(SOUTH AFRICA) Learning God’s Heart for Dating and Marriage at NUL UBF
- by ubfhq
- Dec 06, 2025
- 551 reads
By Tsibela Selemela
We sincerely thank God for the wonderful and grace-filled dating and marriage workshop held on November 1, 2025, led by Pastor Oscar from Campus Crusade for Christ South Africa. Pastor Oscar, a marriage expert connected with Lesedi of Wits UBF, was kindly recommended to teach the young people of NUL UBF, a developing ministry largely made up of students and young adults.
The purpose of the workshop was to educate and equip young people to approach dating and marriage from a godly perspective. With many students preparing to graduate next year, it was a timely opportunity to help them make wise, faith-based decisions for their future. The workshop was highly successful, interactive, engaging, and spiritually enriching. It was inspiring to witness the participants’ eagerness to learn Biblical principles that will guide them toward healthy and Christ-centred relationships.
The workshop emphasised that dating and marriage begin with Jesus’ call to a real, Spirit-led life, one that honours Him in our desires, boundaries, friendships, and choices. While the enemy offers counterfeits such as pressure, secrecy, and compromise, Jesus leads us toward clarity, dignity, satisfaction and joy. In a world where traditional values and modern influences often collide—especially in contexts like Lesotho—John 10:10, the key verse of the workshop, reminded us to choose what leads to living the abundant life Jesus offers, not what steals it.
We learned that abundant life in Christ means becoming whole before pursuing a romantic relationship. It involves waiting on God to shape our character, valuing friendship, honesty, and integrity, and rejecting false ideas about romantic love. It also means seeking wisdom in choosing a partner who shares our faith, values, and direction. Ultimately, marriage preparation comes through daily obedience to Christ, living with purity, forgiveness, humility, and responsibility. Our Lord Jesus invited us to surrender our desires to Him, trusting that He leads us not away from joy but into true and lasting joy.
We are deeply grateful to the Wits UBF ministry, our founding ministry, for their support and encouragement, which contributed greatly to the success of the workshop. We also thank our friend Brother Ivan, who accompanied Pastor Oscar from South Africa to Lesotho. We also extend special appreciation to the NUL UBF committee—Sister Tshepi, Sister Lebo, Brother Rethabile, Sister Motsekuoa, and Sister Patricia—for their dedication in prayer and teamwork throughout the preparation of this event.
Prayer topics:
1. For Spiritual Growth: Pray that God may help His Word, the seed planted in our hearts, to grow deeply and bear lasting spiritual fruit in our lives.
2. For the Establishment of God-Centered Marriages: Pray that God may establish strong and faithful house churches through NUL UBF in Lesotho, where His Word will continue to be taught, lived out, and shared.
3. For the Growth and Expansion of NUL UBF: Pray that NUL UBF members may continue to grow spiritually in faith, love, and commitment to God’s mission. Pray also for the expansion of God’s kingdom at NUL campus, that more students (especially brothers) may be reached with the Gospel and for the ministry to become financially self-sustaining.
2. For the Establishment of God-Centered Marriages: Pray that God may establish strong and faithful house churches through NUL UBF in Lesotho, where His Word will continue to be taught, lived out, and shared.
3. For the Growth and Expansion of NUL UBF: Pray that NUL UBF members may continue to grow spiritually in faith, love, and commitment to God’s mission. Pray also for the expansion of God’s kingdom at NUL campus, that more students (especially brothers) may be reached with the Gospel and for the ministry to become financially self-sustaining.
