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In a commitment to the sanctity of marriage, 24 couples from the Northeastern Samar Adventist District (NORESA 1) gathered at the Mapanas Central Seventh-day Adventist Church in Northern Samar to renew their marriage vows Feb. 21.

The ceremony marked the spiritual highlight of the Family and Marriage Week of Prayer, held from Feb. 15 to 20 by the seven churches and one home division in Noresa 1 District.

Nightly sessions throughout the week focused on God’s design for the home and encouraged couples to center their relationships on Christ.

The event concluded with a vow renewal ceremony led by Pastor Jonathan Intanto, supporting minister of the Adventist Church in Samar. Couples publicly reaffirmed their covenant, pledging continued faithfulness and love guided by the Holy Spirit.

In a homily, Grace Intanto, women and children’s director and Ministerial Spouses Association coordinator of the Samar Mission, delivered a message of hope. "In a world where commitment is often treated as optional and self-sacrifice as an outdated burden, the Christian home stands as a beacon of hope. When Jesus is at the center, forgiveness is not a sign of weakness, but a source of supernatural strength that sustains the family bond."

She also quoted Ellen White’s passage in The Adventist Home, p. 179, “The more you seek to be like Jesus, the more you will be like one another... Your hearts will be knit together in Christ. The more you are like Him, the more you will love one another." 

Janine Capangpangan, a pastor’s wife in NORESA I District who supports her husband, Pastor Armando Capangpangan, by guiding couples toward hope and healing in Christ, said, "Marriages anchored in Christ grow stronger through prayer and faith."

She further reinforced the biblical mandate in Mark 10:9 that says, “Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate.”

Michelle Bocboc, president of the NORESA I District Women’s Ministries, offered a profound perspective on the significance of the ceremony. "Renewing your vows is far more than repeating old promises," she shared. "It is the public reaffirmation of a covenant that has been tested by time and proven true. It is a powerful declaration that says: ‘I still honor you; I still cherish you; and I still choose to walk beside you.’"

Contemplating on the success of the event, Grace Intanto expressed her gratitude by saying, “With grateful hearts, we praise God for the blessed Family Week of Prayer last week. It was truly inspiring to witness the majority of the districts in the Samar Mission united in faith and purpose.”

She also recognized that, through the messages, God had gently reminded them to rekindle their faith and renew their sacred vows to Him and to their families, even as they live in a broken, fast-changing digital world that often distracts their hearts from what matters most. 

“We were called to slow down, to forgive more freely, to love more deeply, and to rebuild the family altar—choosing once again to gather in prayer, study His Word, and place God at the center of our homes,” she added.  

This initiative aligns with the global Seventh-day Adventist mission to strengthen Adventist homes, helping families remain a positive influence in the community and a strong foundation for the church’s future.

Alwin Villamor ⎸ Sabbath School Assistant Superintendent ⎸ Mapanas Seventh-day Adventist Church

The original version of this article is published on the official page of Mapanas Seventh-day Adventist Church

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