NEBC Annual Black Marriage Day Celebration

After multiple couples enjoyed a fun-filled dinner at Miyami Japanese Steakhouse on Saturday evening, March 25th Love was in the air at New Ebenezer Baptist Church (NEBC) in Florence on Sunday, March 26th at the 10:30 a.m. Worship Experience. Members and friends of NEBC celebrated BLACK MARRIAGE DAY.

The theme for 2023 was ‘Count Your Marriage as Joy’. This day was initiated in 2003 by Nisa Muhammad of the Washington, DC based non-profit Wedded Bliss Foundation to celebrate and encourage healthy marriages in the African American community. A year after devising her initiative, 30 communities nationwide were on board for this mission. BLACK MARRIAGE DAY is now celebrated in over 300 locations at city halls, community centers, houses of worship and other metropolitan locations around the country every year. It was featured in JET magazine in 2012, Black and Married with Kids in 2013 and ESSENCE magazine in 2020. NEBC has observed this day since 2011.

Prior to the beginning of the Worship Experience a Couples Slideshow was presented spotlighting members and friends of NEBC.

During the Worship Experiences married couples stood facing each other, held hands and recited our Recommitment Vow, which was led by Rev. Dr. Norman Gamble. We also took a moment to light a Candle of Remembrance honoring members and friends of NEBC who are no longer with us. A slideshow featuring them was also shown.

Rev. Dr. Gamble presented an inspiring sermon ‘Til Death Do Us Part’ from 1st Corinthians 13:7 “Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.” KJV and Matthew 19:6 “So then, they are no longer two but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let not man separate.” NKJV. It was the perfect sermon for BLACK MARRIAGE DAY.

From the desk of Nisa Muhammad: “We have to help people see the wonder and value of marriage, not only for respective couples and their children, but communities overall.

Communities that have lots of married people also tend to have better schools, lower crime, higher property values and local politicians who are far more responsive to them than other voters.

It is the hope of The Married Couples Ministry of New Ebenezer Baptist Church that more couples will join us as we annually celebrate BLACK MARRIAGE DAY.