It was warm, but not uncomfortable, for those who turned out for the Moniteau County Fair Vespers Service Sunday evening, Aug. 1. The event, presented by the California Ministerial Alliance, was at the Fairgrounds Main Arena.
Before the message "Marriage: God's Blessing" was presented by First Christian Church Pastor Dan Rowlison, Eddie Schoeneberg, pastor of Main Street Baptist Church, welcomed those who gathered for the event. Then Jeremy Barnard, pastor of Lebanon Baptist, McGirk, led the congregation in singing "Brethren, We Have Met to Worship," and "To God Be the Glory" before the opening prayer, which was given by Casey Malley, First Baptist youth pastor, followed by the congregational hymn, "Great Is Thy Faithfulness."
Kayla Barnard presented a solo performance of "The Promise" leading to the presentation of the message.
Rowlison opened with an apology to set the record straight. He explained that somewhere along the line, it became common knowledge that half of all marriages end in divorce, leading him to present wrong information. "In my defense, I was lied to," he said. But he went on to say, "I should have checked out what I accepted as truth."
"Setting the record straight," Rowlison said, "Marriage is blessing from God! Designed by God, Ordained by God, and Blessed by God."
"God created marriage when He created two of us," Rowlison said. He then quoted Gen. 2:21-24 and went on to point out that men and women need each other. "Marriage is God's combination of the two into such a unit that they can serve God and serve each other with far more power and effect than either could accomplish separately."
"Marriage is not about civil rights, it's about God's blessing," he said. "God will not bless sin. Any variation from God's marriage design is sin."
Then he asked, "What is that design?" And answered, "Read it for yourself. You haven't listened to those who told you, so read it for yourself." He went on to recommend that anyone who doesn't understand what they are reading, come and ask what it means.
According to Rowlison, an eight-year study about marriage has found a great many numbers "being tossed around in various media regarding failure rates in marriage". They are all apparently made up numbers to go with whatever agenda the source seeks to promote.
The 2009 Census Bureau statistics (the latest available) indicated 80 percent of first marriages as successful and 70 percent for all marriages. A study by George Barna indicated that when a married couple attends church three times a month, the failure rate is 17 percent - a success rate of 83 percent, well above the commonly believed 50 percent.
"What most seem to have forgotten is that marriage is the relationship that best describes the intimacy that is present between Christ and His Church," Rowlison said.
He went on to show how God blesses and protects marriage. First, emotional maturity is required, and that seems to take longer now. Second, a person needs to find themselves and know what they want to do in life before they should consider asking another to share that life. Third, don't experiment with marriage. Playing at marriage - co-habitation - is not the same as marriage. A "crude illustration" of the difference is the difference between renting and car and owning a car. There is a lot of difference in how the two are treated. With marriage, the same thing applies. Fourth, a person should surround themselves with a support group. "Plainly speaking," he said, "get yourself to church. You don't have to do anything when you get there; just go!"
According to Rowlinson, practicing these four steps rises the rate of success to 90 percent.
What is missing for so many is hope, Rowlison said. And there is plenty of hope out there, once people realize the "depressing facts" people think they know about marriage are simply not true.
"God believes in marriage,"Rowlison said. "He continually demonstrates that it is one of the most effective means of bringing blessing and happiness to people." He then quoted Gen. 2:18 -"The LORD God said, "it is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him.'"
"If you want to understand the relationship between the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, look at marriage. If you want to experience true joy, look at marriage."
"For the vast majority of us, this is the usual experience," Rowlison said. "We believe!"
An offering was taken up to be used to by the Ministerial Alliance to assist those in need. The service ended with a prayer by Roy Barnard, pastor of Salem Baptist, California, followed by "Oh, How I Love Jesus," sung by the congregation.