A Wrong to Strong Marriage: Celebrating 20 Years Together w/ Ann & Omar Calvillo

Join Ann and Omar Calvillo as they celebrate their 20th wedding anniversary. In this special episode, they share their journey, provide advice for married couples facing challenges, and dive into thoughtful questions about marriage, love, and faith. Listen to them as they reflect on their past, discuss their growth, and highlight the importance of faith, communication, and prayer in building a strong marriage. Tune in to hear their inspiring story and gain valuable insights for maintaining a godly marriage.

Transcript

Ann: 0:00

but I just, I just want to encourage the married couple who maybe right now you're going through a season of, uh, maybe feeling, um, distant from your spouse or you're in warfare. You're in warfare. I, first thing I need to say is your spouse is not your enemy. They are not your enemy. There's three things that war against us. The world, ourselves, the flesh, the flesh, and the enemy. Those are the three things. The world, the flesh, the enemy. Okay, and so a lot of the times when we're going through something, we need to stop, pause, pray, process, right? What is this? What, what's going on with me that this is where self awareness is huge in a marriage. Start with me first. I have to start with me first before I can look to, to what's going on with him. What's going on with me? And if we both learn to do that together, man, man, I'm telling you God is doing something in marriages.

1:23

From the city of Chicago, a city most recently known for its crime and violence. On this podcast, we will be sharing stories of redemption from individuals raised in the tough streets of Chicago and from around the country. Some of them were gang members, drug dealers, incarcerated victims, and perpetrators of violence. Listen to my guests as they share their experiences, struggles, trauma, but also the strength, hope, faith and perseverance, these have developed in them to keep pushing and moving forward in life. Tune in to hear how their lives have gone from darkness to light and from wrong to strong.

Omar: 2:04

Hello everyone. Welcome to another episode of wrong to strong Chicago. I'm your host. My name is Omar Calvillo and tonight I have my beautiful wife with me and Calvillo. Hey everyone.

Ann: 2:15

How's it going?

Omar: 2:16

So tonight we're going to do something a little bit differently. We're going to title this one. A wrong to strong marriage. So here we are, we are celebrating today is February 19th, 2025. We are celebrating 20. Beautiful and wonderful years of marriage. I've known this woman for 24 and a half years. We were together four and a half years before we got married. So this June 1st is going to be 25 years that we, God willing, have known each other. And it's been a wonderful journey, a great ride. So tonight, what we wanted to do, we just wanted to discuss a little bit about our marriage. So my wife did, uh, she Googled some questions that she found. You want to tell the people where you found these questions?

Ann: 2:58

So I googled, um, questions for marriages and I found it on Focus on the Family. Um, I just wanted to also say, this weekend, um, speaking of marriage, we're going to a Focus on the Family Marriage Conference. Um, just a really quick, um, nugget. It's so important that no matter where you are in your marriage, whether you're One year in your marriage, 10 years in your marriage, or like us, 20 years in our marriage, right? That you invest in your marriage and that you constantly keep an attitude of learning your, your spouse Learning yourself and learning what, what God has for marriage. So I just wanted to share that too, babe.

Omar: 3:41

Okay, man. Let me adjust this. I don't know if you notice, it's kind of crooked. All right. It's still good? Yeah. I got a little OCDI had to straighten that camera actually, that was a little,

Ann: 3:53

it's still cricket and you don't have to edit that because you know what I, I think it's like, I love when I see a podcast episode and it's just real and there's no editing, so don't edit that. That's okay. Okay, so you

Omar: 4:07

want people to know I got OCD Alright, here we go. Not, but I do. Hey, you know what? I think I'm a, I'm a neat freak. I like things in order. And, uh, yeah, that's all I'll leave that as that. But anyways, we got some questions here we're going to be discussing. Uh, so question number one, here we go. You ready? I'm ready. It says, what are some things that we used to do that you would like to do again? And what did you most enjoy about those things?

Ann: 4:31

So, one of the things that I used to love to do, um, and I started doing it with you, was going out in the nature. You know, so going out to Starved Rock, going out to Forest Preserves. I am not a nature girl by, uh, by nature. I'm not. I'm, I'm a city girl. But, um, but I think that, you know, when the kids were going up and we wanted to do fun things with them, um, We would take them out to nature because it's free and it's fun and it's free. Did I say it's free? But, but I would say like those were the best times of, of our being together as a family. And so now that we're approaching being empty nesters, which, you know, it's, it's. I guess I'm coming to terms with that. You know, we have a senior in the house and pretty soon he'll be off to college, but you know, seasons, we go through seasons and we're in a season where that's going to be happening. And so I would love for us to travel more and go outdoors more. I mean, we've got, we've done some great fun things, but I'd love to be more consistent with it.

Omar: 5:46

All right. So as far as for me. Some things that we used to do that you would like to do again. One thing that came to my mind, I remember when I first met her, I had just gotten out. I was out for about maybe four months, uh, out of prison. I was locked up for three years, so I met her. And one thing that she used to do in the beginning was give me, um, um, Massages, you know, just like rubbing my neck, my back and, uh, I

Ann: 6:12

think

Omar: 6:13

back then she felt sorry for me, like, Oh, this guy, you know, he looks like he needs a massage, but no, no, you know, it was, it was just nothing, you know? It was straight PG 13, you know, just a physical massage, and that's one thing that I enjoyed, you know, she used to, and not only did I enjoy the, the physical touch, but it was also just being with her. Um, from the first day we met, we were able to kick it off and just be able to have fun and joking around. I think that's one thing that you could probably say that you liked about me. I think my sense of humor back then, not no more. She'll like it when

Ann: 6:46

I'm talking to

Omar: 6:47

her. Stop.

Ann: 6:48

No, I do. But, you know, uh, I don't know if, I don't know if, you know. I, I kind of, you kind of grow up out of that, but, but I'll say this. I love that about him because he keeps things light. And when I'm, when I'm going through, you know, just seasons of just intense, intense, emotional, um, just things happening in my life and me, I love that. Um, he listens to me, but then he can also cheer me up. He can also, um. Just be there for me and in, in a, in a loving yet uplifting way.

Omar: 7:27

Amen. There's a scripture, I believe it's in Proverbs that it says like, that a laughter is like medicine for the bones.

Ann: 7:34

Yeah.

Omar: 7:34

You know, like it does. Uh, I believe, um, laughter is very important. Um, the Bible says that we are created in the image of God. So a lot of the characteristics, a lot of the things that we express, I believe that comes from the Father. So I believe that's something that He gave us.

