(Wes and Marjie Blood are CCCC members serving in a northern city, ministering to international students in many ways helping them transition into American culture. Following is a fascinating story and challenge from their lives together.)

A Cord of Three Strands

A cord of three strands is not quickly broken. (Ecclesiastes 4:12b)

When Marjie and I married, the theme of our wedding was Ecclesiastes 4:9–12. This passage speaks about godly friendship, how two are better than one, but a cord with three strands is stronger still. During the ceremony, we braided three ribbons into one single cord to symbolize God’s weaving us together into something unbreakable, as we took our vows before Him.

In December of 2014, we celebrated our 30th wedding anniversary, and I am here to testify today that God has woven us together. Marriage is one of God’s great forums for grace, and one of His display cases for beauty. There have been times over the past 30 years that we have been stretched and pulled, nearly to the breaking point, but God has never allowed us to be torn apart. We have learned to love each other, and actually, through the very real difficulties of life, He has grown our love for each other and for Him to be stronger than ever.

We have found that our relationship as husband and wife is crucial as we share with others about the transforming power of Jesus. They get to witness us, working together as a team. A number of years ago, Marjie lifted a heavy ministry burden from my shoulders. One of our projects, the Household Items Giveaway, helps newly arriving students get furniture for their apartments. It is a powerful welcome to our city. As this project grew steadily, try to imagine the logistics of collecting and providing free furniture to more than 235 apartments a year. We utilize a team of 20+ volunteer drivers for this enormous project. One year, as I was attempting to do all the coordinating, plus a large portion of the furniture pickups and deliveries, I was quickly burning out. Marjie stepped in and took over all the work as “dispatcher.” As students arrive, they get to work with us as a team.

One of my favorite topics of discussion, as we are working to help the students when they arrive, is asking about their families and telling them about mine. Marjie often picks up my students and brings them to the warehouse, since I have to arrive early to help other drivers load up. Discussions often revolve around our 30 years of marriage and the blessing God has given to me in my wife.

When we have students in our home, they get the chance to see how we interact. They see that we are a loving and respectful team as husband and wife, and they pick up on the delight that God has woven into our relationship. It is interesting to me how many times the grace that God has placed in our marriage translates into conversations about the grace Jesus has shown us.

I am so thankful for God’s gift to me in Marjie. It is wonderful to be married to my best friend and companion, and to have that person be the one who works side by side with me in ministry. I am thankful that new facets of love are revealed each year that we are married. God is so good, and His goodness shines through “the cord of three strands” that He has woven together.

Finding a Church Home

Some of the students who become followers of Jesus here have an easy time finding a church home when they return, but others do not. One student from a strict Muslim country got in trouble when he returned home with a Bible in his luggage. His mother is Christian, but his father is Muslim, so he thought he had some freedom bringing a Bible home, but that is not true. Another student returned to China and now has a prominent teaching position in a university there. His family has given him a hard time about his faith and has begged him not to speak about it for fear of losing his position. Pray for his boldness and wisdom.