"Vibrantly Healthy Marriages and Homes – Panel Discussion" by Mark & Ann Brubaker, Donald & Mary Ann Brechbill, and Merle & Edith Burkholder

In this panel moderated by Ken Miller, three long-married couples who wed as teenagers share lessons from a combined 149 years of marriage.

Merle Burkholder describes learning to communicate through weekly talk nights, monthly dates, and anniversary retreats where he and Edith planned for each child’s growth. Mark Brubaker explains that personality differences are God-given and, when valued, sharpen and enrich a marriage. Donald Brechbill presents marriage as a picture of Christ’s grace-filled covenant, urging spouses to let marriage change them and to make time to get away together.

In the Q&A, the panel addresses child discipline, in-law tensions, why couples marry later today, supporting singles, spanking and gentle parenting, meeting a spouse, the timing of children, and healing past wounds.

Their closing advice: enjoy each stage of marriage, listen to understand, let husbands take responsibility, and fight Satan together through shared prayer rather than fighting each other.