Love was in the air at the Hearts in Harmony Ministerial Couples Summit, held May 23–25 in Stamford, Connecticut. The event was the brainchild of Abraham and Dominique Jules, Atlantic Union Conference ministerial director, and Ministerial Spouses Association director, respectively. Abraham J. Jules, who also serves as Atlantic Union Conference president, was joined by union and conference administrators throughout the weekend to warmly welcome hundreds of pastors and church elders—along with their spouses—from across the Atlantic Union Conference to the highly anticipated gathering.
“I’m reminded that if we don’t come apart and rest a while, we will come apart,” said Jules in his opening remarks.
Bathed in prayer, the retreat was intentionally designed to provide a respite from the demands of ministry, strengthen the marriages of those who serve, and serve as a springboard for deeper spiritual intimacy.
The weekend featured well-curated seminars, inspiring music, and dynamic speakers who uplifted, challenged, and encouraged attendees. Bill Muench, lead pastor of Redemption City Church in Texas, and his wife Debbie—who specializes in helping ministry couples—brought the attendees encouragement and wisdom.
“God sees you,” said Bill Muench. “He knows the weight that you carry; He knows the scars you are bearing.” He added, “Your ministry is your marriage—and then your ministry.”
On Sabbath morning, G. Alexander Bryant, North American Division president, delivered a powerful message titled “Ambassadors for the King of Kings.” Drawing from Exodus chapter 3, he challenged couples to be confident in God’s call, His assignment, and the reward He promised for their faithfulness.
“The ministry is not a career—it’s a calling,” Bryant said. “We can’t look at it as a career because it’s a relationship with the One who called you.”
Attendees were deeply moved by the event’s spiritual richness and intentionality.
“I’ve been around for quite a long time in the Atlantic Union, and I’ve never seen anything like it,” said Conrad White, pastor of two Greater New York Conference churches and associate director for Personal Ministries and church planting.
His wife Judith added, “It’s a wonderful idea to have ministerial couples come apart and be enriched, be filled. They were really intentional about helping couples build strong family relationships, helping ministerial spouses know their role, and not feel as if we’re invisible.”
Amid the weekend’s uplifting worship and fellowship, one moment stood out as profoundly emotional and unforgettable: the renewal of wedding vows on Sabbath afternoon. Couples such as Ben and Madoka Nichols, new to the Southern New England Conference, hadn’t known what to expect.
“I was suspicious at first,” said Madoka, who is originally from Japan and unfamiliar with the tradition of renewing vows. “It was really good!” she said, noting it was one of her favorite parts of the weekend.
The sight was striking: a sea of women in elegant white and men in dark suits filed two-by-two into the banquet hall. The couples smiled into each other’s eyes as Drs. Abraham and Dominique Jules led them in a beautiful and solemn ceremony.
“This is a renewal of our commitment to our spouses—to prioritize them, to love them, to honor them, to forgive them, to restore them, and to honor God through our marriages,” said Abraham Jules.
Special thanks go to David McKenzie, Atlantic Union Conference assistant to the president, and his dedicated team, who worked tirelessly to organize the event. Their behind-the-scenes coordination and care ensured that every detail came together to create a memorable, spirit-filled experience—one that many couples will treasure for years to come.
Hearts in Harmony not only affirmed marriages but also renewed the spiritual strength of those called to serve, reminding ministry couples that love—rooted in Christ—is the most powerful ministry of all.
