The task of creating a movement with the goal of fostering sustainable marriages is one of the greatest challenges currently facing the African-American community. A vital prerequisite of realizing this goal is working to re-establish healthy communities and healthy families. Communities are the cornerstone of group socialization and moral obligations, and families are its initial building blocks.
Thus, when a couple engages in the dating process and ultimately finds sufficient grounds for marriage, they should be consciously aware that they are equally making a commitment to unite families, work to build sustainable communities and adopt daily practices of living a healthy lifestyle. When these essential elements work together, children are the recipients of a productive future and are better equipped to handle life’s changes.
It is for these ideas and practices that we are honored to be on this healthy marriage mission with such dedicated partners as A New Cornerstone and the Fathers Support Center.
As our faith-based partner, A New Cornerstone is keenly aware of our collective need to invoke the divine presence of the Creator in this mammoth undertaking by providing counseling services and workshops that are friendly, non-threatening and spiritually nourishing.
Our community-based partner, the Father Support Center, knows that divine invocations are less effective without the activist acumen of a community organization that unselfishly works in the trenches of inner city neighborhoods to reclaim men who have lost their way. Together our partnership has helped hundreds of couples realize their dream of healthy dating, balanced relationships and sustainable marriages.
During the past year, our country has been faced with mounting fiscal, social and healthcare crises. The near future doesn’t bold well for abating these hotly contested issues. They are a contributing factor that has caused a strain on many existing relationships. Unfortunately, these pressures can lead some couples to conclude they are incapable of committing to a lasting relationship, as well as cause others to seek ways to end their marriages. We are therefore compelled to energize our communities and people with living examples, practical methodologies and lasting optimism that they are capable of nurturing and sustaining healthy relationships, though the climate may be adverse.
The challenge of creating sustainable marriages in these trying times is why Better Family Life takes great pride in hosting our Annual Healthy Marriage Retreat. The retreat will take place on Friday and Saturday, August 19-20, 2011 at the Embassy Suites, located at 2 Convention Center Plaza, St. Charles. The event includes a banquet on Friday August 19 at 6:30 pm, featuring Pastor Aeneas Williams of The Spirit Church in St. Louis as the keynote speaker who will give us insight on “Marriage Power.” This retired NFL player is a God-centered, strong family man, and author of the book entitled It Takes Respect. He is a firm believer in the power and benefits of a spiritually grounded relationship.
Please take full advantage of the workshops that our dedicated, hard-working staff have prepared for you, and make a commitment to take whatever steps are necessary to rebuild and/or strengthen your marital partnership. For those who are cultivating relationships for the purpose of marriage, I encourage you to utilize the valuable information and counseling that will be imparted to you during this retreat. Keep the faith that you will be in a healthy relationship/marriage.
To purchase tickets and obtain a complete schedule of activities, please visit www.betterfamilylife.org or call 314-454-0622.
Ahmed is CEO of Better Family Life.
