A Critical Evaluation of Pre-marital Counselling and It’s Implication on the Contemporary Church. A Case Study of Some Selected Churches in Ibadan
CHAPTER ONE
Objective of the Study
The objectives of this study are as follow:
- To explain and discuss the benefits of premarital counseling
- To point out some challenges of marriage
- To help the intended couples in the church to ensure a strong, healthy, and lasting relationship.
- To prepare intended couples in the church for the marriage and not just the wedding day.
- To offer intended couples in the church the insight and understanding into their own temperament
- To help the intended couples in the church in order to build a solid biblical foundation for marriage.
- To incite zeal in ministers and counselors on the task of pre-marital counseling
- To inform couples in the church how to respond when issues arise
- It allows the couples in the church to view the matrimonial road before entering the course.
CHAPTER TWO
REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE
Premarital Counseling
Premarital counseling is an immunization function that boosts the partners Capabilities to handle potential difficulties that may emerge later in the marriage life. These are communication skills programs, assessment inventory tool to educate engaged couples in the habits and skills that lead to happy enduring marriages. Couples who do receive premarital counseling get it from their religious advisor. Premarital and marital counseling give people the benefits of a supportive environment, the skills to deal with the problems a marriage can have during a life time. The couples acquire real expectations, real knowledge of partner and self to face the marital conflicts of a happy relationship. Professional and religious counselors present a list of skills and knowledge areas, essential to endurance of marriage. Communication kill, compatibility, long term goal, conflict expectation intimacy and sexually and personalities are also covered by successful counselors. Statistics show that 2/3 of planning to be married couples does not take any sort of premarital inventory (McManus & MciVlanus. 2003). Valient etal. (2002) explains that most young people who are anticipating marriage do not seek premarital counseling services due to the fact that they (ear that their secrets or information that they may divulge to the counselor may harm their relationship. Further, in the explanation it is purported that partners may not disclose their past relationship history. Additionally, couples also fear that exploring some issues in counseling may lead 10 decrease in their stability marriage, which may ultimately lead the couple to end their union. Ultimately; premarital counseling is a choice (Murray. 2004). Even though young couples experience the fears outlined above, participating in premarital counseling sends positive messages to the couple. Therefore, making premarital counseling is an important aspect in their journey to the institution of marriage. Premarital counseling has a number of benefits. Firstly, premarital counseling encourages couples to slow down and deliberate about their impending marriage. In addition to that premarital counseling helps the young couples to have m depth insight that marriage matters and is not a decision to be made hastily. Next, premarital counseling helps inform couples of options available for help later m their lives should they ever need to seek counseling for marriage problems.
CHAPTER THREE
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
Research design
The researcher used descriptive research survey design in building up this project work the choice of this research design was considered appropriate because of its advantages of identifying attributes of a large population from a group of individuals. The design was suitable for the study as the study sought to a critical evaluation of pre-marital counselling and it’s implication on the contemporary church. A case study of some selected churches in Ibadan
Sources of data collection
Data were collected from two main sources namely:
(i)Primary source and
(ii)Secondary source
Primary source:
These are materials of statistical investigation which were collected by the research for a particular purpose. They can be obtained through a survey, observation questionnaire or as experiment; the researcher has adopted the questionnaire method for this study.
Secondary source:
These are data from textbook Journal handset etc. they arise as byproducts of the same other purposes. Example administration, various other unpublished works and write ups were also used.
Population of the study
Population of a study is a group of persons or aggregate items or things. The researcher is interested in getting information critical evaluation of pre-marital counselling and it’s implication on the contemporary church. 200 members of selected churches in Ibada were selected randomly by the researcher as the population of the study.
CHAPTER FOUR
PRESENTATION ANALYSIS INTERPRETATION OF DATA
Introduction
Efforts will be made at this stage to present, analyze and interpret the data collected during the field survey. This presentation will be based on the responses from the completed questionnaires. The result of this exercise will be summarized in tabular forms for easy references and analysis. It will also show answers to questions relating to the research questions for this research study. The researcher employed simple percentage in the analysis.
DATA ANALYSIS
The data collected from the respondents were analyzed in tabular form with simple percentage for easy understanding.
A total of 133(one hundred and thirty three) questionnaires were distributed and 133 questionnaires were returned.
CHAPTER FIVE
SUMMARY, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION
Introduction
It is important to ascertain that the objective of this study was to ascertain a critical evaluation of pre-marital counselling and its implication on the contemporary church. A case study of some selected churches in Ibadan. In the preceding chapter, the relevant data collected for this study were presented, critically analyzed and appropriate interpretation given. In this chapter, certain recommendations made which in the opinion of the researcher will be of benefits in addressing the challenges of pre-marital counselling and its implication on the contemporary church.
Summary
This study was on a critical evaluation of pre-marital counselling and its implication on the contemporary church. A case study of some selected churches in Ibadan. Ten objectives were raised which included: To explain and discuss the benefits of premarital counseling, to point out some challenges of marriage, to help the intended couples in the church to ensure a strong, healthy, and lasting relationship, to prepare intended couples in the church for the marriage and not just the wedding day, to offer intended couples in the church the insight and understanding into their own temperament, to help the intended couples in the church in order to build a solid biblical foundation for marriage, to incite zeal in ministers and counselors on the task of pre-marital counseling, to inform couples in the church how to respond when issues arise, It allows the couples in the church to view the matrimonial road before entering the course. In line with these objectives, two research hypotheses were formulated and two null hypotheses were posited. The total population for the study is 200 members of selected churches in Ibadan. The researcher used questionnaires as the instrument for the data collection. Descriptive Survey research design was adopted for this study. A total of 133 respondents made pastors, elders, deacons and members were used for the study. The data collected were presented in tables and analyzed using simple percentages and frequencies
Conclusion
A critical evaluation of pre-marital counselling and it’s implication on the contemporary church. A case study of some selected churches in Ibadan. Dimensions of premarital counseling i.e., communication financial counseling, sexuality and biblical counseling are significant contributing factors that control marital conflicts in the study area. The dimensions (in-laws, parenting and. anatomy & physiology are not significant. contributing factors to marital conflicts in the study area
Recommendation
- There is need to involve institutional heads and policy makers in premarital courtship education.
- Affirmative action need to be taken in order to ensure more women acquire knowledge about premarital and marital counseling skills to enable them offer counseling effectively.
- There is need to train elders/pastors/Priests and catechists on conflict resolution and problem solving skills.
References
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