Ann: 7:49

Yeah, and I, and I agree, and I believe that's why the Lord gave you me, uh, gave, yeah, gave you to me, um, because, you know, I, I can, I can tend to kind of, um, just make things really serious, and it's like, no, and have fun, girl, like, you know what I'm saying? So, yeah. I needed you, babe, and I needed you to be funny.

Omar: 8:14

Amen. Question number two. What things about our life together make you happy? How frequently do you notice those things? What things about our life together make you happy? How frequently do you notice those things?

Ann: 8:31

Um, Let's see, I would say the peace that we have, um, the peace of coming home from a long hard day of work, um, where it's like intense, you know, it's an intense environment, um, and to be able to come home and have peace with you hun', peace with the kids, God, and you know, God's peace, right? But, um, his peace in Hebrew means shalom, which means unity, harmony, tranquility, wholeness. And I feel like I have that when I come home. Um, and I love that and I'm thankful for that. Um, yes, things can, you know, things can happen, but shalom is not dependent on the things that are happening. Shalom is, is inside here. It's in, it's in, it's in our hearts. So, sorry about that. You might hear something on the mic.

Omar: 9:25

She was hitting the mic. But no, no, I agree. When I read this question, peace, one thing I've learned is that peace is something money cannot buy. And especially like growing up, if you grew up in homes where maybe there was chaos, there was fighting, arguing all the time.

Ann: 9:43

Like my home growing up was very dysfunctional. So yeah,

Omar: 9:47

yeah, and I grew up in a home You know that there was a lot of yelling a lot of arguing fighting things like that So peace is something that I I agree with that man. I could come home and know that we're at peace We keep small small. I've learned one thing keep small things small like, you know, we've learned just to To work through things I guess but another thing that they came to my mind About our life together that makes me happy is just the wisdom that I believe God has given my wife for me.

Ann: 10:21

Um,

Omar: 10:21

I tell people that she's like my second Holy Spirit.

Ann: 10:25

Um,

Omar: 10:26

I know it's the Holy Spirit working in her and through her, but I never do anything now without consulting her,

Ann: 10:33

without

Omar: 10:33

asking her. And at any, especially major choices, like I tell her, Hey, babe, this is what I'm thinking about doing. This is, you know, the options and I always receive her input. So that's one thing about our life together that makes me happy. Um, the wisdom that she's given me in, um. In situations where I had to make some tough choices in the long run, like I look back and I thank God for the wisdom that she gave me because it turned out to be the right thing to do. So that's, that's one thing that makes me happy. You know,

Ann: 11:07

I feel like I just need to share this. Like I humbly, I humbly, um, accept that, you know, as, as your wife, uh, because, you know, I think, um, Growing up, like, I didn't, I didn't see a whole lot of that. And so the fact that you being the leader of our home, um, meaning the spiritual leader, um, you, you take on your role, but you make room, and you see me as As your, as your helpmate, as, as your equal, you don't look down upon me. You actually invite me into those decisions, um, and you, and you receive from me. And that's really huge because, you know, a lot of times in marriage, um, it can, it can be very one sided either. It's the man making the decisions or the woman because she has to take, you know, step into that leadership role where she's led, left to make decisions by herself. Um, but I'm really grateful and I'm, again, I'm humbled by this, that you invite me, um, into that space to make these really, um, important decisions. Alongside with you. And one of the things that first thing I do is pray. That's the first thing. That's a given like before I even open my mouth, you know what? Let's pray about this because we need, we need to consult with God before we do anything else here. So that's, that's just, that's just me. That's, that's what I have to do. And so, like you said, yeah, it is us going to God and letting his Holy spirit guide us.

Omar: 12:49

Amen. Okay, question number three. What's something you would like to do together that we've never done? What makes it so inviting to you?

Ann: 13:01

Hmm, repeat that.

Omar: 13:02

What's something you would like to do together that we've never done? What makes it so inviting to you?

Ann: 13:09

Hmm, something together that we've never done?

Omar: 13:14

Can I go first? Yeah, yeah, yeah.

Ann: 13:16

Do that.

Omar: 13:17

You know, I was having a conversation with a brother. He just got married this past Valentine's Day. Matter of fact, Valentine's Day landed on a Friday. So one of the brothers from church, shout out to Carlos and his wife, Maria, they got married on Valentine's Day. They went to City Hall and they got married. That's what we did. What came to my mind is something that we've never done. That I would like to do together is to actually have a church ceremony when that we haven't had a church ceremony. And I know we've talked about like a renewing our vows, having a pastor there, maybe on the ocean front. I know we have some friends out in Hawaii.

Ann: 13:53

Shout out to Sophia, Peter.

Omar: 13:55

Yes. So you never know. But what I would like to do is, um, I know God honors the marriage covenant. That's one thing that our pastor told us when we're deciding. I told a pastor, I want to marry her. I don't have money like to throw a big wedding and our pastor said, man, go to city hall, get married. Got God honors man's law. We went to city hall, we got our marriage license, then we went before a judge and got married and it's been a blessing ever since then. I would really love, and I know that's one thing she has brought up to me too, so maybe I beat her to the punch, but I know she, she wants, uh, to do that, but that's one thing I would like to do, maybe have our kids there, maybe, uh, maybe our close knit family, maybe close friends, and do actual, like, uh, renewing of our vows, maybe on the ocean side or something like that.

Ann: 14:42

Yeah, okay, so now I'm going to have to go in agreement with you. Um, you know, it didn't, it, it, It didn't come to mind, but you're right. That's something that I've been mentioning for a while now that, um, that I would love to do that. I would love for our grown children to be a witness there of, you know, just the love that we have between each other and how it's only because of God, like we can't contribute this, um, this union. Um, to ourselves. This is something that God has done, and this is something He's continuing to do with our complete reliance on Him. So, yes, I would love to, um, maybe wear an off white dress, and, you know, have my children there, and, you know, have you in a sharp, Tuxedo and and have, you know, who knows, maybe Pastor Juan or some pastor there, um, to just bless us. Um, I would truly, truly love that. That would mean so much to me.

Omar: 15:47

Amen. So question number four. What was the last thing I did for you that you really enjoyed? What made it so pleasant for you?

Ann: 15:57

What

Omar: 15:57

was the last thing I did for you that you really enjoyed? And what made it so pleasant for you?

