LAKE COUNTY –Those facing marriage conflicts can find help in Lake County. A group of area churches has collaborated to offer a series of six marriage assistance seminars that will culminate with a renewing of vows on June 12.
The session will be offered in three locations in the Clearlake and Lakeport areas. Through the use of internet technology, the five pastors leading the seminars will bring a simulcast to each location. The teacher will broadcast from one location and each of the other locations will simultaneously receive the lesson. Then in each group a discussion and/or question and answer session will follow.
“No one gets married expecting that it will be their marriage that ends in divorce or separation. When getting married, couples are in love and excited about their future together,” Pastor Brian Hoyt said. “Building quality relationships is difficult. It often takes skills that we have never learned. Not having marriage skills is a clear example of ?what you don”t know can hurt you;” as the number of marriages that end in divorce attest to.”
According to Rose M. Kreider and Jason M. Fields, “Number, Timing, and Duration of Marriages and Divorces: 1996,” US Census Bureau Current Population Reports, Feb. 2002: “About 50 percent of first marriages for men under age 45 may end in divorce, and between 44 and 52 percent of women”s first marriages may end in divorce for these age groups.
The likelihood of a divorce is lowest for men and women age 60, for whom 36 percent of men and 32 percent of women may divorce from their first marriage by the end of their lives.
A similar statistical exercise was performed in 1975 using marital history data from the Current Population Survey (CPS). Projections based on those data implied that about one-third of married persons who were 25 to 35 years old in 1975 would end their first marriage in divorce.”
Pastor Hoyt said there is hope. “Your marriage can be one of the successful ones. We have put together this program to offer teaching and mentoring in the development of marriage relationship skills,” he said. “Everyone who completes the six seminar session will be invited on June 12 at the gazebo at Library Park in Lakeport to participate in the renewing of their vows ceremony. In the past, couples who have renewed their vows have found it very meaningful and rewarding.”
Hoyt said everyone in Lake County is invited to join with the hundreds who have already signed up to participate. The only requirement is a desire to have a better marriage relationship. The three locations where the sessions will take place include New Hope Fellowship next to K-Mart in Lakeport; Praises of Zion Church 3890 Emile Avenue in Clearlake; and the home of Pastors Brian and Suzanne Hoyt, 13642 Arrowhead Road in Clearlake.
Pastor Hoyt said there is a series of six topics that have been proven to improve and strengthen marriage, which will be taught through the seminar.
Each session will be held on Friday evening on the following dates: April 23, topic: Forgiveness, with Pastor Moses Zapata; April 30, topic: Serving, with Pastor Brad, of Cobb Mountain Community Fellowship; May 7, topic: Preserving, with Pastor Jeff Daly of Jesus Christ Fellowship in Middletown; May 21, topic: Guarding, with Pastor Zapata; May 28, topic: Celebrating, with Pastor Hoyt; and June 4, topic: Renewing, with Pastors Brian and Suzanne Hoyt.
This effort was organized by Pastor Moses Zapata of New Hope Fellowship in Lakeport. There is also an opportunity for other churches that wish to host a group to receive the simulcast.
For more information call Pastor Zapata at 349-2546 or Pastor Hoyt at 695-0745.
Contact South County reporter Denise Rockenstein at drockenstein@clearlakeobserver.com or call her directly at 994-6444, ext. 11.
