11/29/07

By Kermit B. Fernander, Guardian Religion Reporter

kermit@nasguard.com

Ministers Ted and Sandra Sealy are an amazing team dedicated to the restoration of Christian principles within marriage and the family. Mentored and tutored for 19 years by Dr. Myles Munroe, they agreed to reflect upon the call on their lives to the ministry of the gospel.

The call came about nine years ago, although Sandra admits she was aware of God's hold on her life as far back as the 1970s. With the benefit of hindsight - and a touch of lighthearted humor - Ted said: "I chuckle, and told my wife that, if the Lord spoke to her about ministry, I would support her."

Sandra, on the other hand, did not want to rush things, and her response was more measured. She said: "It took a while for me to answer the call, questioning (as Moses did) and thinking, 'Lord I am not a speaker. Why me?' "

Nevertheless, convinced that God was laying claim to their lives in a special way, they willingly submitted themselves to their spiritual leaders, and the rest, as they say, is history. In fact, they were recently ordained by Dr. Myles Munroe and Dr. Richard Pinder at Bahamas Faith Ministries in an ordination ceremony in which trustees of the Third World Leadership Association also participated.

Today, the Sealys remain committed as ever to the task of serving God and the people of God in a number of ministries. They have developed excellent people and counseling skills, which they utilize in pre- and post- marriage counseling sessions, as well as in teaching and mentoring.

They are kept rather busy because, apart from their ministries, they are professional realtors and proprietors of Platinum Realty. They also have five children: Ricky, Nekia, Nestaea, Theodore and David, and, with all these activities, they have become adept at balancing the demands of ministry with home and family commitments.

While some of us are tempted to despair at the high crime rate in our nation, others like Ministers Ted and Sandra Sealy are doing what they do best: diligently seeking new ways of changing the nation, according to them, "one couple at a time" in their role as President, founders and directors of "Marriage Keepers," the counseling ministry for couples that they founded.

Accordingly, they have dedicated their lives to helping all couples, those married or planning to marry as well as those separated or divorced. "Our greatest challenge is getting couples to understand their commitment and the principles by which their marriage should be governed. Failing marriages are breaking down the family structure, which leads to social problems we are experiencing today. They affect the family emotionally, physically and spiritually," they said.

Sandra further commented: "In years gone by - and even now - it was accepted in our society for a man to have a family and also take care of one or more sweethearts with children. We know that this is wrong, but no one seems to care or wants to address or correct this ill that continues to tear families apart."

When asked how the nation should go about solving the problem of failing marriages and family breakdown, Sandra was very optimistic indeed: "We can solve these ills through marriage education & counseling; sensitizing the public through public advertising campaigns; marriage skills training; teaching the value of marriage at the high school level; mentorship and by providing required pre-marital education programs of 13 to 16 weeks."

While the Sealys recognize the severity of the problems of marriage and dysfunctional families, they also insist that every marriage can be strengthened and every marriage saved. From their experience, they believe the factors responsible for the breakdown in families are many and varied, and include:

* Lack of trust, loyalty, transparency and commitment

* Lack of leadership by fathers in the home

* Poor communication skills

* Failure to discipline children, as required

* Lack of knowledge and good relationship skills

* Lack of respect: husbands for wives; wives for husbands, children for their parents, and parents for their children

* Failure of the couple to submit to each other and meet each other's emotional needs

* Lack of budgeting skills

* Failure to seek help at the first sign of problems

As a licensed non-profit organization, Marriage Keepers International also extends its hands to the poor and needy providing them, on occasion, with emergency housing, as well as food and clothing. In February 2000, they established the first week in June as "Marriage Week" in The Bahamas. They also plan yearly retreats; an annual recognition banquet where outstanding married couples and reconciled couples are honored; Family Day and Husband Day.

Marriage Keepers has expanded over the years, and includes the following divisions: Community Life Changers; Brothers' Keepers (BK); Women of Wisdom (WOW); Husbands in Prayer; Wives in Prayer; Marriage Keepers Institute (soon to be licensed); Marriage Enrichment; Conferences & Workshops, and Weddings and Event Planning.

As part of their future goals, the Sealys are determined to establish and develop a Marriage Keepers Retreat Center as well as an Outreach Center for married couples facing challenges in their marriage. They envision partnering with local authorities to stop the scourge of domestic violence. They also wish to change the mindset of our parliamentary system to recognize that every marriage can be saved, and to put in place legal measures to ensure this outcome.

May God continue to bless this couple in all their endeavors as they labor to restore marriages and family values in our nation. They certainly provide hope and optimism in a country in which many are finding it increasingly difficult to remain hopeful and optimistic.