Dear Pastor,

Greetings to you in Jesus' name. I am 40 years old and I am a Christian. I believe that I am called to preach, but I am not married. I used to have a girlfriend and she went to Canada and promised me that she would come back and marry me, but she never did.

I sold my pigs and gave her the money to pay for her ticket and she never sent my money back. She broke my heart and I have never had another woman. It took me a long time to get over this woman. But now, my heart is not on women, it is on preaching.

There are some in the church who do not trust single men as preachers. They say all preachers should be married. I know I am not doing anything that I should not do. People say I must be sick, and that is why I do not have any woman. But, I do not care what anybody says.

Is it true that a man has to be married before he is ordained?

R.E., Manchester, Jamaica

Dear R.E.,

I regret hearing that your lady friend ditched you. Oh my, what a heartless woman! I am glad it did not cause you to become ill and admitted to the hospital. She broke your heart, but wish her well.

not a requirement

I hope you are not saying that you hate women. You seemed to have turned your mind from them. How are you going to manage, sir? The Bible does not teach that every preacher should be married. It is not a requirement.

I suggest that you read what Paul has written on the matter in First Corinthians, 7: 7-9. You may find the whole chapter to be instructive.

I wish you well.

Pastor