UNITED Church of Zambia (UCZ) Riverside congregation ministerin-charge Joseph Chinyanta’s call to the Church and families to stop rushing marriages of young couples who are inadequately prepared for the lifelong commitment in line with President Hakainde Hichilema’s appeal to the Church to help save marriages is timely.
Marriage is sacred. It’s not a union that anyone can get into and get out of at will. It requires commitment. And those getting into it must understand fully well what they are getting into.
This is why we stand with Reverend Chinyanta in urging the church to stand its ground in ensuring that people intending to marry know each other well and undergo necessary teachings to properly equip them with knowledge and wisdom on how to handle marriage.
Couples entering into marriage must indeed be adequately prepared for the lifelong commitment they are about to make.
Indeed, “most youths have lost their values, they have turned themselves into alcoholics, drug addicts, perpetrators of gender-based violence, and it is people like them wanting to jump into marriages and end up being divorced.”
Too many of our young people are rushing into marriages when they are not ready. They get into marriages very much unprepared. It becomes only a matter of time before they start seeking to divorce.
This is why Reverend Chinyanta’s appeal to churches and families to ensure that couples are ready for marriage before they are allowed to wed should be heeded.
Pre-marital counselling can help those getting into marriage to navigate the challenges that come with marriage.
In addition to pre-marital counselling, ongoing support and guidance from the Church and relatives can help couples weather the inevitable storms of marriage.
The Church should continue to promote good communication, mutual respect, and reinforcing the importance and significance of marital vows, which are crucial aspects of healthy marriages.
It is imperative for the Church to create a supportive environment that values and upholds the sanctity of marriage. They should deliberately offer marriage enrichment programmes such as couples’ retreats. Such programmes can empower couples to strengthen their bond and overcome challenges together.
It is unacceptable that we continue to record a high number of divorce cases as a country.
As President Hichilema observed in his address to Parliament on Friday the continued rise in divorce cases from 31,000 in 2022 to 36,000 in 2023, it is indeed worrying.
Something has to be done; and done now to save marriages
Indeed, “we need to build strong marriages where couples and families are capable of resolving differences amicably.
Marriages where couples are capable of raising children into responsible citizens, anchored on strong family and religious values.”
Marriages are an integral part of our societies. Healthy marriages entail healthy societies. Conversely, a breakdown of marriages may indicate a breakdown in the moral fabric of societies.
But churches and families can only do so much. The onus is on couples themselves to save their marriages.
We, therefore, join the President in urging couples, especially the young ones, to “abide by the strong commitment of marriage and live in love, peace and harmony. A few differences among couples should not lead to separation but rather reconciliation through civilised dialogue.”
Church must help save marriages
UNITED Church of Zambia (UCZ) Riverside congregation ministerin-charge Joseph Chinyanta’s call to the Church and families to stop rushing marriages of young couples who are inadequately prepared for the lifelong commitment in line with President Hakainde Hichilema’s appeal to the Church to help save marriages is timely.
Marriage is sacred. It’s not a union that anyone can get into and get out of at will. It requires commitment. And those getting into it must understand fully well what they are getting into.
This is why we stand with Reverend Chinyanta in urging the church to stand its ground in ensuring that people intending to marry know each other well and undergo necessary teachings to properly equip them with knowledge and wisdom on how to handle marriage.
Couples entering into marriage must indeed be adequately prepared for the lifelong commitment they are about to make.
Indeed, “most youths have lost their values, they have turned themselves into alcoholics, drug addicts, perpetrators of gender-based violence, and it is people like them wanting to jump into marriages and end up being divorced.”
Too many of our young people are rushing into marriages when they are not ready. They get into marriages very much unprepared. It becomes only a matter of time before they start seeking to divorce.
This is why Reverend Chinyanta’s appeal to churches and families to ensure that couples are ready for marriage before they are allowed to wed should be heeded.
Pre-marital counselling can help those getting into marriage to navigate the challenges that come with marriage.
In addition to pre-marital counselling, ongoing support and guidance from the Church and relatives can help couples weather the inevitable storms of marriage.
The Church should continue to promote good communication, mutual respect, and reinforcing the importance and significance of marital vows, which are crucial aspects of healthy marriages.
It is imperative for the Church to create a supportive environment that values and upholds the sanctity of marriage. They should deliberately offer marriage enrichment programmes such as couples’ retreats. Such programmes can empower couples to strengthen their bond and overcome challenges together.
It is unacceptable that we continue to record a high number of divorce cases as a country.
As President Hichilema observed in his address to Parliament on Friday the continued rise in divorce cases from 31,000 in 2022 to 36,000 in 2023, it is indeed worrying.
Something has to be done; and done now to save marriages
Indeed, “we need to build strong marriages where couples and families are capable of resolving differences amicably.
Marriages where couples are capable of raising children into responsible citizens, anchored on strong family and religious values.”
Marriages are an integral part of our societies. Healthy marriages entail healthy societies. Conversely, a breakdown of marriages may indicate a breakdown in the moral fabric of societies.
But churches and families can only do so much. The onus is on couples themselves to save their marriages.
We, therefore, join the President in urging couples, especially the young ones, to “abide by the strong commitment of marriage and live in love, peace and harmony. A few differences among couples should not lead to separation but rather reconciliation through civilised dialogue.”