CMBA is hosting an association-wide “Marriage That Lasts a Lifetime” Conference on Friday evening, May 2, through Saturday, May 3, in the North Trenholm Baptist Student Center. The Friday evening session and meal will be held 6:30-9pm, and the Saturday morning session with a continental breakfast will be held from 8:30am until noon. Childcare will be provided by Carolina BCM students during the conference. Sessions will be led by Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary Professor Dr. Tate Cockrell and his wife Wendy.
Broad River Associational Missions Strategist Dwight Easler shared his recommendation for the conference after his association hosted 100 couples for the same event in November 2024. Easler said longtime married couples, newlyweds, and engaged couples who participated shared their positive reviews of the experience.
“Dr. Cockrell’s biblical wisdom and practical advice are based on years of counseling experience and is all very beneficial, no matter how long you have been married. Take advantage of this great opportunity,” Easler says, adding that Broad River Association hopes to host another conference in the future.
When Associational Missions Strategist Jamie Rogers and his wife Tasha experienced Marriage That Lasts a Lifetime with other AMS couples, Rogers knew it would be a blessing to marriages and families throughout the Columbia area.
“You will receive solid, biblical teaching and extremely practical content to implement immediately,” Rogers says.
Participants will explore topics including the biblical foundations of marriage, personality differences, communication, and rekindling intimacy during the five hourly sessions. “Real talk” segments tend to be a highlight, when the Cockrells have transparent discussions about related session content that they have learned or wished they had known going into their own marriage.
Regarding the need to prioritize marriage enrichment, Cockrell encourages couples to “carve a time out of the busy-ness of life, particularly if they are in ministry and have children, because they can quickly fall into having a marriage that is surviving but not thriving.” He sees that too often lifestyles and schedules crowd out opportunities for couples to connect, recharge, and correct areas of their marriage that need growth.
“This story is echoed dozens of times each year,” Cockrell says. “One pastor shared that when he and his wife implemented what they learned at the conference, it was a ‘game-changer’ and absolutely transformed their marriage. The marriage principles will apply universally, regardless of whether you are a church member or serving in ministry.”
The conference is open to all members of the association and includes engaged couples. Online registration is open through April 27 and is $25 per couple. There is no charge for CMBA pastors and church staff members and their spouses to attend. The North Trenholm Student Building is located at 6515 North Trenholm Road in Columbia.