There are many reasons why churches need  an active, effective Marriage Ministry doing more to build strong Christ centred marriages. Some of most important reasons are:

1. Marriage is designed by God and for His purposes [Gen 1: 26-31]  and  is the foundation of the family. Building stronger marriages will lead to stronger families which creates stronger churches, which creates stronger communities, which will create a better world. Marriage is uniquely and sacredly designed to display God’s kingdom on earth. When husband and wife, together, draw closer to God their marriage will improve, and from that nearly all else that their lives impact will also flourish e.g. family relationships, church participation etc. When a marriage is hurting this also has a knock on effect – a negative one!
2. Within Christian life marriage is an important  area and has a vital part to play within the church.
3. Strong marriages are the foundation for an emotionally stable, Christ centred home for families to grow and the children of such marriages being the base of the future health of the church and beyond.
4. Strong marriages would incorporate scriptural stewardship in all parts of life. Being married and raising children is a great privilege and probably the most challenging/demanding areas of life. Other than in marriage we do not usually experience the full meaning of agape love, self sacrifice or commitment. Marriage is a first class training ground for Christians from which some will rise to be respected leaders in the public arena.
5. Christian marriage should be a powerful witness to the community/the world and needs to be nurtured.
6. If we in the church do not speak up about God’s design, purpose and instruction for marriage the people of the church will seek to get answers about marriage from the world’s culture (which is a reason that so many marriages struggle).
7. We have a responsibility as followers of Jesus and ministers of the gospel to raise up the value of a Christ-centred marriages and to honour marriage;  teaching  and equipping our congregations how to make their marriages all God planned.

Marriage Ministry…..

…… for a long period, has been and still is an effective outreach, because marriage still is one of the few areas where the community outside the church is willing to listen to what the church has to say.

Part 2 ~ Strategy to Start or Revive a Strong, Effective Marriage Ministry