Free weddings for all. That’s the word coming out of Parkcrest Christian Church. The Long Beach, Calif., church has announced a Free Wedding Weekend on Sunday, Oct. 2, at its Heartwell campus.
In an effort to challenge people in their congregation that are currently living together, but haven’t made the full commitment to become a married couple, the non-denominational church is offering the opportunity for those couples to get married for free.
The three teaching pastors–Lead Pastor Mike Goldsworthy, Missional Life Pastor Rachel Oblon and Administrative Pastor Drue Boles–will be officiating the ceremonies at no cost to the couples. In addition, the Parkcrest church facility will not charge for use of their chapel. A free cake and punch reception will be held immediately following the ceremony.
Goldsworthy says he wasn’t interested in telling people that it is not God’s plan for couples to be living together without providing any options for them. “The cost and time it takes to plan a wedding are very real barriers to people committing to each other in marriage,” he says. “We wanted to show people that we care about their futures together so much that we were willing to put time and money into helping them make this huge step.”
Upon announcing the event at their weekend services Sept. 18 and 19, Parkcrest immediately saw couples step up with the desire to commit to each other in a life-long marriage.