Ann: 16:03

I would say, um, The last thing you did was, was it Valentine's Day? Hmm. So I would say, um, actually just yesterday, yesterday when, um, you know, we woke up, we, we took, you know, we took the, the day off to spend time together. And, um, just you being there, like, it was so beautiful. It was just like. I'm, I'm not like, you don't have to get the stars and the moons for me. I'm just, you know, I love simplicity, like you being there. And my daughter Angelina calls from school and she's like, What are you guys doing? And so here we are, like, we're going to plan this whole day on our, by ourselves. Um, which we did the morning, right? We just, uh, we woke up together and, um, you know, just You got in the word, I got in the word, um, and we worked out, and then, um, we picked, you picked up Angelina, it was so cold out yesterday, it was like freezing, and I didn't want to go out, and you're like, don't worry, I'll go get her. Um, and you brought her home and I made us some delicious breakfast and you helped and Angelina was like, she, she was loving every bit of it. Um, but then Moses comes home and just being at the dinner table with. All of my family. Um, that meant everything to me. I just, I was taken in that moment. Like, this is so precious. Like, this is so beautiful. So, it's, it's the simple things. Uh, the little things that, again, as our family grows, as our children grow, um, we see less and less of. But when we're able to be together, it's like, it's It means everything to me. It's so precious to me. And, and again, just starting off our morning, just me and you. It was just the right start to the morning.

Omar: 18:09

Yeah. So the question, what was the last thing I did for you that you really enjoyed? Um, I want to mention something though. I don't know if you guys are familiar with the five love languages. Dr. Gary Chapman got a book on that. Well, there's five love languages, and mine are physical touch and acts of service. So, the last thing that, that you did for me that I enjoy is, I love it when you help me do things that need to get done.

Ann: 18:33

Like

Omar: 18:33

around the house, whether it's around the house, whether it's cleaning, whether it's organizing. When, when she helps me like do those things and I come home, let's say, and the house is organized, dishes are clean, man, maybe so dinner's ready, things like that. To me, that's my love language, which is acts of service. Acts of service is like doing something for somebody, you know, like.

Ann: 18:54

Yeah.

Omar: 18:54

And I know you mentioned the little things that make a big difference when she's, when I'm on the couch and she comes and she sat next to me and like right beside me and watching a movie together, just the physical, you know, it don't, I don't gotta be all that kind of physical all the time, man, just sitting next to me, laying your head on my shoulder and just having you close by. To me, that's love. It's the little things, the little things that matter.

Ann: 19:17

Yeah.

Omar: 19:18

But okay. Number five.

Ann: 19:20

Okay.

Omar: 19:21

So these questions here, we just, uh, stumbled across them right now. So we didn't have a chance to look over them, to think about them. So all these answers are like from the top of the head. So here we go. Number five.

Ann: 19:32

Go

Omar: 19:33

ahead.

Ann: 19:34

No, go ahead. Yeah. You good? Yeah.

Omar: 19:35

Okay. Uh, which of our couple friends or acquaintances do you admire the most?

Ann: 19:42

What

Omar: 19:42

is it about their relationship that impresses you?

Ann: 19:46

Hmm.

Omar: 19:46

Which of our couple friends or acquaintances do you admire the most? What is it about the relationship that impresses you? Man, I got a couple that came to my mind already. Can I go first? Go for it. All right. Shout out Pastor Joey and Sunshine Miranda. When we first got saved, we got saved at the same church out in East Chicago, Indiana. Uh, Faith World Christian Center. This was back in 2004 for me, October and for her somewhere, I don't know, in August around there, but, um, there were the assistant pastors at the time and they became our mentors. Uh, so she, um. Sunshine was my wife's mentor. Pastor Joey ended up being my mentor. They basically, we were brand new in the faith. They taught us how to read the Bible through the, you know, the First Steps books that they were doing out there. They were actually using the New Life books out in this church. So, I'll say them. Why do I admire them just to see them at an early stage when we weren't even married. We were learning about, you know, what it, first of all, what it means to be a believer, what it means to be a disciple of Jesus Christ. And eventually that led us to get married. And just seeing their relationship, they're still married to these, to this day, and their children are grown, their children are married, their, their grandparents now, and I, uh, we still keep in touch, you know, via Facebook, and I see just the expansion of their family, uh, their children serve on the worship team, playing instruments, worshiping together. So that's one reason I admire them, because I know their life back then, I know the, the fruit that I've seen. In their marriage, in the way they interacted to with one another, uh, the love, the respect that they had for one another, and they're still together. So to me that's, that's what in and, and impresses me. That's what the question says. What is it about the relationship that impresses you? Um, it's evident that the love of Christ, the love of Jesus Christ is flowing in them and through them. So that's one couple that we could name some more too. Obviously, this is a tough question because, you know, maybe somebody might feel offended. How come you didn't pick me? Hey, hey, hey, is that you thinking that? I was going to mention you next, but unfortunately, I could only mention one, you know,

Ann: 22:03

And I, you know, as you said, there's, there's, you know, it's so beautiful how the Lord puts us in community and we've been blessed by so many, um, just godly relationships um, and, and even just, um, people who Who are in family, like, you know, you know, who came to my mind, your mom and dad, like, um, you know, when I, when I came into your family, I was a single mom and one of the things that really, really spoke to my heart was your mom's ability to welcome me, um, with non judgment, like, You know, and she, I remember when I first had met her and you guys had your first like family gathering and she kind of pulls me to the side and she says you could invite your son and That meant everything to me. She didn't put me out there in front of everyone. It was just me and her She says you could invite your son and I felt a certain way about that because I didn't know how your family would receive Me and my son, but she made me feel so welcome. So loved Just accepted And and I seen that in your dad too. And I just feel like you're you're your mom and dad their marriage and their ability to be welcoming to people that no matter who you are like If they don't know you, they'll welcome you, like, and they're very hospitable, like, they'll open up their door, they'll give you what they have, like, um, and I didn't, I didn't grow up having that, um, I, I would say, like, it was off and on, it wasn't consistent, where I feel like your family has been very consistent in this, and they've modeled that. I believe that's why you, Um, it's so important to you that we be hospitable, um, and that we welcome people where I was, I was very guarded about that. Like, uh, I don't know if I want to let people in my home. I don't, you know, and you were just like, you know, our doors, God gave us this house to open it to whoever. You know, comes in and, you know, my discernment radar goes, do, do, do, do, do, but that's working on me, people, but, but that's one couple that, um, I've gleaned from and, you know, that I really appreciate and love is your mom and dad.

Omar: 24:31

Shout out to my mom and dad. And if you've ever been to my house, you can thank my parents for that. Hospitality, for real, that's very big to, to me now. Uh, I share with her, that's one thing that got placed on our heart. I remember when we were praying for our house and God bless us to be a blessing. And when we, that was part of our prayer, right? Bless us and we will, we're going to open up our house to others. And that's one thing that, that we've done, you know, uh, recently, you know, we'll open up our doors to family, to friends, our brothers and sisters in Christ, so definitely that's one thing that, that I learned from my family. Okay. Question number six. Um, what is the best part about being together?

