Marriage Matters presentation

Marriage Matters

Gerald Driskill Updated on Flourishing Families, Guest Writer

We know the facts but we needed reminders:  

Children benefit from two parent homes:

  • 80% less likely to live in poverty and rely on welfare;
  • Lower involvement in drug and alcohol abuse, gangs, and crime.

Marriage is good for men and women:

  • Increasing the likelihood of better health, lower rates of disability
  • Reducing the rates of drug and alcohol abuse

Marriage means better economic outcomes:

  • Over a ten year period, tax payers save about $100,000 for every marriage saved
  • Children are more likely to complete college and have better jobs

Over 30 faith leaders were reminded that marriage matters. We gathered at Family Life on January 8th. Leaders from non profits, churches, state and government organizations came together because of their desire to improve the health of marriages in our area.

We gathered together to do more than review the facts. We gathered to be reminded that a united church is needed to impact our continued high divorce rates and decreased marriage rates. We came together because God wants us to serve together.

A united church does what we did. We cried out to God, we recognized our role in not working together to impact marriages. We sought his forgiveness, his power to bring hope.

We committed in our own congregations to engage in National Marriage Week, Feb. 7-14.
We each agreed to do something this week, a sermon, a date night, a workshop, something to encourage marriage. We connected with each other to being a long journey of being more intentional in the way we support marriages.

We prayed as we launched this network of leaders who want to identify strategic ways to improve the way we encourage marriage. The Central Arkansas Healthy Marriage Initiative (CAMI) was launched with a clear mission–to improve the lives of Arkansas by promoting healthy marital relationships. CAMI participants are bridge builders who connect folks interested in God’s plan for marriage with a desire to strengthen couples and families.

Contact Phil Goad ([email protected]) if you want more information about National Marriage Week or CAMI.

Gerald Driskill
Gerald and Angela Driskill have been married since 1992 and have two adult children, Eli and Abby. They have been involved in mission and service in other countries. They have been leading house churches since 1994. Gerald serves as a professor at UA-Little Rock and serves with the City Church Network. He has served on the Little Rock Church preaching team. The Driskills have been involved in foster care and in the children and youth ministries. Angela is a physician for UAMS/Baptist health. She is a gifted Bible teacher and also serves in the women’s ministry. Gerald says, “We are grateful for the loving and service focus at the heart of this church family. We have been mentored and grown over the decades by so many.”