Married 13 yrs. and counting: Apostle Gerald Rovis Masinde and wife, Veronica Masinde. Photo/Courtesy.
Apostle Gerald Rovis Masinde of Bethel Covenant Connection Church and his wife Veronica Masinde are celebrating their 13th wedding anniversary.
The well-known Bible teacher and former Program Director at 104.1 Power FM was only 25 years of age when he made a life-long marriage commitment to Veronica, then 23.
The couple’s decision to marry at a tender age drew mixed reactions as critics thought they were making the biggest mistake of their lives.
“God is the author of marriage and so when things challenge us, we return to him to help us navigate,” Apostle Masinde explained during an exclusive interview with Uganda Christian News on Monday.
He urged that faithfulness in marriage springs from from a joyful submission to God’s plan and the indwelling power of the Holy Spirit.
“If a couple is submitted to the Lordship of Jesus Christ, through the help of the Holy Spirit, it’s easy to work things through. The Holy Spirit is the giver of wisdom even in the challenges of marriage,” he said.
Apostle Masinde emphasised that a “good understanding” of what marriage is and what it entails is important before one makes a commitment. “Most marriages start from an emotional stand point but when the emotions fade then real life starts and that’s where commitment comes in,” he said.
Quoting 1 Corinthians 13, he said reliance on prayer and the Word of God are powerful elements for a successful marriage. He encouraged forgiveness, and also explained that couples in marriage must have the “willingness to change offensive behavior.”
He pushed for accountability and counseling, which today has helped married couples make thoughtful decisions, overcome differences and enhance communication between them.
“Look for the good and believe the best. Leave intense conversations outside of your bedroom, and create an atmosphere of peace where you lay your head,” he said. “We are constantly changing, so get to know your new mate everyday.”
Did the Covid-19 pandemic impact Apostle Masinde’s marriage?
“The pandemic had all of us up in arms, we learned to adjust many things, ministry, work and family.
Of course we had more family time since we both were working from home and helping our kids with school. We learned many Christ-centered values during this time,” he said.
