Q & A with Missionaries Allen and Betty Pierce

Allen and Betty are WBC supported missionaries who have been associated with WBC for many years. Here are there thoughts on marriage.
What is the best thing about marriage?- There is no "one", "quick", nor "simple" answer to this question. Since it is God's plan that His creation have helpers, one for another, and since we seem to crave this companionship, we feel truly "complete" with one another, and those times that we have been separated for more than a couple days dramatically point out this truth!
What is the hardest thing about marriage?- Two are now one, so one must think for two at all times. Self must be put on the chopping block for every single decision, and sometimes this is very hard and can cause temporary difficulties (which must be resolved).
What do you think is God’s intention for marriage?- Companionship, pro-creation!
How has marriage affected the way you do evangelism?- Singles, couples, and/or families, through their inherent social status, will have (or not have) access to different sectors of society through which the Gospel may be communicated. In our case, as a family in ministry in Africa, the social structure allowed us to communicate at a much broader range than for someone that is single.
What are some of the biggest things that God has taught you about Himself through your marriage?- The entire Bible is interwoven with analogies of: marriage, family, bride, bridegroom, father, children- which all indicates to us that the Creator is a God of family (i.e. relational), and that within that structure personal sacrifice is absolutely necessary in order to maintain love, care, mutual respect, and anything else of which you might think. Therefore this teaches us how to understand that HE Himself, the Creator, is willing to forgive, love, provide for, and everything else that a good family encompasses. We would not understand this on either level (who He is, or, how family should be) had we never been married, or had we never chosen to seek and to follow Him.