Marriage – Naija Gospel Radio

Miracle: Sexagenarian marries for the first time

Against the usual and normal events of seeing young lovers join together in holy matrimony, it was indeed a miracle when a sexagenarian, Augustina Nwatoka got married for the very first time on January 25th at St. Theresa’s Catholic Church in Enugukwu, Anambra State, Nigeria

A lady, Nneka Isaac Moses made a post on Facebook on January 26th where she said she and Isaac (presumably her husband) were delighted to witness the most “the most beautiful wedding of this century!”

She wrote further, “Aunt Nwatoka had never been married all her life. She’s Isaac’s aunt from his father’s side and one of the best aunt in-law you can wish for. She took excellent care of my husband’s grandma until she passed in her 90’s.

“She was always there for the whole family each time we went home for Christmas or … I was personally surprised but pleasantly so when a handsome Enugukwu man Mr. Okeke decided to take her hand in marriage.
“Aunt Nwatoka as she’s fondly called was literarily swept off her feet. And just yesterday (January 25) he wedded her at St. Theresa’s Catholic Church in Enugukwu, Anambra State. Mr Okeke is a Lagos businessman while his new bride works in Anambra. Having found happiness, the groom who lost his first wife many years ago is giving himself another chance

“And who would have thought that our dear Aunt Augustina Nwatoka at her age will ever be married! God is awesome. God is merciful. He never gives up on His children so, be positive as this year will not pass you by”

Imam Divorces Wife For Becoming Christian

An Imam in Lagos State has ended his 21-year-old marriage to his wife after she converted to the Christian faith.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Rabiu, 48, an Islamic cleric, had approached the Igando Customary Court, seeking a termination of his marriage to Rachael, who had turned a prophetess.

According to him, prior to their marriage, Rachael had agreed to abandon her Christian religion for Islamic faith.

“But three years ago, she now told me that God has asked her to return to her former religion and become a prophetess,” he said.

According to him, “I cannot accept that under my roof; it is either she comes back to my faith or I send her packing through dissolution of the marriage.

“The annoying thing is that she does not go to her church alone but takes the children along.

“Now the Central Mosque Association Committee vowed to remove me as an Imam if my wife refused to return as a Muslim.”

After much back and forth, the court’s President, Mr Akin Akinniyi, ordered the dissolution of the marriage, stating that the court had no alternative than to dissolve the marriage as efforts by the court and family to reconcile the couple had failed.

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RCCG to Conduct ‘Genital Test’ on Intending Couples

The Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), will begin carrying out what it refers to as a ‘genital test’ on its members intending to get married.

In a memo dated May 10 and seen by TheCable, the church said it gave the directive after it noticed recurring cases of resulting from “falsehood, especially in the case of undeclared or unconfessed reproductive/genital status.”

For women, the genital exam involves a pelvic exam. The pelvic exam allows a doctor or health care provider to check the internal and external reproductive organs for signs of disease. In females, the reproductive organs include the vulva (the outside of the vagina), the vagina, the cervix, the uterus, the fallopian tubes, and the ovaries.

During the male genital exam, a doctor performs a visual and manual examination of the male genitals which includes the testicles, epididymis, spermatic cord, and vas deferens (the latter three being tubes connecting the various parts of the male reproductive system). If indicated, the doctor will also examine the rectum/anal area, and the prostate gland.

F. Odeola, a pastor of the church, said Enoch Adeboye, general overseer of RCCG, has ordered the entire mission’s output to henceforth include the genital test as part of the pre-marital examination for its members seeking to get married.

It also asked the church’s provinces to register with trusted government hospitals for the medical examinations.

“The Mission Authority has observed the recurrence of cases of marital crises resulting from falsehood, especially in the case of undeclared or unconfessed reproductive/genital status,” the memo read.

“We have the directive of the General Overseer to instruct the entire Mission’s outpost that forthwith, pre-marital medical examination for intending couples should also include genital test.

“Further, Provinces are requested to register with particular (trusted) government approved hospital for the various pre-marital examinations for intending couples.”

A RCCG pastor confirmed to TheCable that he received the memo.

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Increase In Divorce Alarming – Ogunleye

Pastor Adebola Ogunleye of the Foursquare Gospel Church on Sunday in Lagos said the rate of divorce among Christians was alarming.

The cleric said this during his sermon entitled, “Maximizing Godly Impact for the Family.” He pointed out that family strife was on the rise and urged brethren to address root causes of marriage problems leading to divorce.

“Today, it is no longer news that pastors are beating up their wives and divorce has crept into the church. Divorce of convenience is what we see in the church today. It is becoming a vogue in church, which must stop,” he said.

He called on couples to constantly review their relationships and correct all the wrongs, adding that they should also seek Godly counsel from church elders where there were bigger issues they could not handle alone. He also warned against wrong counsels and advised couples to guide against external influences that could cause trouble in the home and family.

He urged women to be submissive to their husbands and warned husbands to always love their wives and guide against ungodly ego that could affect harmony in marriage. He listed factors for having Godly homes to include, positive personal principles, proactive parenting and prayerfulness.

He said that each member of the family had a role to play, adding that they all needed to make personal decisions to make the home work. “Parents need the principles of Godliness and holiness, children need to have that principle too,” he said.

The cleric urged couples to have positive influence on their children and serve as role models for a better family and society. He explained that Satan attacked the first family of Adam by causing hatred and division that led one of the children, Cain, to kill his brother, Abel.

He added that Satan was still attacking marriages and families till today and stressed the need for peace and harmony in the home to create a conducive atmosphere for raising Godly children.

