The District Head of the Christ Chosen Church of God Int'l Okumagba 3, Apst. F. M. Adeotu AFP, has decried the influence of foreign cultures on African marriages, which the minister said is destroying most marriages in the black continent.

The minister made the revelation at the Solemnization of Holy Matrimony between Princess Sandra Timiyan and Mr. Harrison Panama in the church that is situated in Eboh Road, Warri, Delta State on Saturday, December 2, 2023.

In a brief sermon during the wedding ceremony, Apst. Adeotu who took his reading from the Bible book of Genesis 2:18-25, advised the bride and the groom to listen to good counsel in order to succeed in their marriage, a union he describes as a lifetime engagement, a school but not a course of four years even though a certificate will be given to the couple immediately after the ceremony.

According to Apst. Adeotu while hinting on why many modern day marriages are failing said "Most women when they enter into their husband's home begin to have problem because they fail to acknowledge the contributions of those who made their husband."

The minister further alluded that one reason of marriage failure is the exportation of foreign culture to the African culture, giving instance of where wives seek to give permission to their in-laws before they visit, an act he said is not African tradition. Same goes for the man. When you marry a man or woman you marry into his/her family.

Apst. Adeotu in his counsels advised the couple to be committed to each other, to uphold trust, to have respect for each other, to be open for communication, and they should have knowledge of their makeup.

"Lack of commitment to the assignment that God has given to you will lead to failure in marriage. Both couple must be committed to each other.

"Uphold the instrument of trust. Lack of trust has ended most marriages. You're grown ups and adult, and have made friends, but you come together to live as one. So be plain to each other. Don't hide or keep secrets from each other. If you're open to each other there will not be distrust.

"Respect for each other. The Bible says the woman should respect the husband. However respect is reciprocal. If you don't sow the seed of respect you cannot harvest respect. Husbands should respect their wives just as the wives respect their husbands."

He also charged the wife and husband to show respect to each other's family, and that the man should always communicate with wife always.

“Every man should discuss with his wife. She is your help mate, the one God has given to you to help you. The woman is the neck that carries the husband who is the head. The head cannot function if the neck fails to cooperate. Women like talk even though men don't like to talk much. Women live long because they empty their hearts through talking but not so with men who bottles everything up.”

Lastly, he admonished the couple to understand each other in order to build a successful while adding that, "Have knowledge of the makeup of a woman. Every woman is good, beautiful, powerful, anything you can think of. If they are bad it depends on who is marrying them."

Highlights of the ceremony include the exchange of marital vows and wedding rings by the couple, the signing of their marriage register and group photograph session.

The couple, in company of their families, proceeded thereafter to the reception venue, the Jubilee Conference Center in Enerhen, where the celebration of their love continues.

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