Nashauna Drummond, Staff Reporter
Dr. Lovel Hayes
FORMING FANTASTIC families is the theme of the week-long workshop organised by the Mona Church of Christ. The guest speaker at this year's family workshop will be Dr. Lovel Hayes therapist at the Agape Child and Family Services, Jackson Tennessee. This is the 11th year of the family workshop which runs from May 7-11 at the Mona Church of Christ, 2A Palmoral Avenue.
Dr. Hayes told Flair that the focus of this year's workshop will be, "Understanding the characteristics of healthy functioning families and implementing the characteristics in a practical manner."
Being a full-time minister since 1973, he has served the East Jackson Church of Christ in Jackson, Tennessee for the past 12 years. Dr. Hayes notes that non-Christians can also form healthy stable families. "Non-Christians can reach a reasonable level of happiness and satisfaction in marriage and family. Research shows that non-Christian families that have a 'spiritual' connection of some kind are better off than those who don't." However, he notes that there is a limit to this level of happiness.
"By my personal definition of what constitutes a 'Fantastic Family', the answer is no. My belief is that without Christ, families are missing a motivational factor and a personal power factor that are essential building blocks," he said.
Having a masters degree in human development counselling and a doctorate in marriage and gamily, Dr. Hayes has been involved in counselling of individuals, marriages and families since 1988. He is also a member of the American Association of Marital and Family Therapists. He said the major problems in the home are three-fold.
"A lack of Christ Lack of communication and Lack of companionship.
I believe that we need to improve our mind of motivation toward building a successful marriage and family. We have to do so in spite of the incongruent models before us and the incessant challenges confronting us."
