The Tribune

By ALESHA CADET

Tribune Features Reporter

acadet@tribunemedia.net

As divorce rates continue to climb and more and more women struggle with keeping their marriages alive, one organisation wants to spread a message of hope and faith.

To this end, and under the theme "Take Your Eyes Off Him", the ladies of Womanish Media last Saturday hosted an encouraging event for "godly wives".

The brainchild of Italia Duncanson, the seminar featured a panel of speakers including Marie Smith of Orlando, Florida, Pastor Diane Coverley, Rev Dianna Thompson, Apostle Shantel Fergerson, Minister Ominique Joffe and Shandricka Rolle. Ms Duncanson served as the host.

"These women shared their stories of their challenges and triumphs in marriage. Many women walked away feeling comforted and refreshed because of the stories of hope and endurance that was shared by the panellists," said Santina Smith, CEO and founder of Womanish Media.

The theme, "Take Your Eyes Off Him," she explained, refers to the idea of taking or eyes off the man you married and instead focusing on God in times of trouble to find a solution to whatever problems you are personally facing.

As God is the head of any marriage, she added, women should look much deeper than just the "earthly surface" in order to find happiness and salvation.

While this was the first instalment of the event, Santina said plans are already in motion to host a second edition in Grand Bahama this June and to make "Take Your Eyes Off Him" an annual occurrence.

Overall, the goal is to ensure that married women know that they are not alone and there is indeed a sisterhood of women who may have went through struggles in their marriages, but through the grace of God they are enduring and overcoming.

"We were excited about the vision that Italia Duncanson had for 'Take Your Eyes Off Him; and decided to throw our support behind it, because it lined up with our company's mission to excite the minds, cheer the spirits and infuse the hearts of women to become better citizens. Because of the struggles Italia Duncanson faced in her marriage and the amount of stories she heard while counselling other women, she felt a need to encourage other women who may be struggling as well. And with the current divorce rate skyrocketing, we feel like Italia's vision to encourage married women is very timely and indeed needed for all married women," said Santina.

It is Santina's hope to know the marriages of the women who attended have changed for the better as a result of what they heard and experience at "Take Your Eyes Off Him."