Pastors Don and Ethel Rucker both heard the voice of God when they first laid eyes on each other. Meeting in a church — she was there because church was always her "safe haven" and he was there because he wanted to "appease" his sister — the word reached them as a whisper in their hearts acknowledging they had met their life partner.
It wasn't long afterward that they married. But even though they were destined for each other, they admit the first three years of marriage were lousy.
"I had no positive role models on how to submit to men, how to respect them, how to honor them. What was that?" Pastor Ethel said.
"I didn't have any tools. And neither did he because his father walked away as well."
But the glue they shared was commitment and faith.
"The turning point for us was that we realized this is not God's will. He did not bring us together for us to be miserable," Don said.
The two set out investigating what they needed to build a strong marriage, and with God's help, developed 10 principles that laid the foundation for their union.
"If you look at your marriage as a business, you have towork that thing. That means there's got to be policies ... to govern that relationship," Don said. "It can failproof your relationship, the principles that God gave us."
Now, 41 years married, Ethel and Don teach these principles in couples' workshops. They have also written a book about their journey, From Misery to Marital Bliss.
That's not all they achieved. Through a program called "Reach One, Teach One, and Grow One," they are building on God's messages of transformation. In 2014, they founded the Christian Development Center in Montclair, California, and now feed and clothe 600 families monthly. They conductparenting and other educational classes and collaborate with local businesses to serve the greater San Bernadino County. They've even started down the path of investment to build affordable housing that can serve neighbors based ontheir income levels, rather than market value.
"(God) said, 'You will always have the poor. You will not always have me.' So, from Ethel and our perspective, what we're doing in the community is really doing what He would be doing if He was here," Don said.
I met Ethel and Don through Kyle Wilson's Inner Circle group, and I am struck by their ministry and their amazing accomplishments. I do believe they are transforming behaviors and outcomes in the lives of many, helping to build the kingdom of God.
You can learn more about them on their website, Facebook and Instagram. Meanwhile, I hope you click the button below to learn about their journey and enjoy this inspirational episode of Chiseled.