Congratulations!

Pastor Marc and Lady Cyndi would like to congratulate Russell and Gloria Clark on their marriage. Russell is the bestfriend of Pastor Marc and was the bestman at the wedding of Pastor Marc and Cyndi nearly 29 years ago! Pastor Marc returned the favor on Saturday by being his bestman! It was an honor to host their marriage at WABC! Thank you to the leadership of WABC for accommodating the happy couple, to the Music Ministry who made adjustments to their rehearsal so that this event could be a success, and special thanks to Deacon Parker for cleaning the sanctuary in advance of the wedding.

Thank You!

We had a great time Saturday evening at our first ever Marriage Ministry event at WABC. We promise this will not be the last time we get together. Photos from the evening are now up on our facebook page. We will have your complimentary photo packages available for pick up next Sunday after our morning service.

Happy Valentines Day!

Pastor Marc and I would like to wish everyone a Happy Valentines Day! We are so excited to being hosting our first marriage ministry event at WABC on this coming Saturday at 7 PM. We have 21 couples signed up for a night of food, fun and fellowship! If you signed up but have not paid yet you still have time to turn it in to one of the trustees. We will be doing a final head count on Wednesday night at bible study. Don't forget to be dressed for your free photo session!

Congratulations

Pastor Marc and Lady Cyndi, along with the Woodland Ave Baptist Church family would like to congratulate Afred and Mazie Gray who were married this past Saturday, February 11th at WABC!

Valentine Dinner

The Marriage Ministry will host a Valentine dinner on February 18th at 7 PM. The cost is $10.00 a couple. Join us for Food, fun and fellowship. We will be taking pictures of each couple so put on your best face! For more info speak with Pastor Marc or Lady Cyndi.

Congratulations

We would like to congratulate the former Regina Crawford and Jacob Lewis, who exchanged vows on this past Saturday in a beautiful wedding ceremony at Cypress Point Country Club in Virginia Beach. We wish them all of the best as they embark on this journey together.

27 Years and Counting!

27 years ago today I married the love of my life. Sometimes I love him, sometimes I want to crack him over his head. But each and every day I thank God for bringing such a sweet, funny, complicated, generous, God fearing man into my life. Marc and I met when we were 15 and 16 (in church mind you). We spent the summer getting to know each other and then did not see each other for nearly three years. The year I graduated from high school I moved to Chesapeake to live with my aunt and uncle while studying fashion merchandising. I contacted Marc to say hello since we had lost contact with each other. We spent hours on the phone talking and then he came over to my families home and we talked for a few more hours. The rest as they say is history. We have been inseparable every since then. Has it been an easy 27 years? No, not by any means. But when we got married we made a commitment to tough it out no matter what.

Marriage is hard work. It takes two people who are willing to put the other persons needs (and sometime their wants) above their own needs and wants. There are some days when we do a good job of that and then there are times when we really miss the mark. That's just life. Ministry is sort of like a marriage. It's hard work! You make a commitment because of the calling that God has placed on your life. Some days it will seem easy, and then there are days when you wonder why you do what you do. But in the end you realize that its important to stay the course.

If I could give couples one piece of advice it would be to protect your marriage at all cost. You should never sacrifice your marriage (or family) for ministry (or for work, hobbies, friends or children). Is it hard to balance the two ? Yes! But in the end if you don't take the time to nurture your marriage, then you will find it hard to minister to those who may be having difficulty in their marriage. Marc and I don't hide the fact from our children that our marriage is not always easy. We want them to know that they can work through stuff, and that they don't have to give up and throw in the towel when things get tough. As a matter of fact I hope that we have taught them that despite some tough times their father and I still love each other. We talk things out, make up and move forward. So even though the last 27 years have not always been a bed of roses, I'm thankful for the 27 years we have had together. And I look forward to 27 plus more!

Be My Valentine!

Marc celebrated his birthday a few days ago. If you asked him he would tell you he was 29 and holding. That would be a problem since our oldest is 26. Me thinks he would have some explaining to do! LOL

I don't think people realize how much is on my husbands plate. He is a work-a-holic by nature. He is not very good at laying back and relaxing so at times you have to "make" him sit still and smell the roses.

He basically holds down three important jobs. First and foremost he is a father and husband. He also makes a pretty good brother, nephew and son-in-law. My mom would tell you that in a heart beat (and that's saying a lot coming from her because she doesn't pull any punches. I'm sure she wonders on occasion where she got me from, but that's story for another time). HAHA

Secondly he is a pastor. I love the passion he has for WABC. But more then that I admire the passion he has for Christ and doing what God calls him to do no matter what! You won't find him sitting on the sidelines while others do all of the work either. He has a true gift for servanthood and if you asked him he would tell you he's not interested in being catered to, he would rather you reserve that for those in need. The ones outside of the four walls of the church.

He is also Bi-vocational. After many years of serving under others, watching as others were promoted (in many cases, people he actually trained), being laid off twice from his job, and overlooked time after time by people who never took the time to see past the fact that he did not have a degree he started his own business. Its not always easy, actually life has never been very easy for him. But he is one of the few people I know who hardly ever complains about what the world has thrown at him. Through it all (good times, bad times, sickness, financial woes) you name it I have seen this man go through it all and still come out on the other side holding firm and fast to his faith.

