Paynesville – As Valentine’s Day approaches, married couples and lovers around the world prepare to celebrate love. But beyond flowers and romantic dinners lies a deeper question: What is the secret to a long-lasting marriage? And how can young couples learn from those who have stood the test of time?
By Mae Azango | [email protected]
Each Valentine’s season, this paper spotlights couples who have been married for 25 years or more, offering lessons to a generation where many marriages begin today and end tomorrow.
Rev. Archie Roberts and his wife, Rev. Geanjay George Roberts, have been married for over 27 years, tying the knot on June 14, 1999. What makes their union even more remarkable is that both are ordained ministers of the Gospel.
As another Valentine’s Day draws near, the couple says the occasion is no different from any other day.
“Valentine’s Day is like any other day for us,” Rev. Roberts said. “We are in love every day, and our love has grown stronger over the years.”
Seated in their church office at the Voice of Repentance Outreach Center in the King Gray, Paynesville community, Rev. Roberts reflected on how their journey began.
Meeting his wife in 1998, he believes, was divinely orchestrated.
“As a young man, I was not living a life pleasing to God,” he admitted. “I wouldn’t say I was a playboy, but I was engaging in relationships without understanding that sex is not love. When I realized my life wasn’t progressing, I decided to change and serve God. I prayed for direction and asked God to lead me to a good, God-fearing wife.”
He said when he saw Ms. Geanjay George at the Eliza Turner AME Church branch, which had moved to the Paynesville Community School in Joe Bar, he immediately felt she was the answer to his prayer.
“The Holy Spirit spoke to me,” he recalled.
At the time, the church’s Assistant Pastor encouraged the two to work together in planning church activities, as the workload had become overwhelming. That partnership laid the foundation for a deeper bond.
“It was as if God had already planned it,” Rev. Roberts said. “I first became her friend, and gradually our relationship developed.”
Still, he hesitated to propose.
“I wasn’t employed at the time, apart from doing handyman work for the church. One day I asked her if she would marry a man like me without a stable job. When she said yes, I suggested we fast and pray about it to seek God’s guidance.”
For young couples struggling to sustain their marriages, Rev. Roberts emphasized friendship as the bedrock of any lasting relationship.
“Be your partner’s best friend. When you are friends, you understand each other’s likes and dislikes. That foundation will carry you through difficult times,” he said.
Mrs. Roberts acknowledged that their early years were not without challenges.
“It wasn’t easy at the beginning,” she said. “We came from two different backgrounds. But we communicated about everything, and that helped us overcome many obstacles.”
She stressed that open communication — even about sensitive issues — is critical.
“We talked about everything, including our sex life, which is often considered taboo in Liberia,” she said. “It’s important to know what your partner likes and to express what you like as well. That understanding strengthens intimacy.”
Recalling their courtship, Mrs. Roberts said her husband wrote a formal letter to her father seeking permission to date her — a gesture rooted in tradition.
“My father was old school, so that was one of the first things he did,” she said with a smile.
Offering advice to younger couples, Mrs. Roberts urged women to stand by their husbands through both good and difficult times.
“Do not capitalize on your husband’s weaknesses and attack him over them,” she advised. “What shames a man can also make him angry. Instead, help him overcome his weaknesses. Communication is very important in every relationship, so keep communicating to make your relationship stronger.”
After 27 years, the Roberts’ message is clear: love is not sustained by grand gestures on one day of the year, but by faith, friendship, patience, and daily commitment.
