Seven months ago, the Rev. James Meeks of Salem Baptist Church issued a challenge to the unmarried couples in the congregation: If 25 of you tie the knot, I'll foot the bill for the wedding expenses.Ah promoting marriage within the Black community. A laudable goal if you believe in general that there is an issue as far as out of wedlock births in the Black community. Whatever the reasoning, I just hope that these marriages work out. :)
The result was a mass wedding Saturday in which 17 couples said "I do" inside the 10,000-seat House of Hope on the city's Far South Side.
The event, aimed at promoting marriage in the African-American community, was part of a series of initiatives celebrating the church's 25th anniversary. Salem members have also written 25,000 letters to U.S. troops overseas and donated $25,000 to Haiti relief efforts.
Each couple received a reception for 25 friends and family, wedding photography, premarital counseling and a one night stay at Swissotel -- all free of charge. Church members also donated wedding dresses, jewelry and flowers.
Isiah 1:17- Learn to do well. Seek justice, Relieve the oppressed, Judge the fatherless, Plead for the widow.
Sunday, September 26, 2010
17 couples take Meeks up on challenge, tie the knot
Not sure I could ever do it. I'm painfully shy and I wouldn't want to do this around anyone else other than family and friends. Although what Rev. Meeks (a State Senator and potential Mayoral aspirant) offered was a good deal:
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