Rev Les Isaac and Wife Advocate for Stronger Support for Marriages in the Church
After 45 years of marriage, Rev Les Isaac, known for founding Street Pastors, and his wife Louise are committed to sharing the insights they’ve gathered, despite acknowledging their union isn’t “perfect.” Their early struggles have inspired a passion for empowering other couples, as they expressed in a recent Keep the Faith magazine online event.
The Isaacs emphasize the importance of church involvement in marriage support, noting that even Christian marriages face significant challenges. Rev Isaac highlighted a phrase coined by Louise: “The length of a marriage is not evidence of the health of the marriage,” to stress the need for proactive support.
Louise Isaac underscored the spiritual dimension of marriage, noting that anything deemed ‘good’ by God often becomes a target. She recounted a conversation with a non-Christian friend who observed increased friction in marriages compared to partnerships, suggesting a deeper spiritual issue at play.
Prayer, according to Louise, should be the Church’s first response to marital issues and should be integrated into regular church agendas. She advocated for intentional marriage ministries to foster relationship growth within the church community.
Rev Isaac, an OBE honoree, encouraged church leaders to engage openly with congregations about marital issues, preventing crises before they escalate to divorce proceedings. He remarked on the need for honesty among church leaders to dismantle the existing “culture of silence” surrounding marital struggles.
He proposed that churches dedicate time, such as Sunday mornings, to teach about family relationships from a biblical perspective, to guide members toward healthier interactions.
Louise acknowledged the Church’s significant role and challenges in addressing these issues, but emphasized that divine guidance combined with an understanding of congregational needs can ease this journey.
Rev Isaac called for tapping into the talents within the congregation, suggesting that church leaders empower skilled members to support others. “We are not suggesting that the pastors or the leadership has to do everything. We have a lot of skilled, gifted, and educated people within the church,” he noted, encouraging churches to utilize these resources effectively.
This article was originally written by www.christiantoday.com
