Homer’s Church on the Rock has a singular purpose: “To do what we can to help strengthen homes,” said Pastor Aaron Weisser. “It’s a conviction of mine that strong homes make for a strong community.”
That’s the reason the church invited internationally known relationship expert, Dr. Gary Chapman, to give a marriage seminar in Homer. The event is being made possible with the support of the Homer Ministerial Association, an informal group of local pastors, said Weisser.
Chapman, perhaps best known as the author of the best-selling book “The Five Love Languages,” speaks in Homer from 9 a.m.-3:30 p. m. Saturday at Homer High School’s Mariner Theater. His seminar is entitled “The Marriage You’ve Always Wanted.”
Anyone wanting to improve their marriage — whether they are a person of faith or not — can benefit from the seminar, said Weisser.
“It’s an immensely practical framework for understanding that different people communicate love and affection differently,” he said. “I know for some of us, when we run into relational challenges, the insecurity of those challenges can isolate us.”
He knows it might be uncomfortable for some to go to a public venue where private issues are center stage, but he encourages people to take the plunge and attend Chapman’s seminar.
“I’m confident that people will leave with some real helpful wisdom and some real helpful tools,” he said. “The worst that can happen is people will have a fun morning and learn something. As far as we know, he hasn’t made any marriages worse.”
Conference topics include “Communication 101,” “Understanding and Expressing Love,” “Initiating Positive Change,” “Making Sex a Mutual Joy” and “How to Share the Things That Bug You.”
Cost is $50 per person or $90 per couple. Cost at the door is $55 per person, as available. To register or for more information, visit cotrhomer.org/chapman.
Chapman speaks extensively throughout the United States and around the world on marriage, family and relationships. “The government of Singapore invited him to present his marriage seminar there and the Chaplain’s Office of NATO issued a special invitation for Dr. Chapman to speak to the NATO forces in Germany,” according to biographical material.
More than 7 million copies of “The Five Love Languages” have been sold since the book was published in 1992, and it has been translated into more than 36 languages. Twenty-seven other books and five video series also are among Chapman’s publications.
Chapman is senior associate pastor of Calvary Baptist Church in Winston-Salem, N.C. He and his wife, Karolyn, have been married for more than 45 years and have two adult children and two grandchildren.
