Couples Declare Marriage Is ‘Better With You’

Story by Carlos Torres, Family Ministries Director

Themed “Better With You,” the Family Ministries Department held the 2025 Couples’ Retreat this summer, in partnership with Chesapeake Conference’s Hispanic Ministries Department. The gathering brought together 86 couples who were richly blessed by devotionals from Pastor Abdiel del Toro and inspiring seminars led by Esther and Orlando Cruz. Together, they offered spiritual and practical insights for strengthening marriages.

The retreat setting itself told a story. A swing, gently swayingAb on one side of the venue, represented the back-and-forth rhythm of married life. On the other side, a seesaw illustrated the inevitable highs and lows that every couple experiences. At the center stood a simple bench, symbolizing the importance of rest, reflection and unity. This thoughtful design reinforced the central truth of Ecclesiastes 4:9–12: Marriage flourishes when lived together in love, mutual support and Christcentered commitment.

The weekend concluded with a moving communion service in which couples renewed their covenant with Christ, inviting Him to remain at the very heart of their relationship. It was a fitting close to a retreat that celebrated both the beauty and the resilience of Christian marriage.