I love and admire him so much for what he has accomplished thus far in life and I look forward to seeing where God takes him.

So on this weekend dedicated to all things love...do you appreciate the one you love? How often do you speak words of love into their life? Why not start today? Yes, its Valentines Day, but one day on the calender once a year should not be the only time you tell (or show) your spouse how much you care. Everyday should be Valentine's Day.

Sweetheart Banquet

If you are interested in attending the Annual Minister's Wives and Widows Alliance of Tidewater Sweetheart banquet on February 12th (7 PM) please speak with Pastor Marc or Cyndi. The banquet will be held at the Edmonds Center at St. Mark Missionary Baptist Church in Portsmouth VA. The cost of the event is $40.00 per person (all money must be turned in by February 5th). The theme for this year is " Dedicated Women Serving and Surviving Through Worship, Prayer and Praise".

Marriage Weekend

The Marriage Conference scheduled for February 13th has been canceled.

It's Christmas Time!

The Couples and Singles ministry invites you to join Pastor Marc and Cyndi for the play "Gift of Maji" at New Life Providence Church on Sunday December 13th at 6 PM (if possible please meet us at the church at 5:30 PM). Admission is free. Please see Cyndi Jennings for more details.

Marriage Enrichment Weekend 2010

Couples mark your calender for February 13th 2010. WABC along with Pastor Marc and his wife Cyndi will host a Marriage Enrichment Workshop. Get ready for great sessions filled with inspiring speakers, resources and a special couples luncheon. Stay tuned for more details.

On This Journey Together

26 years ago yesterday I married the love of my life. We have been on this wild ride for so long that sometimes its hard to believe its been 26 years. But we have walked it together. Across oceans, through war time and peace time. Raising three beautiful kids (no, they are not perfect but they are pretty good kids, they are ours and we wouldn't trade them for anything). We have had some good days and some really bad days. Last year Marc became very ill and we found out what "in sickness and in health" really meant, yet we survived! The longest we have ever been apart from each other was the 7 months Marc spent in Saudi Arabia. At the most now we may be separated a few days. God has blessed us beyond our imagination. A few years ago Marc lost his job twice within a year. It didn't tear us apart, it pulled us closer. When we got married people said it wouldn't last because we were so young. We beat the odds!! If I could offer any advice to young couples it would be to never give up. Its so much easier to throw in the towel. It's a lot harder to stay together. Sometimes you will go to bed mad, sometimes you will want to trade him or her in for a new model (or what you think is a better model). Don't. Marriage is one of the most sacred gifts God gave to a man and a woman.The one thing I learned from the marriage retreat we attended this past February is that Marc is not my enemy. This I do know, and that is that the enemy does not want our marriages to succeed. I say he is a liar and he won't, can't have my family. Marc and I made a commitment to each other all of those years ago knowing we were in it for the long haul. No matter what. I'm looking forward to seeing what path God will take us on next. It's been a journey worth traveling. Happy Anniversary Marc.......Cyndi.

Dinner and the Theatre

The Marriage and Singles Ministry invites you to join Pastor Marc and Cyndi for "The Play", the Story of the Man Called Jesus. Info on the cost of tickets can be found here. We are hoping to obtain tickets for the April 4th performance, so if you are interested in attending please let Cyndi Jennings know as soon as possible. Depending on the time we will have dinner either before or after the play at The Applebee's on Kempsville Road in Va Beach.

Marriage Weekend

If you were unable to attend the "Weekend to Remember" Conference, there are other opportunities out there for you. Calvary Revival will be hosting a Marriage Weekend on March 13-14th entitled "Pursuing God's Power in Marriage". Guest Speakers include Pastor McBath and his wife Pastor Janeen McBath. Also speaking that weekend will be Pastor Kim Brown and his wife Elder Valerie Brown of Mt. Lebanon Baptist Church in Chesapeake VA. Rounding up these awesome speakers will be Dr. Paul and Becky Van Valin. Dr. Valin is the Director of Eden Counseling Center. He and his wife created "Back to the Garden" a marital workshop presented in the US and abroad.

Fireproof your Marriage

Marc and I spent part of our date night watching the movie "Fireproof". Consider watching the movie and participating in the "Love Dare" challenge.

Photos from "Weekend To Remember".

The "Weekend to Remember" event was held February 13th, 14th and 15th at the Founders Inn in Virginia Beach. Hosted by Family Life, the three day event is held each year in various spots around the USA. Marcus and I highly recommend this ministry to married and engaged couples. We first heard about this event a few years ago when our friends Peggy and Willie attended (they returned again this year..see picture)!

One of the highlights for us was attending with our very own Chairman Deacon Ellis and his wife June. We hope that more couples will join us next year for this very special time of renewal and rejuvenation.

The session were geared towards the real concerns and pressures associated with marriage, but also highlighted ways that healthy marriages can remain healthy. The speakers were excellent and the time set aside to attend this event was well spent. On Saturday evening (which just happened to fall on Valentines Day) the couples were dismissed early and asked to spend the evening with their spouse on a "Date Night".

Sunday at the end of the conference each couple was asked to reconfirm their commitment to each other.

Marriage Ministry

Welcome to the Marriage Ministry blog for WABC.