Second honeymoon

The first few months and years of marriage can feel like hard work, it’s often said. Once the festivities have died down you have to learn to work as a team and accommodate each other’s wishes and foibles. It was no different for Samuel and Marie* from Makeni in Sierra Leone. Thankfully, they had a helping hand...

The newlyweds rented a small, single room in the village. However, it was clear all was not well in their world; they were soon being described as argumentative by their neighbours. It was a tough time for the couple. They struggled to make ends meet and their relationship became more and more strained.

‘Life was tough and we had a poor relationship,’ says Samuel. ‘We never used to plan together.’

The pair regularly attended the local church, and it was there that they received help to turn things around. Tearfund and local partner organisation, NEHADO, helped to launch the process known as Church and Community Transformation (CCT) in their church. As part of this, the church ran a series of participatory bible studies that enable churches to unlock their God-given power and potential.

Who do you think you are?
The people who take part are encouraged to discover their true identity – created in God’s image – and how they therefore have the potential to change their and their community’s lives. It was a game-changer for the couple.

They had been told before that the Bible contained good news, but they had never realised the full extent of that good news.

As the couple continued, their relationship flourished and so did their motivation to build a better future. They started a business selling kitchen utensils and other household items, before moving onto property development. The pair already have plans to expand this work.

‘We feel blessed and grateful to God for all these blessings, and to our pastor for opening our eyes and understanding,’ says Marie. ‘We believe that these teachings truly made the difference in our lives.’ 

Please pray
Father God, we thank you for the work you are doing through NEHADO and the work that leads to churches and communities being transformed. Thank you for the joy you have brought into the relationship of this couple. We pray that more and more people will be blessed in their lives and their marriages as they take part in CCT around the world. Amen.

*Names changed to protect identities.