As families face increasing pressure from changing values, strained relationships, and the growing individualism that can weaken marriages, Christian leaders are calling for a return to God’s original design for the family.
This message will take center stage at the 2026 Maryland Family Life Conference, themed “The Power of Two,” scheduled to be held from Friday, September 18 to Saturday, September 19, 2026. The conference will be hosted by Rev. Samson and Rev. Stella Ajetomobi, alongside Pastor Olusesan Kuforiji, under the leadership and ministry vision of Men of Issachar Ministry.
In a recent interview session on Faith Heroes Africa, the anchor, Dr Emmanuel Olu Falodun, engaged Rev. Samson Ajetomobi and his wife, Rev. Stella Ajetomobi, in a wide-ranging conversation on leadership, marriage, discipleship, family restoration and the urgent need to rebuild Christian homes.
The conversation offered more than an introduction to an upcoming conference. It presented a challenge to individuals, couples, parents and the Church to reconsider what it means to build relationships according to God’s pattern.
Leadership Begins With Self-Leadership
Speaking on the connection between leadership and family life, Rev. Samson Ajetomobi emphasized that effective leadership must begin with personal discipline.
According to him, nobody can successfully lead others without first learning to lead himself or herself. The principle, he explained, is particularly important in marriage and family life. He noted that it is possible for a person to occupy a leadership position in the Church or society while struggling to exercise discipline and direction in personal life. Such a gap, he suggested, can eventually affect the home.
For Rev. Samson, good family leadership requires a sustained disciplined lifestyle, focus, trust in God, vision, and a strong sense of responsibility.
The message is simple but profound: before a person attempts to lead a spouse or children, that person must first learn to lead himself or herself.
Rev. Samson Ajetomobi has devoted much of his ministry to leadership development, discipleship, missions and national transformation. Through Men of Issachar Ministry, he has been involved in ministers’ leadership conferences, prayer retreats, family life conferences, campus leadership meetings, and mission activities in Nigeria and other nations.
Learning From Christ Before Leading a Family
Rev. Stella Ajetomobi took the conversation further by focusing on preparation for marriage and the importance of becoming Christlike. Drawing from Jesus’ words in Matthew 11, she stressed the importance of learning from Christ. For her, Christianity cannot stop at professing faith or attending church services. The believer must deliberately learn the character of Christ and allow that character to shape everyday life.
She particularly highlighted the qualities of meekness and humility.
A husband who desires to practice servant leadership, she explained, must learn from Christ. Likewise, a woman who desires to build a godly home must also grow in the character of Christ. The standard, therefore, is not personal preference, popular philosophy or cultural expectations. Christ is the standard.
She challenged young people preparing for marriage to look beyond emotions and attraction. Marriage preparation must include spiritual maturity, emotional stability, responsibility, and the capacity to serve another person.
Five Things Singles Should Consider
During the interview, Rev. Stella identified five important areas that young men and women should consider as they prepare for marriage.
First is emotional maturity. Marriage requires people who can handle emotions, conflict and responsibility with maturity.
Second is capacity. A prospective spouse should develop the capacity required to lead, support and build a life with another person.
Third is family background. Young people should pay attention to the background of the person they intend to marry and understand the patterns that may exist within the family.
Fourth is spiritual engagement. In a Christian relationship, it is important to consider the prospective partner’s relationship with God and his or her level of involvement in the local church.
Finally, there is attitude towards instruction. The willingness to receive correction, learn, and submit to godly counsel can have a significant impact on the health of a future marriage.
These considerations point to a central truth: marriage preparation should begin long before the wedding ceremony.
The Church Must Return to Discipleship
The discussion also addressed moral decline among young people, including those who identify as Christians but may not have developed a genuine Christ-centered life.
Rev. Stella called attention to the need for the Church to return to intentional discipleship.
It is not enough for young people to profess Christianity. They must be nurtured, taught and equipped with the inner strength and courage required to live out their faith in a challenging world.
This places a responsibility on families and churches alike. The next generation needs more than religious activities; it needs examples, discipleship, mentoring and communities where Christian character can be developed.
The Power of Two
At the heart of the Maryland Family Life Conference is the theme “The Power of Two.”
Rev. Samson described the conference as a season of healing because many homes are facing struggles that are not always visible to outsiders. Some couples are hurting quietly, while others have gradually become disconnected even though they remain married. He drew attention to the biblical principle that two can accomplish far more together than one can accomplish alone.
The concern is that many couples today may live under the same roof while functioning as individuals. Finances, plans, responsibilities, and even personal interests can become completely separated. The result is a marriage where two people are together physically but disconnected emotionally, spiritually, and practically.
The conference seeks to challenge that pattern.
Marriage, Rev. Samson explained, was God’s idea. Its purpose goes beyond simply living together. It involves two people bringing their wisdom, strength, and abilities together to accomplish God’s purpose.
The biblical picture is one of unity: two becoming one.
A Conference for Healing and Restoration
One of the strongest messages from the interview was the declaration that this is a season of healing.
Rev. Samson shared that he has witnessed broken marriages and even legally divorced couples experience restoration after receiving biblical teaching and choosing to recommit themselves to their relationships. That testimony provides the spirit behind the upcoming conference.
The Maryland Family Life Conference is therefore not presented merely as another marriage program. It is an invitation to couples who want to strengthen what they have, families that need restoration, single parents seeking guidance, and mature singles preparing for marriage. It is a call to stop approaching family life as a competition between two individuals and begin seeing marriage as a partnership in which two people can combine their strengths, wisdom, and faith.
Building Stronger Families, Raising Stronger Children
The conversation also touched on parenting.
Rev. Samson emphasized that raising a stable child requires the involvement and strength of both parents. When husband and wife work together, they create a stronger environment for the development of their children. This makes the health of a marriage important not only to the couple but also to the next generation.
A strong family can become a foundation for strong children, healthy communities, and a more responsible society.
For this reason, the message of “The Power of Two” reaches beyond married couples. It is ultimately about restoring God’s design for relationships and encouraging people to understand the strength that comes through godly partnership.
An Invitation to Maryland and the DMV
The interview ended with a strong invitation to people across Maryland and the wider DMV area to participate in the conference.
The message is particularly relevant to couples and families in Maryland, Washington, DC, Virginia and surrounding communities, but the organizers are also expecting participants from beyond the region.
According to one of the conference organizers, Pastor Victor Ayodele, registration is free, and those who are unable to register beforehand will still have the opportunity to register at the venue.
The conference will take place at RCCG Christ Villa, 2301 Putty Hill Avenue, Parkville, Maryland.
The programme is scheduled to begin with registration on Friday, September 18, at 6:00 p.m. Eastern Time, followed by the main sessions on Saturday, September 19, beginning at 10:00 a.m. Eastern Time.
A Call to Come Together
The message coming from Rev. Samson and Rev. Stella Ajetomobi is both timely and practical.
Families need healing. Couples need wisdom. Young people need preparation. Parents need support. And the Church needs to strengthen its commitment to discipleship and family life.
The 2026 Maryland Family Life Conference: “The Power of Two” is designed to create space for these conversations and, more importantly, to point families back to God’s design.
As Rev. Samson’s message during the interview makes clear, two people can accomplish more when they stop working against each other and begin working together.
The invitation, therefore, is simple:
Come and discover the wisdom, strength and purpose found in the Power of Two.
For couples, singles, single parents, parents and Christian leaders, the Maryland Family Life Conference promises to be an important moment of reflection, learning, restoration and renewed commitment to the family.
