t is ordinarily surprising to see couples who have lived together in marriage, even as Christians for a long I time, still finding it difficult to find a smooth harmony in their relationship with one another. In my short time of adult life and even shorter time in marriage and Christian ministry, I have continued to ponder over why this is so. Experience, they say, is the best teacher, but yet even with a long time of experience in marriage one should have expected that some of our older couples should have learnt and mastered the art of marriage and should have found their rhythm in it and are living in the bliss that God intended marriage to be; but alas! We are yet far from that ideal. In Marriage: A Mystery And A Ministry, Rev. Israel Kristilere, under divine inspiration, has unveiled a truth that I believe both new and old couples need to understand in order to help them find the needed harmony, and enjoy the bliss of their marriage relationships. This truth is that Foreword Foreword marriage is both a mystery and a ministry. First, it is a mystery in the sense that it cannot be completely understood by ordinary mortals since it originated from God who Himself no one can claim to have completely understood. Second, God intended marriage to be a union of two people into one flesh. This is not normal within the natural realm. There is no way two people can become one in ordinary terms. No wonder men have continued to struggle to attain this for very many years as stated above and yet without complete success. The author of this book has tried to show some specific areas where marriage operates as a divine mystery. But it is my joy to say that this mystery has been revealed in Jesus Christ. The Bible says in Colossians 2:9 that He is the fullness of God in bodily form and He Himself has said that whoever has seen Him has seen the Father. Therefore whatever is hidden from the mortal mind about God, including the mystery of marriage can be known and understood through Christ who is the express revelation of God. The writer of this book has therefore taken advantage of the revelations of God's mind about marriage as revealed by Jesus in the word of God to help us better understand what it really is and how God wants us to operate it in order to enjoy it. He has also thrown light to the fact that marriage is an opportunity of service, which is another word for ministry. In marriage, God intended that the man and the woman should mutually serve one another in their desire to attain the fullness of satisfaction and the realisation of their full potentials as people whom God created as the ultimate beneficiaries of all the beautiful things he has created here on earth. For this mutual service to be optimally effective, Rev. Israel Kristilere has made an effort to show some very important avenues through which the couple must express their ministry to one another. Some of these include love, submission, effective and unbroken communication, contentment, a good intake of the word of God, and above all a communal prayer life. He is very optimistic that your marriage can and should work. I believe this is God's will for you. This optimism has led him to show some things you need to know and do to get your marriage to work for you or work better. The book has truly refreshed me and I believe that the revelations in it are going to transform and bless your marriage if you will act on them appropriately. I encourage you therefore to read on and discover these mysteries that have been uncovered for you by the spirit of God through His servant. May you really be blessed as you go through. Amen. Rev. Amos A. Kunat Lagos, Nigeria.