26 Feb 2026, 14:16Charlene Martin
Relationship Weekend 2026: Threads of Connection
Although human beings connect with one another daily, we do not always connect effectively or fully understand the way God requires us to connect in ways that build strong and lasting relationships. This was a discussion the North England Conference Youth Advisory felt was important for young people to have during the annual Youth Relationship Weekend, held at Winson Green Seventh-day Adventist Church on 7–8 February.
Many young people attended the event to learn more about how their connection with God strengthens their relationships - whether romantic or platonic - and to hear from both seasoned and newly married couples who were willing to share their experiences of this important journey.
The weekend, entitled Threads of Connection, began with a workshop led by Relationship Coaches Marcus and Dionne Ray of Camphill Seventh-day Adventist Church. The pair facilitated discussions focused on healthy and unhealthy conflict, anger, and emotional harm. In true workshop style, the congregation remained actively involved throughout, responding to questions posed by the dynamic duo and thinking practically about how these topics had impacted their past and present - and even more so, their futures, as they begin making important decisions regarding relationships.
Marcus and Dionne Ray shared that the main takeaway they hoped to leave with the youth was that, “God’s heart is not just for keeping relationships together; it is for making them whole.” When God is woven into the process, it makes a significant difference in how each person approaches their connections.
The theme continued throughout the day and was woven into the sermon presented by Gus Nyberg, who highlighted the importance of choosing a significant other under God’s leading and allowing the Holy Spirit to direct one’s life according to His will. Gus challenged the youth with questions such as, “What governs you? What directs your real-time decisions? What do you lean towards?” This encouraged the congregation to reflect on whether their choices were flesh-led or Spirit-led - and how this ultimately affects outcomes. He concluded by encouraging the young people to declare, “God, in everything I do, regardless of how I feel, I am Spirit-governed, not flesh-governed.”
The young people were invited to remain for lunch and continue building connections with one another. The afternoon session opened with hosts Kelechi Chigbo and Mongi Nsingo exploring what connections had been made over lunch, followed by a relationship-based game. The youth shared their thoughts on quality time and acts of service, while Pastor Ethan Mpozembizi introduced an icebreaker designed to spark deeper conversations among them.
The theme Threads of Connection concluded with Ikechi and Dorothee Iheoma leading the final workshop of the weekend, focusing on the work required to build a strong and lasting marriage. They shared lessons they are learning along their own journey and encouraged the young people to “find out who you are as an individual before uniting yourself with another, in order to support one another holistically, with God as the unifier.” One young person reflected afterwards, saying, “A takeaway for me is that it takes time. We cannot rely on our own timeframe because we do not know the future. This is where faith and trust in God become very important.”
This sentiment was echoed by the organisers, who hoped the youth would ground their relationships in Christ, recognising that “a threefold cord is not easily broken.” Just as threads form a strong and beautiful tapestry, our relationships become stronger and more meaningful when we learn to connect with God and with one another.
Although human beings connect with one another daily, we do not always connect effectively or fully understand the way God requires us to connect in ways that build strong and lasting relationships. This was a discussion the North England Conference Youth Advisory felt was important for young people to have during the annual Youth Relationship Weekend, held at Winson Green Seventh-day Adventist Church on 7–8 February.
Many young people attended the event to learn more about how their connection with God strengthens their relationships - whether romantic or platonic - and to hear from both seasoned and newly married couples who were willing to share their experiences of this important journey.
The weekend, entitled Threads of Connection, began with a workshop led by Relationship Coaches Marcus and Dionne Ray of Camphill Seventh-day Adventist Church. The pair facilitated discussions focused on healthy and unhealthy conflict, anger, and emotional harm. In true workshop style, the congregation remained actively involved throughout, responding to questions posed by the dynamic duo and thinking practically about how these topics had impacted their past and present - and even more so, their futures, as they begin making important decisions regarding relationships.
Marcus and Dionne Ray shared that the main takeaway they hoped to leave with the youth was that, “God’s heart is not just for keeping relationships together; it is for making them whole.” When God is woven into the process, it makes a significant difference in how each person approaches their connections.
The theme continued throughout the day and was woven into the sermon presented by Gus Nyberg, who highlighted the importance of choosing a significant other under God’s leading and allowing the Holy Spirit to direct one’s life according to His will. Gus challenged the youth with questions such as, “What governs you? What directs your real-time decisions? What do you lean towards?” This encouraged the congregation to reflect on whether their choices were flesh-led or Spirit-led - and how this ultimately affects outcomes. He concluded by encouraging the young people to declare, “God, in everything I do, regardless of how I feel, I am Spirit-governed, not flesh-governed.”
The young people were invited to remain for lunch and continue building connections with one another. The afternoon session opened with hosts Kelechi Chigbo and Mongi Nsingo exploring what connections had been made over lunch, followed by a relationship-based game. The youth shared their thoughts on quality time and acts of service, while Pastor Ethan Mpozembizi introduced an icebreaker designed to spark deeper conversations among them.
The theme Threads of Connection concluded with Ikechi and Dorothee Iheoma leading the final workshop of the weekend, focusing on the work required to build a strong and lasting marriage. They shared lessons they are learning along their own journey and encouraged the young people to “find out who you are as an individual before uniting yourself with another, in order to support one another holistically, with God as the unifier.” One young person reflected afterwards, saying, “A takeaway for me is that it takes time. We cannot rely on our own timeframe because we do not know the future. This is where faith and trust in God become very important.”
This sentiment was echoed by the organisers, who hoped the youth would ground their relationships in Christ, recognising that “a threefold cord is not easily broken.” Just as threads form a strong and beautiful tapestry, our relationships become stronger and more meaningful when we learn to connect with God and with one another.
