―Targeting local and church communities
The Marriage and Family Life Department of First Assembly of God Wortmanville, Guyana has been in existence for 21 years. It has been an essential pillar to the church’s position of godly, healthy marriages and well-rounded families.
The Marriage and Family Life Department of First Assembly of God Wortmanville Guyana has been in existence for 21 years. It has been an essential pillar to the church’s position of godly, healthy marriages and well-rounded families.
One of the founding couples/members of this department, Brother Neil Corry and Deaconess Audrey Corry (the Corrys), took time to reflect on the work of this particular ministry. They remarked on its impact on couples preparing for marriage, those new to married life, and even those who continue to navigate this sacred institution.
The Corrys are one of five couples in the local church given the responsibility by the leader of the fellowship, Bishop Dr. Murtland Raphael Massiah, to facilitate marriage enrichment programs for couples in the fellowship. They were among those identified and trained through Marriage Ministries International (MMI) after recognising the need to support couples on biblical teachings and relative instructions for marriage and family life.
According to Deaconess Corry, “Break-ups and divorces occurred almost as frequently in Christian families as in non-Christian homes. Pastors and preachers were faced with numerous marriage and family problems (from within the assembly), and many were ill-equipped to handle these issues.”
Noting that unresolved issues affect not just the husband and wife but the entire family, Deaconess Corry further expressed that over the years, as the needs arose, the department expanded to include the whole family – children, adolescents, adults, singles, and the elderly. Eventually, what was just known as the Marriage Enrichment Committee became the Marriage and Family Life Department.
The members of this department believe necessary interventions aid in a successful marriage. One such intervention is premarital counselling. Premarital counselling provides an opportunity for our marriage counsellors to be transparent about expectations in marriage.
For single persons, it is crucial to understand the realities of starting life with another person who would have been a total stranger to them sometime before. The counselling sessions also focus on the word ‘covenant’ to both God and the individuals entering into the marriage. Marriage is regarded as the holiest institution and one which should be honoured.
The hallmark activity of this ministry is its annual Marriage Retreat for married couples, which is scheduled for November 26 and 27, 2021, under the theme ‘Made for Each Other.’ This year’s retreat is prepared to host 40 couples in a hybrid (virtual and in-person) session with keynote speakers Dr. Massiah and his wife, Elder Angela Massiah.
The Corrys detailed that this retreat promises to be a purposeful getaway aimed at reflecting, recharging, and taking time off for a complete focus on a marriage. “Marriage brings with it much wear and tear. A marriage retreat offers an opportunity to come away from the hustle and bustle of daily life and to give couples time to reflect, repair, recharge, and reconnect,” they noted.
The retreat is just one of many activities that this department undertakes. These include an annual Family Fun Day, Family Movie Night, Fundraisers to purchase school supplies, Health and Wellness programmes, Medical Outreaches for the elderly, Parenting Seminars, to name a few.
“This is a family ministry, and every need of the family should be addressed, whether it be spiritual, psychological, physical, or other….” Deaconess Corry emphasised while visualising the department’s reach in the near future, which is to make known to all, especially those in the community, the functions of the department and the local church as a whole.
