God went beyond our prayers in His responses to the requests made for our state’s recent marriage enrichment weekend at White Oak Conference Center. One couple who participated in our 2006 Victorious Marriage Conference noted in a survey that the conference was “very rewarding, it will help us as a couple to continue to grow closer to God and one another. Thank you!”
Roger ActonClay Crosse, “one of the most successful male vocalists in the Christian music industry,” and his wife Renee shared the struggle that Clay had with pornography, which had been going on since his teens.
God got Clay’s attention first, yet Renee realized that their home environment had “triggers” such as her women’s magazines and entertainment magazines. The Crosses shared this and other challenges with more than 65 couples and noted that there are “areas of authority” for which a couple needs to take responsibility, quoting Proverbs 22:3 as a reference of this challenge.
Clay and Renee’s book, “I Surrender All: Rebuilding a Marriage Broken by Pornography” (NavPress) brings to life the challenge of their new joint ministry, HolyHomes. They told the couples that their home needed to be “set apart for God” – every aspect, as 1 Peter 1:14-16 (HCSB) establishes: “Be holy, because I am holy.” That empowered each couple in attendance beyond the conference.
Regarding “be holy,” the commitment to vote “One Man, One Woman” on Nov. 7 complements the Crosses’ renewed priority in their marriage, and each of our marriages. As the scriptures declare that homosexuality is immoral in Romans 1:24-27 (HCSB), a marriage thus is not holy if it does not support God’s design of one man, one woman – it is against God’s commands and design.
We took time to pray at several points before, during and after the 2006 Victorious Marriage Enrichment weekend – for couples attending, for leaders teaching, and for the overall impact on even one life or one couple changed eternally. As you pray, ask God to start His work in you, as a single or married adult, as how you can help folks understand the priority of protecting and strengthening the institution of marriage.
“I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith” (2 Timothy 4:7, HCSB). Couples attending were challenged by these words, as it was a part of the thematic passage for the 2006 Victorious Marriage Conference held at White Oak Conference Center on Aug. 11 and 12. What a powerful perspective, as the visual of shoulder to shoulder a couple takes on all that the world has to offer; they are not alone. God is their leader, and their faith will be honored. “Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing” (2 Timothy 4:8, HCSB).
As we vote “One Man, One Woman” on Tuesday, Nov. 7, remember Christ who surrendered all for us – and let us not surrender all we believe to anyone, other than Him alone!