You're Teaching What?

01/09/2011 12:00 pm Admin John Watts <au-mediaSPAMFILTER@omf.net>

That’s the usual reaction I get when I mention one of the most popular courses I teach.... the dating class! Actually, it is officially called ‘Dating Safe, Dating Well’ which I teach at our Family Centre in East Asia. As shocked as people are to hear that I teach a dating course, I’m just as shocked at their surprise, especially as I look around and see the extent that people are struggling in their relationships. In my adopted country, people are not that much different to people in Australia.

One major difference is the pressure to marry before a certain age. We have local friends sharing how their family makes them meet people who are not at all suitable for them.

One friend’s mother cries every night, nonstop, because she isn’t married. We have girls saying things to us like, “I have to sleep with him, cause if I don’t, I will hurt his feelings”. We meet guys who think that they have to appease their demanding girlfriend because if they don’t, she will find another boy. Many girls go into marriage feeling that their husband will, at some stage, get a girlfriend. Many also go into marriage expecting their partner to fulfill all their needs, all the time. We often have people coming to us and asking why we are so happy and joyful? Making comments about how we seem to have a life that is purposeful, meaningful and fruitful, wanting to know how they can have this too.

Jesus came to bring us abundant life. Many people don’t know how to have healthy relationships, either with Jesus or with others. Rather than a life of abundant joy, hope and love they end up with one abundant in sorrow and frustration. This is why we are doing these dating classes, to help people have a good relationship with the Lord and good relationships with others. So, what does our dating course look like?

‘Making the most of your single life’ - We look at what it means to be a healthy, whole person, setting goals, being actively involved in life and developing healthy life skills.

‘Differences between males & females’ - If we understand some of the basic differences, we can appreciate the opposite sex and relate in a more helpful way.

‘What love is & isn’t’ - Let’s face it, we often get our ideas about love from movies, TV and magazines. How far removed are these ideas of love are when you look at what the Lord says love is!

‘Different ways of dating’ - We comparing dating and courtship. In this day & age people seem to chop & change relationships as easily as they chop & change their wardrobe. “I’ll try this person on for a while... nope, he doesn’t fit, so I will try someone else”. What a wonderful way to open yourself up to be hurt or to hurt someone else. There is nothing nice about being discarded. There is a better way, that guards your heart & the heart of others.

‘Sex & safety’ - This is my favourite topic! We look at puberty, boundaries, standards & how to guard your body, mind & soul. We look at being a person of integrity.

‘Marriage’ - How to know whether you are ready for such a commitment. We also have optional events, like a DVD looking at “From Conception to Birth”, because there is a lack of education in this area.

In essence it is a discipleship course and it helps people in so many ways. Know anyone who needs our ‘Dating Safe, Dating Well’ here in Australia? Know anyone who would like to go and teach this course and see the Lord do wonderful things in people’s lives? Contact the OMF office for more information about the Family Centre, and opportunites to serve in East Asia.

an OMF worker in East Asia

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