Honeymoon’s Over

“‘Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be prolonged in the land which the LORD your God gives you.’” Exodus 20:12, NASB.

When in Asia, never underestimate the power of a parent’s influence on a child, even an adult child. Christy* and Peter were both committed to the LORD’s call to serve as church planters in their home country. Their wedding was part of a triple wedding for Christy’s family. Her two sisters married in the same service.

Within Christy and Peter’s tribal people group it is customary for the new couple to spend their honeymoon in the wife’s family home. At the end of the honeymoon the father then gives his daughter permission to leave the home and go with her new husband to establish a house of their own.

After the honeymoon, Christy’s father refused to give his daughter’s permission to leave. He told all three of them that he wished for them to stay home for another three months. Each couple was confused and embarrassed by the situation, but all three daughters obeyed their father.

This enormous influence of the parents is one of the big barriers that many young people in the Pacific Rim have in making the decision to follow Jesus. If the parents say no, then it is very hard for the young person to ignore. Bringing shame to the family is the worst thing that a person can do.

*Names changed for security reasons.

Pray that:

God will give young people in the Pacific Rim grace in the eyes of their parents so that they can choose to follow Jesus.

God will bless all three families for their obedience to the father, even when it caused them inconvenience and embarrassment.

Christy and Peter’s ministry will result in many people getting to hear and respond to the Gospel and in many new churches being planted.

Pacific Rim is a region of the International Mission Board, SBC.