor was taken over by Evangelist Peter and Mrs. Ajibade both distinguished and anointed singers who led in praise and worship, after which the visioner himself Pastor Joe Jacobs came up with his opening remarks.
Pastor Joe Jacobs noted that many marriages are challenged these days because husbands and wives have no time for each other, and the church of God was not an exception. He therefore thought it wise that the church could lead in the campaign of encouraging couples to stay together.
He also made the gathering realise that it would not be an internal affairs as he had invited some experienced marriage counsellors and ministers with proven success in their marriages.
The first lecture was taken by Princess Gloria Okoria, a woman marriage counsellor who was a member of Amuwo Odofin Christian Association of Nigeria. She gave a talk on the vision of a blissful and fruitful marriage. The guest minister told the modest gathering that the purpose of God for marriage was for the couple to live together and for them to be helpful to each other.
She said because of the care of this world many husbands and wives have abandoned their homes and that in effect has put sufferings and hardships on many homes. She pointed out that couples were not supposed to divorce themselves as the purpose of God was for them to live together in good and bad times, for better for worse.
She therefore stressed that causes of divorce in marriage should be looked into in a platform like the Couples’ Luncheon. She told whoever might have been undergoing pressures in their marriages to make corrections noting that it was never too late to renew their love.
She therefore advised couples to be faithful to each other, avoid violence in marriage and make sure that there is mutual respect for each other.
Mrs Okoria also touched the issue of sex in marriage submitting that sexual problems are mostly responsible for most violence in marriage. She thus admonished the participants on how they could handle sexual desires within the four walls of their homes.
She explained that sex was a gift from God and God would judge adulterers quoting Hebrew 14.4. she advised married couples to always believe that the best partners were made for them.
The afternoon was packed lots of funs and variety shows among which were couples’ game when husbands were called out to tie their wives’ gele, and Deacon Oladele carried the day.
Another interesting aspect of the programme was where couples were told to write their likes and dislikes about their spouses. This provided another opportunity for couples to know themselves more and how to correct any error in their marriage.
Later another set of guest, Pastor Israel and Evangelist (Mrs) Ereola were called out to share the experience of their blissful home. They also had very interesting intimate stories to share.
They were members of the same church, while the wife was a member of the choir the husband was an interpreter and Pastor’s Warden.
Mrs Ereola saw her husband as a good and godly man who was also very gentle.
“I married my husband as if I was going there to take care of the children. He is a wonderful man of God. I married him when I was 32 years. I can say that I am fulfilled in my marriage. All the children are doing fine. He was a civil servant while I was a teacher. He travelled a lot but each time he travelled he would sign his pay cheques in advance for me to collect. He is a selfless, sacrificial, lovely and committed husband.”
In the words of the husband, “In those days we were living like a family. I loved her singing habit. Once I was free from the old marriage I think I was ready to marry again and I told her.
Other questions raised for the guest by Pastor and Mrs Joe Jacobs included how couples could handle matters of snoring, joint account issues and handling family devotion, to which the couple patiently gave answers to based on their experiences.
According to them snoring was no issue in their home, because we are quiet sleepers. However it was mentioned that snoring could be treated by medical experts.
On family dinner, the couple revealed that every Friday the family ate together when the children were still around, and same thing goes for family devotion, and “today we thank God that the children are doing the same thing in their different families.”
They also spoke on mutual forgiveness when anyone offends each other. They encouraged families to do things the way of the bible to reduce pressure and violence in marriage.
After this session was the couples’ dance moderated by the Senior Pastor who in his remarks said couples should not be ashamed of each other.
For a marriage to stand firm the place of prayer cannot be ignored, and the host pastor also led the couples in prayers as husband pray for wife and vice versa. Prayers were also extended to members that were not present at the luncheon.
Gifts and prizes were presented to those who performed satisfactorily at each of the tasks set for them. Deacon and Deaconess Oladele went home with a gift for winning the couples’ game, Elder and Deaconess Obadiaru were presented with the first comers and the oldest couple in the meeting, while Mr and Mrs Erinfolami joyfully won best dressed couple and the runner up in the dancing competition with Evangelist and Mrs. Babatunde Apalara, as Evangelist and Mrs Samuel Omodehinde had the best couples’ dance.
In his closing remarks the host minister said the luncheon was the beginning of what to expect from his stable.
According to him, as family is very important to God so is the devil working hard to trouble families, and it is the responsibility of children of God to be on their guards. He promised to hold a similar meeting before the end of the years. He also sent invitation notice to young couples who are expected to be direct beneficiaries of such a programme.
He believed through such a programme, they would be able to interact with the elderly and learn how to run the affairs of their home.
Pastor Joe Jacobs who is also the minister in charge of the Good Women Association of Christ Apostolic Church even projected to take it to higher levels within the church hierarchy.
I want every Christian to have blissful home, the one that is full of peace, with the blessings of the lord with the way God has ordained it from the beginning, that has been my vision by organising this Couples’ Luncheon.
“We may still hold another one before the end of this year. We are extending it to Pearse Region in Christ Apostolic Church, from Pearse Region, it is going to the global level of the church especially now that God has made me the chairman of the GEC Committee of the Good Women Association of Christ Apostolic Church Nigeria and Overseas, we can organise it at different levels just to enhance marriages and Christian homes. I believe God is going to back it up.”
Real Luncheon in session
Thanks for reading this. Please like it, comment and share this story. Also follow Julius Adegunna, and PTL News on our Social Media handles or call 234-8033260387, 8120969883. If you have been blessed by our website, you are free to bless us in return. Reach out to the Publisher for donations and supports. God bless you.
Leave a Reply