A strategy to minimize interfaith marriages between Seventh-day Adventists and Muslims in Busoga sub region, Eastern Uganda Field

Abstract

Marriage is among the sacred key fundamental values of Christianity. God’s original own idea of giving man a precious gift in life. The Bible clearly informs us that in the first week of creation, God Himself mediated between the union of Adam and Eve and Jesus affirms it in Matthew 19:6 that what God has put together let no man put asunder. Even though God restricts marriage to be between people of the same spiritual values, in Busoga sun region there has emerged a tendency where Muslim men are marrying Adventist women at a worrying rate. While pondering upon this phenomenon, the researcher minded much upon the reasons why God instituted marriage, that is to say; for procreation, intimacy, everlasting relationship among others, how can then one be yoked together with un believer (2 Cor 6:14). The above challenges prompted the researcher to develop a strategy on how to mitigate this phenomenon. The research started by mobilizing the Adventist community through electronic media especially Radio Maranatha that is situated in this area. This was applied since 80% of Adventists in this area listens to it. Other strategies used included; seminars, dialogues, sermons, and equipping of the participants with materials that are essential in cubing down this tendency. The program emerged successful because the average attendance was 70 to 80 out of 100, which was the target number in the five selected centers. It was successful also due to the moral and financial support provided by the field leadership; they too were always in attendance. Above all, after the seminars, one of the prime proposals made by the attendees asked the field leadership to introduce Adventist Muslim Relations (AMR) course in Eastern Ministerial Training College (EMIT) something that was seconded unanimously, this was implemented promptly up to date all evangelists in this college undergo this training before they are graduate.