The last decade has seen divorce increase globally. It is believed that in 2015 alone, more than half of marriages ended in divorce. Although data on Divorce rates in Africa is scanty, recent polls show it is on the rise partly due to learned and copied behaviors from western cultures.
According to the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) 4,080 divorce cases were recorded in Accra alone from 2006 to 2014. This figure covers only customary marriages that occurred between the years mentioned. This means that the figure would be much higher if divorce cases for ordinance marriage had been added.
It appears the popular consensus is that there is one way only out of a difficult marriage- divorce. However Dr. Esi Gaisie Tetteh is proselyting otherwise. Championing the mantra that “divorce is not an option for a Christian” Dr. Tetteh has laid out profound strategies for turning a hopeless situation into a story with a happy ending.
In her recently launched book, “Heart Wrenching Marriages: From Surviving to Thriving (When Divorce is not an option), Dr. Tetteh a Child Psychologist and a Pastor’s wife, exposes the topics in marriages that are often taboo to talk about. She writes on topics such as, Marriage has a master plan; Men and women are different, it matters; For better or for worse; The place of love and respect; Love, vulnerability and forgiveness and so on.
She writes from the wife’s point of view, giving men deep insights into the often dark world of women whilst empowering women to rise above their perceived hurts and pain.
The book gives married couples, marriage counselors, courting couples, Pastors and Christians in general; tools to deal with challenging issues in marriages and put the necessary measures in place to transform marriages into what God originally meant them to be.
Speaking at the launch of the book “Heart Wrenching Marriages: From surviving to Thriving (When Divorce is not an option)”Former Head of the Guidance and Counseling Department of the University of Ghana, Rev. Croffetsaid that Dr. Tetteh’s book is timely and will facilitate the protection of marriages against divorce. He stressed on the quotation in the bible that says that God hates divorce, which hasn’t changed and added that, “If we commit to honoringGod in obeying him and what he has instructed us in his word, even if it is very difficult, He will also see to it that we do not lose his blessings in this life and our ultimate reward in eternity.”
Dr EsiGaisie Tetteh said at the launch that she took inspiration from the policemen and women and fire men during the 911 aftermath, who when everyone was running AWAY from the disaster area, they were running TOWARDS it; giving others guidelines to move away from the danger zone. She believes by tackling this sensitive area in marriages, she is doing her duty as a servant in God’s police service to discourage couples from staying bitter and offended in marriages and urging them to go on to develop their potentials despite their challenges. By doing this, they will be saving their marriages and making their calling and election sure as true children of God.
She believes, as a Child development specialist, that marriages must be kept intact and healthy to enhance the wellbeing of children and to reduce the behavioural problems in our society.
The book was launchedat an event organized by Innova DDB, Rezultz Advertising and Touchpoint Magna Carta; at the Coconut Groove Hotel in Accra, on Saturday 22nd May, 2016. Themed “A night of the arts”, the program saw an art exhibition by abstract artist Comfort Walker and spoken word performances by multitalented musician and composer C-Real.
Copies of the book are available at Evangel bookstores, Liberation road near Sahel Sahara Bank in Takoradi and at Josiah Court, Ecomog near Maabey, Haatso in Accra.
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