“We should not follow the world pattern of parenting, if your child is wearing his trousers like American prisoners and you pass it for fashion, it’s wrong. We must let our children know it should be God first, God last, God in between and God always. Teach them to know that God is not an option, God should be everything,” he said.He said fathers should learn to be role models and not just those who give mandates. “Children do much more of what they see us do than what we say,” he said.

He called on the church to always organize constant inclusive programs to strengthen the family unit and reduce the rising rates of divorce.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the cleric led couples with troubled marriages to pray for peace and regeneration of their homes. NAN further reports that the month of May was chosen by the Foursquare Gospel Church, Cement Zonal Headquarters, as its Family Month.

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Nathaniel Bassey to Ladies: Expose Any Married Man Hunting You

Gospel musician Nathaniel Bassey has called on ladies to expose any married man hunting them.

The minister expressed sadness over the manner some self proclaimed Christian ladies go about having affair with married men, and questioned how many of them will like such atrocities to befall them in their own marriage.

According to Nathaniel Bassey, “Today looks like a day to sound out some hard truth. And beloved, only the Truth sets free. To my wonderful Christian sisters. The number of stories I get to hear, via emails etc, about sisters, supposedly saved and in church but dating married men is quite alarming. Please if you have not heard this truth, may I have the privilege of sharing it with you?

“Please stop it!!!!! You are sowing dangerous seeds for your own life, marriage and destiny. Never hide under grace to perpetuate such evil o. It only shows a lack of understanding of grace. Ask yourself, ‘In your own marriage, would you want such to happen?’ As a Christian, you are God’s daughter. A princess. You shouldn’t be someone’s toy and instrument in the hands of the enemy.

“No matter how long you have waited for your own husband to come, never settle for someone else’s concubine. You are worth way more than that. If there’s a married man who keeps disturbing you, declare your stance to him. And if he insists, expose him. Remember this is your life! Don’t allow someone else LUST cause you some colossal LOSS. Don’t sow fire and brimstone into your future home” he said.

Cleric to Couples: Make Christ Central in Your Homes

A cleric has urged Christian couples to make Christ central in their homes by faithfully following the biblical oaths and principles.

Rev. Kayode Olubodun of St. Paul’s Anglican Church, Ojodu-Abiodun Lagos gave this advice during solemnisation of Holy Matrimony between Olusola Adedoja and Eniola Temitope at the Church premises.

Lamenting the incessant dissolution of marriages rampant especially among young couples, the cleric said most Christian homes are going through ‘hell’ because they have misplaced their priorities.

Olubodun stressed that for any home to survive in a time like this, it must be ready to surrender all its endeavours to Jesus. He also admonished couples to work together in love.

“I challenge you to make your marriage work. Invite Jesus to your home. Work together intimately and avoid comparison. Use your words to lift up one another. Always speak with one voice. Listen to your couple. Love each other. Be good friends. If time permit, eat together” Olubodun said.

The cleric also charged couples to create ample time to pray together against the wiles of the enemy.

Christian Bridal Shop Close Doors after Receiving Death Threats

A Christian bridal shop in Pennsylvania, USA, has closed after feeling threatened by the LGBT community because they declined to provide a wedding dress for a lesbian wedding.

The Christian Post reports that the owners of W. W. Bridal Boutique in Bloomsbury were asked to provide a wedding dress for Julie Ann Samanas who was marrying her fiance, Shannon Kennedy.

The business owners told the couple that “our faith doesn’t let us believe in [same-sex weddings].”

The lesbian couple posted about their experience at the bridal shop in a Facebook post in which they tagged the bridal shop. W. W. Bridal Boutique responded to the criticism in a Facebook post of their own which has reportedly since been deleted.

“The owners of W.W. Bridal Boutique reserve the rights afforded to them by the First Amendment of the Constitution to live out our lives according to our faith,” the W.W. Bridal post was quoted as stating. “We will continue to serve our customers based on the tenets of our faith.”

“We have provided formal wear for our customers from all walks of life, including the LGBTQ community. We have always served everyone with respect and dignity,” added the shop’s co-owner Victoria Miller, in a response to the push back against the owners’ decision. “It is just this event, a same-sex marriage, which we cannot participate in due to our personal convictions. We simply ask that we be given the same ability to live our lives according to our convictions.”

The bridal shop owners have even received death threats. They have decided to close their doors to further business except in cases of appointments.

God Has Overwhelmed Me With His Peace – Michelle Qureshi

Michelle Qureshi, Wife of Christian Apologist and Evangelist, Nabeel, has described the state of calmness and peace that she has been overwhelmed with since her husband was diagnosed with cancer.

Nabeel a Christian convert from Islam was last August diagnosed with stage four stomach cancer, with a recent scan revealing that the radiation treatment did not work, making the situation more dire.

Speaking on Nabeel’s vlog which he set up since after his diagnosis, Michelle said,

“The thing that is really the rock for me right now, I really believe that the Lord since September has given me this overwhelming peace about this whole situation but a peace that means this is going to lead to healing”

“I know it is more than a feeling, I believe it is the Holy Spirit and it is supported by Scripture and for whatever reason, God has decided to support me that way”

Sharing words from which have helped bolster their faith and fortitude at these trying times, Nabeel cited Psalms 103, 27, 23 amongst others.

Michelle honed in on trusting God who is a true refuge and fortress in all circumstances (Proverbs 3:5 & 6, Psalm 46).

Finally, they shared how supporting and uplifting the Christian community in Houston has been to them in these hard times.

Watch the vlog here and please intensify your prayers for our brother, Nabeel!