Another Day Along the Way: Can Married Couples Work Together?

Another Day Along the Way

Monday, December 5, 2011

 Another day,

Do you work for the same company as your spouse? If you are single and plan to one day marry, do you hope to share a workplace with your partner? My recent Another Day blog was about WinShape Marriage Retreat. In the large topic of marriage, I could write a follow up under many specific topics. But I decided to interview some of the couples who work together. Yes, work together. Not just live in the same house. Not just carry the same last name. But work together for the same company: Emmanuel College.

Working together might not “work” for everyone – but for some, it can cause the marital relationship to become even stronger. Here are some stories:

Sean and Lisa Williamson. Sean married his wife, Lisa, on November 30^th, 1991.

“I met Sean our sophomore year in high school,” says Lisa. “He invited me to help build our class float in his parent’s garage. We became great friends.” The couple dated on and off until Sean proposed.

“She said no!” Sean admitted. “It wasn’t until we met up again about 5 years later while both of us were living in Atlanta that I asked her the second time, and she finally came to her senses.”

What is it like for both of you to work at Emmanuel College? “It is a privilege,” says Sean. “It is a wonderful opportunity for us to serve God together, in the same place, under the same mission. Now, as our oldest daughter has started Emmanuel this year, it gives us a new perspective as not only members of this college family, but as parents to a student here.”

“It is a dream come true,” Lisa explains. “The college has been a part of our lives for 15 years and we feel very privileged to be a part of what God is doing here.”

Sean is currently the Director of Counseling Services, Career Services and Disability Services. Lisa is a Financial Aid Counselor.

Erin and TJ Rosen. Erin and TJ have been married for seven years. They met at Reinhardt

College. TJ is currently the men’s basketball coach, and Erin is the Director of Athletic Fundraising and an adjunct professor.

How do you spend time with God and time with each other in your busy schedules? “Meals, games, cheering for other teams, chapel, convocation,” says TJ. “We don’t just talk about our days – we get to live them together.”

Erin comments: “There’s nothing more important than for us to make sure that we are right with God. Not saying it makes marriage easy, but it sure helps! Without God, we would not have made it this far.”

Erin and TJ have 2 children, Boston (4) and Bella (3).

Kyle and Stephanie Garrett. Kyle and Stephanie are newlyweds. They married a little over three months ago.

“We met in graduate school at UGA,” Kyle says. “We had a teaching practicum class together. I made her laugh so hard that milk literally came out of her nose (surely she doesn’t mind my sharing that).”

What advice do you have for couples who recently married or will soon get married?

“My advice is to put God first in everything, pray together, read Scripture together, and be spiritual partners in a real way. Trust God’s timing and don’t rush anything. Only God could have given me a wife so perfect for me. Stephanie is beyond a shadow of a doubt a blessing from God. And He holds all things together. It starts with prioritizing God first. Then everything else falls into place.”

Kyle and Stephanie are both professors in the English department.

Angie and Brian Peek. Brian and Angie recently celebrated their 24th anniversary. Angie is the Lab Assistant for the Natural Sciences Department. Brian is Chair-Natural Sciences and Chemistry Professor.

What personal spiritual disciplines have helped you grow spiritually together? “It is easy to say praying and Bible study,” Angie says. “But tithing has been a constant discipline that I feel has helped us also to grow. There have been times I have thought if I just didn’t tithe my money – then there would be other things I could afford. But I chose to tithe – after all, it’s God’s money anyway. When Brian lost his job once, we didn’t know how long we would go without a paycheck, but we remained faithful in our tithe. Because of our obedience to God, even when it is hard, He blesses us and takes care of us all the time.”

Brian and Angie have a son named Nikolai who is a freshman in college.

Tim and Deborah Stark. The Starks have been married for 27+ years. They met at Ozark Christian College in their freshman year. They were a self-described “choir tour” romance.

“Working together is a life-simplifier in many ways,” says Tim. “We like being in the same place and on basically the same schedule. I like being available to help if there’s something Deb needs, and we like being able to directly support and encourage each other.” Tim is an English instructor and club leader, Deborah is an Assistant Professor of Music and the Director of the EC Arts Academy.

How do you choose to spend time with God and time with each other in your busy schedules? Deb and I have both worked multiple jobs for most of our married lives, so buddy time has always been a challenge,” Tim says. “Our way of prioritizing it has always been unconventional, but that’s been okay for us.”

“We regularly share with each other passages of scripture, art & music that touches us spiritually, and daily events where we see the handiwork of God or where He has revealed His nature to us,” Deborah says.

What advice do you have for couples who recently married or will soon get married?

“Too many couples give up too soon,” Deborah notes. “We were married at ages 19 (me) and 21 (Tim). As we formed fully as adults during our marriage, we matured in different areas at different times. Even our interests and goals changed over time. Ours is a work of constantly pulling back together and refocusing, remembering that we are charged by God to break the cycle of divorce that was prevalent with both of our parents.”

Claude and Alice Black. Claude, Professor of History, and Alice, Administrative Assistant in the School of Education, are starting their eighteenth year at Emmanuel College. They met on a blind double date in February 1958 arranged by a friend who knew them both. After dating all through high school, they were married following graduation on June 17, 1961. They have spent this year celebrating their 50^th anniversary.

How do you choose to spend time with God and time with each other in your busy schedules? Claude and Alice say: “Friday night has always been ‘date night’ for us. When the children were young, it was ‘family night.’ Everything else is put aside and the Blacks bug out. It can be elegant or simple—the secret is purposeful together time. We’ve always been involved with young people whether as Sunday School teachers, youth leaders, ministers, or college employees. Being with the young men and women at Emmanuel College and watching as God shapes their lives is a great privilege for which we are thankful.” 

Along the way,
Chris Maxwell & Meredith Legg-Grady

Powerful Statement: Love means giving up a part of yourself for the sake of the other, and them doing the same for you. (Sean Williamson)