Ann: 25:10

How

Omar: 25:10

does that make you feel? What is the best part about being together? How does that make you feel?

Ann: 25:18

I'm

Omar: 25:18

gonna go first.

Ann: 25:19

Go for it.

Omar: 25:20

Her sweetness.

Ann: 25:22

And

Omar: 25:22

this woman is so sweet. So tender, so kind. I think we complement each other. Cause I'm a little bit rough around the edges. Just a little. Just a little. I'm a sweet little guy too, myself. But man, just only

Ann: 25:36

on only on Wednesdays

Omar: 25:39

Anniversary 20 years every 10 years. I get nice.

Ann: 25:42

Yeah,

Omar: 25:43

but no I was I would say man just What is the best part about being together her sweetness her kindness? Empathy Her sympathy for others. She she truly like loves She truly cares And she's, I believe God's used her to like soften me up, you know, if I could put it that way. I do believe that and he's still using her to do that. You know, she tells me certain things about things that I need to work through. And that's probably a whole nother episode we will get into as far as like going to counseling, as far as like addressing past traumas. You know, I remember the other day, I'll share this real quick. We were in the living room. And she, she just sits down and I just bluntly tells me, I don't think you've allowed yourself to grieve for those years that you were incarcerated. And as soon as those words left their mouth, like my eyes got watery and it felt like I wanted to cry just by her saying that. Like, just the, there's certain things that have, like, I guess have hardened me that I believe God wants to work, work through. through or work in me to heal me so that I could bring healing to others. So that's, I would say, that's one thing that I enjoy about, about her. And how does that make me feel? That makes me feel happy. Oh man, there's nothing like, Coming home to a sweet, tender, caring wife. I don't think I could be with a woman out there causing chaos, and starting fights, and things like that, for real. I'll be out, uh, I couldn't do that. So coming home, like you mentioned earlier. You mean

Ann: 27:28

who I was before Christ? I don't

Omar: 27:30

remember that, you know. But

Ann: 27:32

anyways,

Omar: 27:33

uh, she mentioned peace earlier. Shalom, shalom in the home. That's part of that. I would say the peace and just the sweet peace and sweetness that she brings to the relationship. That's what I enjoy.

Ann: 27:45

And

Omar: 27:46

so what is the best part about being together? That's the question.

Ann: 27:49

The best part of being together is. I believe, for me, and this is really huge, and I believe that this didn't just happen in the beginning. Um, this has been a work in progress. Um, where I, and I shared this with you, I believe, yesterday, where I feel safe with you. Um, I think for me, growing up, you know, I just felt like nobody really knows me. You know, I felt like, I felt like I couldn't let I've never wanted anyone, especially not a man, because of my father leaving our family when I was very young. But I never wanted a man to see my vulnerable side because I felt that I would be taken advantage of. And so, I just didn't feel safe around men. I felt like, you know, okay, when are you going to abandon me?-When are you going to reject me? When are you going to run out? You know, and, because it happened. It happened with my very first relationship. It happened with my father. So, that was me coming in with my baggage, with my, my traumas. Um, and, and already my perspective was so skewed on that, you know? So I feel like over the years that I've been able to be me. I've been able to feel safe with you, and this is what I mean, not just physical safety, right, but safe, meaning that I can share my vulnerabilities with you. I can share my weaknesses with you. I can, um, I can invite you into those areas of my heart where I have not allowed people, um, and, and so. You have provided safetiness for me to be me, and that means everything about me, the good, the bad, the ugly, like, you, you're present there. Um, I don't have to fear retaliation, because I know some, some couples actually do fear that. And, and, and, and I understand, and that's, um, that's a tough place to be, but. You make me feel safe and loved and cared for and valued. And again, this has been a work in progress. This is not something that just happened when we got married. Oh, no. It's, it's taken years for me to feel safe with you. And even still, I feel like the Lord still Still working in me in some areas, um, but God is gracious. And so that's one thing that I love about us is that you, you allow me to feel safe with you.

Omar: 30:37

All right. Question number seven, what makes us a good team? What could we do even better? No, what, what could we do to be an even better team? So what makes us a good team? I think just like I mentioned in the previous question, the, how we're opposite, how I'm a little bit more rough, you're more sweet and kind. I believe that's a good combination. Like, you know, we compliment each other, you know, like, um, so that makes us a good team. What makes us a good team? The fact that we're both seeking God. Uh, we have our own personal devotional time, especially this year. I would say that I've been more in my Bible. Um, and back in August of 2024. Uh, this brother named Kingsley, shout out to Kingsley, we do a ministry in Cook County Jail. Uh, he went in there one day, he forgot his Bible and he even forgot what we were going to be teaching on. And when it came to be his turn to, uh, share his part of the Bible study, he just started going like, uh, top of the head, like what he remembers about those scriptures and that Bible and started teaching these men, basically had a Bible study. Like from the top, from the top of his head from memorization and so as we're walking out of Cook County that day, I asked him, Hey, brother, man, how were you able to do that? And he told me that he reads through the Bible at least once a year and sometimes twice a year. So I remember that night I went home. I believe I even mentioned this to you. And the next day I got on a one year Bible reading plan and I think today I was like on day 235 of going through the Bible. So I say, I'll say the fact that now I'm in, I'm in the Bible, I'm praying. Uh, I believe that's what makes us a good team. I believe that we both put God first. I put God first, she puts God first in her relationship and that just brings us closer. We put God first in our marriage. God first in every choice that we make. So we're on the same page, we're on the same team, right? Yeah. We got the same mission, the same vision, uh, we're able to do ministry. As for me, like with, with men's ministry, she does women's ministry and I think that's what makes us a good team is the fact that we're building on, on the, on the solid foundation of, on, on Christ, the solid rock we stand and we build.

Ann: 33:02

Yeah, that's so good. I just want to say this. There's a quote that I've heard. It says, in a marriage, you either, uh, win together or you lose together. There is no winner and loser in a marriage, right? And, you know, that, that's always, um, spoken to me because I want us to win together. You know, and so We have to be, again, the big word, intentional about making that happen, working together as a team, right? Because we go through different seasons where, you know, um, you, you may be like, you may be winning, right? You're winning. But I'm in a place of like, I feel, you know, emotionally stuck or I feel mentally stuck. And You, you notice, hey, what's going on? You know, how can I pray for you? Um, how can I be there for you, right? And I feel like vice versa. You know, when you've, when you've been gone through your seasons where you've been stuck, Um, again, you know, how can I help you, babe? And, you know, praying for one another. I can't. I can't, um, just emphasize how much, how important it is that we pray for one another. If you're, if you're married, um, you know, this is something that I've learned and I'm, and then I'm practicing that we have to pray for one another. Now you can do it, I would say it's most effective when you're doing it together. Because you grow in intimacy when you're praying with this person, your spouse, right? So, do it together. Um, do it whenever you can together. Whether, if it's in the morning, if it's at night, pray together. Um, and, and also in your own prayer time, in your private time, when you close the door, pray for your spouse. Pray for your marriage, right? Because that, that, you know, a team doesn't just happen. There's preparation that goes into that team being effective, that team, um, uh, performing at its best. There's also vision, you know, there's also a vision. There's a mission that this team has. Right. And I believe that. Our, our, our mission, right? Our purpose is to know God, to make him and to make him known, but you know, our, our mission, our vision, um, that the Lord inspires us through his Holy Spirit. And so I know that right now, uh, where he has us both is in a place of ministering to one another, ministering to our family and ministering, um, where we do at, at our jobs at, at, at Cook County Jail and at. Pacific Garden mission. And so we need to be a team before we can get out there and minister to anyone. We need to be on the same page. We need to be supporting one another. We need to be praying for one another because we all have an enemy, right? We as a marriage Forget about it. We have an enemy and so we need to be a team, um, unified with Shalom, you know, and again, the enemy does everything possible to bring chaos into that, but that's where preparation. You're not caught off guard. You've been preparing. You've been, um, moving as a team together. So, hey, if, if I didn't see that, he's gonna catch it. Let's, let's war together. So, I think that's what makes an effective team. Is that, you know, we, we either win together or we lose together. But there's no, there's no competition between us. We're in this thing together. Um, and we need to be, have each other's back. That's how I see it.

Omar: 37:01

Yes, I agree. I'm glad you brought up prayer because I was, the second part of that question is, what could we do to be an even better team? And as you were talking before you mentioned prayer, it was already on my mind. Like I know we pray, we have our own prayer life. Yeah. And we do pray together. But I would say not on a daily basis. I mean, if we're being honest, not an everyday thing, but when I thought about that part of the question, what could make us an even better team?

Ann: 37:27

Yes.

Omar: 37:27

If we're praying daily.

Ann: 37:28

Consistently.

Omar: 37:29

Daily.

Ann: 37:29

Consistently, yeah. That definitely

Omar: 37:31

will make us a better team. All right. Question number eight.

Ann: 37:33

Mm hmm.

Omar: 37:34

When was a time you felt that I listened to you really well? What would you like us to discuss, but have been hesitant to bring up? Uh oh. Mm

Ann: 37:44

hmm.

Omar: 37:46

So, when was a time you felt that I listened to you really well? Let's start there, and then we'll go to the second part.

Ann: 37:52

Hmm. I think, I think just recently, um, when I had shared about a situation that, um, was going on at work. Um, and again, I, where I work, it's a very intense environment. I work with a very, um, I would say very troubled women in a very, uh, traumatic field. And, and so, you know, I, I brought the weight of this thing home with me. And I remember, uh, it was a day you had a meeting scheduled and I knew about it. Um, but. As I was processing what had happened at work, I really needed you, I really needed you there for me. And, you know, I felt a certain way. I felt like, man, like, when I really need you, um, you're not there. And so, and so that's, I'm just being very honest right now as to how I felt in that moment. And, and I've shared this with you, but, so that night I couldn't sleep, you know, I, I was processing this thing, I couldn't sleep, and And the middle of the night, it was like three o'clock in

Omar: 39:07

the

Ann: 39:08

morning, three in the morning,

Omar: 39:09

my favorite time to have a conversation, a deep conversation.

Ann: 39:13

So, uh, so I'm up and he's, he's, he's like, he could, I guess he could feel that I'm up

Omar: 39:22

and I felt her like tossing and turning and it's like, it's not like her. She usually, you know, like sound asleep. So, so

Ann: 39:28

yeah, I was tossing and turning and I was just like thinking about this thing, you know? And. And he's like, is everything okay? And I said, no, it's not okay. And you know, I began, I began to share what I wanted to share with him earlier that day. And it was just like, I let out a good cry. I let out what I needed to, and as I'm talking to him, like, before I knew it, I am knocked out. I'm, I just, I just like knocked out, fell asleep, but I really needed to, to share that with you. I needed you to listen to me. I needed you to be there for me. And even though it was 3 o'clock in the morning, but you being there for me, and me being able to just share what was so heavy on my heart. Um, I just had peace and I was able to, to knock out and go to sleep. So yeah, that, that I just recall that moment.

Omar: 40:29

Um, so the question was, once again, you know, so you guys know when was the time you felt that I listened to you really well? Um, I would say what comes to my mind, I just finished taking a course online, uh, Christian chaplains and coaching. So it's a program that I took the first class was in introduction to a chaplaincy and the second part was on Christian grief counseling So I believe in that season it was like a month and a half that I was going through it but more more in January just last month and that I felt listened to I would like share with her things that I was learning and Things that that I know she likes to talk about Like counseling. That's one thing she does. She's a biblical counselor where she works. So I'm learning certain things. So I'm sharing with her what I'm learning and she's like, yo, yeah, that's what you do. And I guess we were Well, why I felt this is when you feel listened to you really well I thought she was listening because it was something that Really interested her or something that she's already doing and we were able to discuss it I think to have a good back and forth so it wasn't just her listening to me But giving me feedback and it was, uh, I'll say during that month or during, it wasn't just like a one day thing. I would say it was a continual as I'm studying. And then the other thing going back to, uh, just her being here, uh, we were in the room together, she was, uh, over there on the desk and I'm in the bed studying and just having her close in my season of me studying and having to do tests, read books, read articles, watch videos, just having her there close by made it easy. I don't know. Just, uh, It's almost like she was there with me in the midst of my process of going through this course, of going through this class, but, um, I just want to

Ann: 42:19

say this, that, um, you're right, I was very in tuned and engaged, not so much because of the information you were sharing. It was good, and I could relate, you know, but I think what was most, um, I guess what interested me the most about that, was, um, this whole self awareness that as you were, as you were doing this, um, the whole, uh, what is it called?

Omar: 42:48

Um, biblical grief counseling.

Ann: 42:50

Yeah. Biblical grief counseling, part of being a chaplain. Um, I, I saw how it was ministering to you and that's what interested me because I'm all for. You know, us becoming more self aware because when we become more self aware, that makes the greater team, right? Um, if I'm more self aware, if I'm self aware of my triggers, if I'm self aware of, um, just my, my emotions not being regulated. Right? Then I can do something about it. I can go to the word of God. I can pray. I can call somebody up and say, Hey, will you pray with me? I can, I can take those thoughts captive, right? And, and, and so hearing you. Just be self reflective. I was just like, Wow, Lord, this is so beautiful. Like, this is your Holy Spirit ministering to Him and He's becoming, um, He's, He's growing and becoming more self aware. Uh, so, that's what really intrigued me, interested, you know, was interested, interesting to me. Because I'm like, Yeah, this is good. This is really good. But yeah.

Omar: 44:11

One thing that I was learning is, um, I think, did I say biblical grief counseling or Christian grief counseling? It's either or. Uh huh. But anyways, uh, one thing they were saying in there that you can't give something to someone that you don't have yourself. So you can't be over there trying to help somebody as they're going through whatever situation they're going through if you haven't found that healing yourself. So it's almost like. Allowing God to heal you, so then you could, then God could use you to bring healing to others. So as I'm reading some of these, um, Um, how would I put it? These cases, I guess, or situations, right, cases, um, that people have went through and I could relate to part of that. And then I could relate to the grief, to the different, um, symptoms, I would say of grief, right? There was like seven or eight. And that's

Ann: 45:07

where that question came in about, like, I don't think you've allowed yourself to grieve. When you were away, when you were locked up, that's where that question came in because as we were sitting in that grief, right? Because, you know, as you know, grief is, grief is hard to process. And so, just the fact that you, you were Talking about it, you were, you were just, you know, sharing about your own experiences and I don't know, it just brought that question up. And so I believe it brought us into a deeper intimacy. Um, and that's the whole thing that happens when you listen, when you listen to someone is that it brings a whole nother level of intimacy between you and that person.

Omar: 45:55

Amen. Listen, listen, love, love. Four words you need to learn. That's what I learned in the book, right? I think it was listen, listen, love, love. That's it.

Ann: 46:06

That's it. You know,

Omar: 46:07

uh, don't listen to respond. Listen to understand. As men, we wanna, when our wife tells us something, We're the fixers. We want to fix it. Our wives don't need us to fix anything. They just need us to hear them out. You know, that's a lot of, a lot of times that's what it is. Just be there, listen, be present. And that, that alone makes a big difference. The second part of the question was, What would you like us to discuss but have been hesitant to bring up?

Ann: 46:34

Hmm. Hmm.

Omar: 46:39

That's a deep one.

Ann: 46:40

Yeah.

Omar: 46:41

Like us to discuss but have been hesitant to bring up.

Ann: 46:45

It's deep. It's deep for me. So finances and I'm just being real. That's a, that's where I avoid. I go into avoidance mode. Um, because it's something I'm not, I'm not comfortable with. Um, it's something that I know that you'll bring up to me a lot. You know, finances, um, and learning how to budget. And all this, you know, and it, it just, for me, it becomes very overwhelming. Um, but I know it's something I need to do and I feel like it's, it's something that I run away from every chance that I can. Um, but I do believe that this year we need to get our finances in order. Um, I do believe that I need to be a good steward in the way I, um, I spend, you know, whatever, whatever, um, whatever it is that I'm purchasing. Um, I will say this a lot of times, I do Amazon, which I'm, I'm putting myself out there right now. I do Amazon and, um, it's, it's stuff that, um, that I don't need. Okay. I'm confessing. Yes. Um, and, and even, even the things that, um, the purchases that I make for, for others, it's putting myself on a budget. Like, what can we afford and what can't we afford? And, and so, um, yeah, that's a very touchy subject for me. So I'm putting it out there right now. We need to talk about that. Not today. Not today. Not on our anniversary. But soon.

Omar: 48:23

Maybe for our 50th anniversary, you're going to hear stuff. But here, okay. Okay, going back to something she brings up all the time. Counseling. She brings up counseling. Man, I think you should do some counseling. And, like, I get, to be honest, I get defensive. When, I don't know about you, but when somebody tells you you need counseling, that tells me that there's something wrong. Good. You think there's something wrong with me that I need some help with so right away I get defensive and to be honest when I get defensive I tune out the rest of it Even if it's good things that are that she's saying so but now like going back to taking this class going through that grief thing Just learn learning about counseling. That's what I was learning about I know That in order to truly be effective in ministry, whether that's as a chaplain, in ministry, men's ministry, there's some healing that, that needs to take place in me. I know there was a brother recently in church who just opened up, you know, about going through counseling and how it benefited him personally, the marriage, family, and hearing him, I, you know, I told him that, man, you know, I believe that's God wants to do something in me through that as well. So counseling for men, it's not, not something that we look forward to doing, but it has come up a lot recently on the podcast. If you go back to the last three or four podcasts or even further back, men that have gone through counseling to deal with past trauma, PTSD, things they've gone through, experienced healing to know why they act the way they do, why they react the way they do. They need healing in order to be effective in every area of their life, whether the workplace, in marriage, as a husband, as a father, as a friend, in ministry. So I'll say that's one thing that I avoid, but I believe that it's coming, you know, so.

Ann: 50:25

And I, and I just want to say this, like, there is this stigma tied to counseling. We've gotten better as a church, as people, like, we've gotten better at. normalizing counseling, because the Bible in Proverbs says in the multitude of counselors, there is safety. And a lot of times we go back to, like you said, hon, um, when you hear counseling, you know, people think of it like, Oh, what's wrong with me? You know, something's gotta be wrong with me. Well, there's a newsflash. There's something wrong with all of us. There's I don't know. So there's something wrong with all of us. You know, um, we were brought into a sinful world. We were full of sin, you know, thank God for Jesus. Thank God that, you know, he, he took upon our, our sin, our guilt, our shame, all of that, and there's forgiveness. Um, through the blood of Jesus, and we're born again, a new creation, right, all because of Jesus. And so, there's this thing, though, that, that's still taking place, which is the renewing of the mind, right? We are transformed by the renewing of a mind, of the mind. And this is an ongoing process, and so what counseling does is it helps us in that area. It helps us in renewing our mind. And so, Um, the, the whole, the whole reason why I bring it up, um, is because I too being a biblical counselor have been learning and being counseled. Through the people that I surround myself with, um, my, my supervisor, um, the, the ladies, the, the other counselors that are there, um, I feel like every day is a session because we, we always talk about what we're going through. Uh, we're safe spaces for one another, you know, and even, um, going through biblical counseling class, um, with, um, Gila and, and Roberta and the, these other ladies that are there. Um, we're, we're a safe space for, for each other and, and so like counseling, uh, is, is really a blessing. Uh, we can't do this walk on our own and, and again, going back to Proverbs, you know, uh, we, we are safe in the multitude of counselors, you know, of course, pray for the people, um, that, that the Lord is connecting you with, pray that they be, um, People that are for you, you know, and, and want what, what's God's best is for you. So, yeah, that's all I wanted to share about counseling.

Omar: 53:07

All right. Last question. Number nine. We're already at 52 minutes. So, we got to wrap this up.

Ann: 53:12

Wrap it up. So, here

Omar: 53:13

we go. Number nine. On a scale of one to ten, how am I doing as a husband? Okay. And then I got to answer that for you. Okay. So, okay. Ten. All right. All right. So I'm a 10. Okay. And the second part of that question is what one little thing could I do to move that up a notch to get me to 11 on a 10? So I'm already a 10, but what could I do to bump that up a notch?

Ann: 53:42

I will say this, like you, this is why I said you're a 10 for me. I mean, we all have, again, we are all a work in progress. But. You are perfect for me, in this sense. You're not a perfect person. You're not, you know, to, to try to seek perfection in a human is an unreal expectation to put on a person. Um, and it's not fair to them, right? So for me, um, you're a ten in this that you love God. Number one, you love God. You love people. You love me. You love our family. You are a man of your word. I can't, I can't like express how much you, that means to you. And I've seen that when you, when you say something, you will do whatever you have to, to keep your word. You are a faithful man. You are a faithful man to the Lord and to me and to our family. Um, you are a provider. You provide not just physical, not just, you know, material, um, but you provide a safety. You provide care. Um, you, for me, these are all important things. Um, You are also a man who is, you're honest. You're honest with me. Um, even things that have been hard for you to tell me, um, you have, you have told me. And I honor that. I honor that because, yes, in the moment it, I'm infuriated. Um, yeah, the sweet girl could get, the sweet girl could get ticked off. And yes, you've, you've pushed me there. And I won't, and let's not, let's not shift blame because I, you know, that comes from my own. My own issues that I need to deal with, but I just want to say that, that you're honest and you are a man of integrity. Um, these are all things that I love about you. And that's why I've said, I said you're a 10. Okay. So yeah, that's, that's, um, you're a 10 and I'm sticking with it.

Omar: 56:08

What can I do to bump it up a notch? One thing that you think about me like, man, if he would just do this, it would be even better.

Ann: 56:16

I would say live fearlessly. If you would just live fearlessly, honey, because I see, I see that the Lord has put just, um, the calling that He has on your life. Um, I believe that fear, um, holds you back. And My prayer is that you would just, even with fear, courageously, courageously, because God gives us courage to face our fears, right? He has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and a sound mind. Um, but, and as I'm saying this to you, it ministers to me too, because fear holds me back too. But I'll say that, is that, um, it would bump it up a notch if you would just Just live God fidently, trusting the Lord completely, fully, fully surrendered, fully trusting Him. No matter what it looks like, like you're just gonna do it, be obedient to God and just do it. So that's, that's it.

Omar: 57:31

Hmm. Okay. Thank you for all that. Now I gotta, I gotta match that. So on a scale of one to 10, how are you doing as a wife? I'm gonna have to say a 9. 5 because I gotta, I gotta give 5%, you know, to get you to that 10, to bump you up a notch.

Ann: 57:46

That's wise. Yeah,

Omar: 57:47

nine and a half, so nine and a half. Right, here we go. Uh, like I mentioned throughout the interview, you know, just to touch on certain points, her sweetness, her kindness, gentleness, um, empathy, sympathy, just the love, not only that she shows me, obviously we're talking about marriage here. But I see it in the way she loves others, the way she loves the women that she ministers to, the way she cares about the people at work. You know, I know she don't get into details, you know, what happens, but I could tell that she loves the people that she works with, those that she counsels. So, and She's been, she's been a biblical counselor before she even had the official title of biblical counselor throughout the years since she got saved. Like going back to something I said earlier about I, that I know that the Holy Spirit ministers to her and through her. So not only to me, not only is she a blessing to me, but she's a blessing to our children. I see the conversations that she has. With our sons, with our daughter and man, I'm, you know, like I'm, I'm over there listening and just the wisdom, how much she cares and she probes the questions she asks, she gets to, to the heart of the matter and I know my children love her and I know she has a unique bond and a relationship with our children. So, wife, mother, sister. Minister all around, just her, the whole package. So it's not me being selfish for just to say like the things that she brings to me as my wife. You know, it's my beautiful, sexy, thick wife, like I tell her. Don't worry, I could delete that or keep it, we'll see. But she's just a blessing. So now, the point five.

Ann: 59:42

Uh huh.

Omar: 59:43

I'm gonna share this, you know, we're being real. I think she already knows what I'm going to say. You want to say it for me so that I don't

Ann: 59:50

No, go for it.

Omar: 59:52

Just to be a little bit more organized.

Ann: 59:54

Yes.

Omar: 59:55

Like clutter wise, like just, you know. Me, I believe I could survive as a minimalist. A minimalist is somebody that could just the very essentials to me. Less is more. You know, I think she knows that. I like my things organized, going back to my keyboard, I did when I straightened out the camera with my old CD. Yeah, I got an old CD at home. And it could be bad though, because it could be Where I could be a perfectionist and that's not good, man. If you're OCD and you're trying to be a perfectionist, you're just going to bring strife and chaos into the marriage. Ease on a bit, allow room for a little error, allow room for a little disorganization, but not too much. So I would say just that being a little bit more clean, a little bit more organized and I'll be all good.

Ann: 1:00:45

And that's, I'm, I'm with you on that. I'm with you. That is a work in progress, But, um, I'll say this, that I appreciate you being the way that you are and in a sense that it motivates me, right? It motivates me. Um, it convicts me, and, um. And again, I feel like that's accountability, too. So, you know, yeah, I do definitely need to be more organized. I feel like, um, yeah, that's all I can say. He's right. That's my point five. He's right. I thought you were going to say procrastination because I am a procrastinator. But I'll take the, I'll take the disorganized.

Omar: 1:01:32

Procrastinating to get organized. You know about that.

Ann: 1:01:34

Exactly. They go hand in hand. So

Omar: 1:01:36

it's, it's, it is nine and a quarter. There you go. 9.25. So that's a 0.75. You gotta work on. There

Ann: 1:01:40

you go. There you go. But

Omar: 1:01:41

anyways, quick shout out guys. Focus on the family.com. You know, they have great articles on family marriage raising children.

Ann: 1:01:50

Check

Omar: 1:01:50

them. So I'm going to give you the opportunity, we're already an hour into this, you know, let's wrap this up.

Ann: 1:01:55

Let's wrap it up. I'm going to

Omar: 1:01:56

ask you a final word, and if you could please close us out in a prayer. And why am I going to ask her to close us out in a prayer? Not only because she's my guest, but she's also my prayer warrior.

Ann: 1:02:08

So a final

Omar: 1:02:08

word and close us out in a prayer.

Ann: 1:02:10

Final word. Um, again, every marriage is different. Every marriage is ordained by God. I do believe that. I do believe that we are all, um, as marriage is a work in progress, um, that we should continue to focus on making Jesus the foundation and the center and the core of our, uh, relationships. Um, because if he's not in it, Like, like his word says, apart from you, we can do nothing. And so we, we truly need God in our marriages, in our families, and he needs to be the focal point. He needs to be, you know, what we keep our eyes on no matter what happens in our marriage, because in marriage, you will go through some tough trials, you will go through some spiritual warfare. You will, you will go through it all. Um, in a godly marriage, you know, this is not just, we're talking about a godly marriage, a godly marriage that impacts generations to come. And so, of course, you're going to see all that, the warfare. Um, things, task trials, all of that. But this is where we as a team stand firm, um, in love, in his word in prayer, fasting, whatever it is that the Lord is calling you to do, um, in, in your marriage. Um, I know we just came out of a fast. Um, a few weeks ago with, with the church, um, and the Lord is speaking, was speaking to us. And there's just, that's a whole nother episode, but, but I just, I just want to encourage the married couple who maybe right now you're going through a season of, uh, maybe feeling, um, distant from your spouse or you're in warfare. You're in warfare. I, first thing I need to say is your spouse is not your enemy. They are not your enemy. There's three things that war against us. The world, ourselves, the flesh, the flesh, and the enemy. Those are the three things. The world, the flesh, the enemy. Okay, and so a lot of the times when we're going through something, we need to stop, pause, pray, process, right? What is this? What, what's going on with me that this is where self awareness is huge in a marriage. Start with me first. I have to start with me first before I can look to, to what's going on with him. What's going on with me? And if we both learn to do that together, man, man, I'm telling you God is doing something in marriages. And so we need to be on the same team. No division. Right? When the enemy comes to divide, uh uh, devil get out of here. Get out of here. We are one in Christ. So that's it. That's my final words.

Omar: 1:05:12

And, close that out with a prayer, please.

Ann: 1:05:14

Okay. Father, we just want to thank you, Lord. Thank you for your goodness, your love, your mercy, God. Your grace that is sufficient for us, God. Father, that in your word, in Romans 5. 5, it reminds us, God. That your Holy Spirit, God, that you have gifted to us pours out your love in our hearts, God. So that even when we think, how can I love this person? How can I love my spouse? Help us to remember that your Holy Spirit pours in our heart your love, God. Your love isn't conditional. It isn't fickled. Father, it isn't frail. It's pure. It's unconditional. It's It's everything that we need, God. And Lord, I just thank you for your pure love. God, I pray Lord that you would continue to bless our marriage, Lord, and bless the marriages that are listening to this podcast, Lord, I pray for marriages that are going through a tough season right now, father, as Omar and I have gone through many tough seasons, God, but you have walked us through them, God. So that we could mature through them so that we could grow in them, God, so that we can draw closer to you, God, so that we can become more like Christ, God. And so I pray for those marriages. May they be encouraged, God. May they know they're not alone. May they know that they are not each other's enemy, God. May they know, Father, that you have given them the mighty weapons of warfare to fight against the real enemy, Father. I pray for your blessing and your covering over every marriage that is listening right now, Father. I pray for children, God. I pray, Father, for the next generation, God, that they would see marriages that are steadfast in you, God, that are pursuing you, God. That they will see marriages that, that will not compromise and won't even give divorce even a thought, God, but that will father fight for one another, God and Lord, in the name of Jesus, I pray father that you got, uh, would heal and mend any broken marriages, God and Lord, I pray for those marriages that need help, Lord God, I pray that, um, they would seek counseling Lord that they would, uh, seek. Father, uh, a community to get involved in and love on them and care for them, God. I pray, Lord, Father, that we would draw closer to you as marriages, Father. So we thank you, God. I thank you for my husband, Omar. I thank you, Father, for My, my soulmate, God, I pray for your blessing and your covering over him, God. I pray, my God, for your armor upon him, God. I pray that he would continue to be the man, the man of God, that you have Called him to be Lord. I pray father, your continual leading and guiding father that we would be humbled unto you, God, that you would do, uh, have your way in our lives. May your will. Be done, God, as we surrender, as we submit, as we yield to you, God. May your Holy Spirit lead us and guide us in everything to give you glory and honor, Father. Thank you for our children, Angel, Angelina, and Moses. Bless them, keep them, Father. We pray this in Jesus mighty name, Amen. Amen,

Omar: 1:09:01

Amen. Amen. So, thank you for joining me, uh, like I said, Wrong To Strong marriage, I got a vision of us. You know, one of the questions was, how could we make our team better? Uh huh. You know what came to me? What? Wrong To Strong marriage interviews. Me and you interviewing couples. Oh, I love that. Talking about marriage, you know, so coming soon.

Ann: 1:09:21

Coming soon. That's

Omar: 1:09:22

something that came to me right now. Another thing, second thing that came to me, like I know you were praying for marriages, whether you're strong, healthy in the middle, or struggling. New Life Community Church, Cicero. There's a marriage group that is happening every Wednesday night, 7pm to 8. 30pm, led by our very own Pastor Juan Sanchez. So that's, uh, again, Wednesday night, New Life Community Church, Cicero. That's 3601 South 61st Avenue, Cicero, Illinois. Uh, Wednesday is community night. They have a marriage group. The one I just mentioned, men's groups are there. We have a wrong to strong discipleship group that's launched on Wednesdays. Come through whether you're a beginner in the Bible, intermediate or advanced, come join us to study the scriptures together, learn, grow, uh, they have women's groups, youth group, you got your kids. I believe it's from the, uh, seventh grade all the way to senior in high school. Uh, so come through if you need help. Uh, but with that, we're going to wrap this up. Matthew 4. 16 reads, The people who sat in darkness have seen a great light, and upon those who sat in the region and shadow of death, light has dawned. Alongside my wife Ann Calvillo, my name is Omar Calvillo, and we are

Ann: 1:10:36

Wrong to Strong.

Omar: 1:10:38

Now time to celebrate our anniversary.