Activities & Events – Christian Couples Fellowship (CCF)

CCF 2025 Retreat Closes in Miango

The 2025 Christian Couples’ Fellowship Retreat came to a close on Sunday, August 17, at the Miango Rest Home in Bassa Local Government Area of Plateau State. The retreat opened on Thursday, August 14, with an Opening Charge delivered by Rev. Dr. David Pofi. His message, titled “Christian Marriage Is for Life,” served as a precursor to the main theme of the 2025 retreat: “Purpose-Driven Christian Home.”

Taking his scripture reading from Matthew 19:1–10, Rev. Pofi emphasized that God’s central purpose for marriage is rooted in fellowship with Him, companionship between husband and wife, procreation, and the raising of godly offspring.

He went on to stress that in Christian marriage, there is no room for divorce. Unfortunately, he noted, many Christians today readily advise others to seek divorce whenever challenges arise in their marriage. He defined divorce as “divided voices”—a situation where husband and wife fail to agree on important matters such as which church to attend, how to manage finances, or how to discipline their children.

Dr. Pofi explained that divorce is rarely a one-day decision; rather, it is the result of accumulated wrongs over time, compounded by unforgiveness. He identified stubbornness and hardness of heart as the primary causes of marital breakdown. In closing, he encouraged couples to make it a consistent prayer point, asking God to soften their hardened hearts and replace them with hearts of flesh.

He then read Matthew 7:21–23, explaining that if Jesus Christ is not truly the Lord of your life, He cannot be your Savior. Some people may have been Christians for decades, yet remain spiritual infants. He asked, “Is there a heaven for hard-hearted people?” The answer, he said, is no.

Turning to the secondary causes of divorce, he cited Matthew 19:3. These include constant fault-finding in a spouse, selfishness that ignores the differences between male and female, and a lack of adjustment—when couples fail to grow from their single habits into married life. He stressed that in Christian marriage, both husband and wife must be willing to adjust if they are to fulfill God’s purpose.

He also noted the danger of lacking oneness of purpose, especially in managing finances or disciplining children. He concluded by stating, “Divorce is stepping out of God’s will into Moses’ permitted will, caused by the stubbornness and hardness of hearts. It is easier and far less costly to prevent a divorce than to endure one.”

Purpose, not competition, defines marriage – Dr. Falope at 2025 CCF Retreat

An important truth couples should understand is that it was God who made the woman for the man. The man was not created for the woman, but the woman for the man, said Dr. Segun Falope, who was speaking at the 2025 Christian Couples Fellowship retreat.

For a Christian home to be purpose-driven, both husband and wife must recognize the divine purpose behind their union. It is God’s purpose that defines a marriage—because it is purpose that determines design, he said, adding that just as a man is designed according to God’s purpose, so also is a woman.

Dr. Falope explained that God did not make a mate for the man, but a help meet for him. Before God, man and woman are equal, yet their roles are complementary. “Mates compete,” he cautioned. “When you see your wife as a mate, there will always be the temptation of rivalry, conflict, and struggle. But partners meet. Your wife is not your mate in the boxing ring.”

For a woman, challenges in marriage should never be a reason to give up. “Your role as a wife is superior to your profession and even to your parents, because you were not made for them but for your husband,” Dr. Falope emphasized. He added that a wife must not substitute her children for her husband, noting, “That is why a woman cannot say, ‘I am staying in this marriage just because of my children.’ You are called to live for a divine purpose. You are God’s solution to your husband’s aloneness. When you understand this, you begin to live for a higher purpose.”

CCF 2024 Retreat: Christian couples not growing is synonymous with calamity – Gyarta Pofi

CHRISTIAN couples have been called upon to examine themselves to know if they are growing. Mrs. Gyarta Pofi, who spoke on “Growing Together in Christian Marriage – Talk 2” at the just concluded retreat, said after reeling out the indexes to show couples that are growing and those that are not growing, that self-assessment would help to check oneself under God.

“If you do, you have begun well. And when you are growing, you are becoming like Jesus, which is the reason for your salvation,” she said, adding that “growing in grace is synonymous with becoming more like Jesus, and not growing is synonymous with calamity.”

Citing Genesis 1:27, she enjoined couples to know their spouses and make every effort to make their spouses happy as a way of enhancing their growth in Christian marriage. “Unity is not uniformity. Your wife is not a man, and your husband is not a woman. Don’t try to change it, rather create room to understand each other,” Mrs. Pofi advised.

Mrs. Pofi, emphasized while stressing that obedience to the word of God makes couples wise because winds, rains, storms and floods of life are inevitable but the results of these will always determine whether the couples are wise or foolish.

The theme of this year’s retreat is “Growing Together in Christian Marriage.

2024 CCF Retreat in Pictures

CCF 2024 Retreat: Christian couples should live lives worthy of their calling in Christ – Rev. Dr. Pofi

THE Annual Christian Couples’ Fellowship (CCF) Retreat ended on Saturday, August 10, 2024, in Miango with a charge on Christian couples to live lives worthy of their calling in Christ. They were reminded that marrying in church does not make a marriage a Christian home because when Jesus is not in the lives of couples, anything goes in such marriages.

The Chair of the Board of Trustees of the fellowship, Rev. Dr. David Pofi, said that if you want a Christian home, you must imitate Christ and let Him regulate your home. He enjoined over 90 couples at the retreat not to live as unbelievers whose hearts are darkened in their understanding of God and are walloped in unrighteousness. Citing Ephesians 4:1-6, he said that Christians can no longer live according to the desires of their former lives full of impurity and greed.

As Christians who live a new life, couples must strive to be like God in love and truthfulness. He said they should shun anger, laziness, bitterness, and unwholesome words, adding that, “if you are looking for a Christian home, you will find it where Christians live in true righteousness.”

He enjoined couples to watch out for relationship killers such as falsehood, secrecy, anger, unforgiveness, laziness, and sinful desires if they are to grow together in marriage. Marriage is a relationship and when there is growth, there is laughter in the home, according to him.

The theme of this year’s retreat is “Growing Together in Christian Marriage.

2024 CCF Retreat in Pictures

Tree Planting at CCF Village, a Huge Success

A tree planting exercise held at the CCF Couples’ Village on Saturday, June 21, 2025, was a resounding success, thanks to the generosity of CCF members and the presence of some of its leaders.

The event saw the planting of numerous trees, marking a significant step towards environmental conservation and sustainability. CCF leadership expresses its heartfelt gratitude to all donors and attendees for their contributions to this noble cause, and calls for continued support.

As the trees take firm roots, there’s need to prime them up for the dry season. They will require extra care to thrive. The CCF Village community welcomes further donations of plants, particularly during the month of June. Contributions towards tree maintenance are also greatly appreciated.

The CCF Village fellowship and community looks forward to your continued support in nurturing a sustainable environment for generations to come.