As part of our Spring 2023 Parenting Pathway class lineup, we were honored to learn from Associate Pastor David Ake and his bride, Jamie, as they discussed Marriage and Parenting with a wise and experienced panel.
David Ake is Associate Pastor of Marriage Ministries at Stonebriar Community Church. David and his wife, Jamie, have been married for sixteen years, and they have two daughters who have to hear all the time about how much Mom and Dad are in love. Jamie and David fight, hug, laugh, and kiss a lot in front of their kids, and they love how their kids ask them to leave on dates so that they can have their own “me time.”
In this class, David and Jamie were joined by a panel of married couples who shared from their own experiences. Panelists included:
- David and Michele Pahl, who have been part of Stonebriar’s Marriage Ministries for more than 10 years, serving as mentors to newly and nearly married couples. They have been married for 39 years and have 3 adult children and 1 grandson.
- Rebecca Dickens, who has mentored couples for 20 years alongside her husband, Chip, the Department Chair and Professor of Biblical Counseling at Dallas Theological Seminary. Rebecca and Chip have been married for 31 years and have 2 adult children.
- Dr. Greg Hatteburg, who serves as the Dean of Enrollment and Alumni Services at Dallas Theological Seminary and teaches in the Christian Education Department in the area of marriage and family. Greg enjoys being “Papa” to his 4 adult children and 5 grandchildren. His beloved wife, Lisa, passed away in 2018.
In this class, the panel discussed important topics such as:
- Prioritizing God first, your spouse second, and your children third, and why this is actually good for your family
- Inviting children into how you and your spouse handle conflict in a healthy way
- How to communicate expectations for your children with each other first so you are consistently a united front
- Encouragement to enjoy your spouse and have fun together
The men and women on this panel shared personal experiences, highs and lows of their own marriages, and sweet biblical encouragement for all of us!
Check out these resources provided in the panel, too:
