By Brian Blackwell, Baptist Message staff writer
PINEVILLE, La. (LBM) – Eighty-five couples said, “I do,” again, during the renewal of wedding vows with the witness of the First Baptist Church at the congregation’s Pineville and LeCompte campuses, July 30.
Following Pastor Stewart Holloway’s message on the seventh commandment (found in Exodus 20:14), couples stood up in unison and voiced recommitment. Some have been married a few years while others have been wedded for decades.
“This was a way to highlight the importance of marriage and why it is sacred,” Holloway told the Baptist Message. “And it showed the younger people who aren’t at the stage of being married that doing it God’s way is the best way.
“A strong society is built on the foundation of marriage,” he continued. “Strong marriages lead to strong families that lead to a strong society. We’ve seen the breakdown in family and that will be turned away one family at a time, one generation at a time. This was a way to show that we are committed to marriage.”
Blake Fuselier and his wife, Amy, were among those who renewed their vows at FBCP. He appreciated how the event allowed them to underscore that their family is based on a commitment to Christ.
“I am not a touchy-feely type of guy, so it took me out of my comfort zone,” Fuselier said. “It was important to do this in front of our children so we could set a good example for them in our marriage,” he continued.
“I want them to see what a good Christian marriage is like. They need to see the gushy, lovey side of me sometimes. The renewals made me thankful for what we have in our marriage.”
Tammy Morrison and her husband, Butch, participated in the ceremony at FBCP a week before their 47th anniversary. They were married Aug. 7, 1976.
“When Stewart provided this opportunity in the service, it gave Butch and I the opportunity to reflect on the same commitments we made 47 years ago,” she said. “Again, in front of God, family and friends we were able to renew those same vows. God has been faithful in our marriage, and I pray we have been faithful to Him.”
