The South England Conference (SEC) Family Ministries department conducted two events over the past two Sabbaths, during the 'Christian Home and Family Life Week' between 12-19 February. Dr Dion Henry and his wife Dilyn, guest speakers, presented on Sabbath 12 February, with Dr Curtis Fox sharing on Sabbath 19 February.
SEC Family Ministries Director Dr Augustus Lawrence said, "to many people, the disruptions and changes to our daily schedule over the last two years due to Covid-19 are innumerable. Navigating relationships have been more challenging than ever during this time."
Lawrence added that "boundaries have become blurred and finding physical space for reflection had been difficult. Adjusting to being torn out of our daily routine may have led to new problems in some relationships, and those who experienced isolation may have been the most time ever spent with them. You may have noticed things about your partner that annoyed you that you never noticed before. Adding to this frustration, financial difficulties and health concerns may have shortened your temper, leading to an increase in tension and arguments. On the other end, if you are in a long-distance relationship or are unable to see your partner during isolation, you may have experienced loneliness or poorer emotional support."
"Yet for others, there was a need to heal from deep relationship wounds in various relationship situations—love relationships, family relationships, friendships, and work relationships. In fact, for some, connecting with certain people open the potential for hurt and what we do with that pain can 'make' or 'break' us. So, how do we effectively 'move on' and heal from the pain of a relationship breach?"
The SEC Family Ministries department recognised this reality and provided emotional and spiritual support to those whose lives had been shaken or shattered. The various virtual interventions focused on what will significantly help people to grow and help their situation. Hence, on 12 February, the seminar was on 'Forgiveness is Intentional' and presented by Dr Dion Henry and his wife Dilyn, a mental health specialist. Expanding on the benefits of forgiveness, they affirmed that merely thinking about and talking about a desire to forgive someone who has wronged you is healing. Henry said, "the good news which is worth sharing is that the benefits of committing to forgiveness extend to other problems in our lives such as depression, anxiety, or work-related problems. When we work on forgiveness, other problems diminish as well."
On 19 February, Dr Curtis Fox, a specialist in marriage and relationships, focused his presentation on newly married couples. The seminar was to help couples develop a deeper understanding of their relationship and how they can find solutions to relationship issues and learn essential communication skills. He also touched on assisting couples in identifying and narrowing their core issues and how to gain a more comprehensive understanding of the causes of these issues. Fox then recommended how to brainstorm solutions to improve their core issue.
Lawrence says they have decided to do this for two reasons. Firstly, they care, and the Lord cares for us and the things that bother us. Secondly, we care because care must go beyond mere feeling. We care, in humility and through being empowered by grace to have competence in the behaviour of helping. He says this is their commitment by the grace of God.
