What is the chief end or purpose of human beings? The best and easiest way to answer this question is by quoting the Westminster Shorter Catechism: “To glorify God and enjoy him forever.” In that succinct and beautiful summary statement of what the Scripture says regarding the meaning and purpose of our existence, we also find the purpose of our Adult Bible Fellowship (ABF).

“Wellum’s Couples” is an ABF of Ninth and O Baptist Church which exists for the sole purpose to help, encourage, and challenge young couples to know, glorify, and enjoy our great Creator and Redeemer Triune God in every area of our lives, especially in our marriages. Our desire as a class is “to take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ” (2 Cor 10:5) and to learn better how to think through and apply correctly and wisely the Scriptures to our lives, in all their depth, breadth, and beauty, so that our Lord Jesus Christ may have the supremacy (Col 1:18). For the most part, our class is comprised of couples ranging from 1 to 10 years of marriage, but it is not limited to couples. Our weekly meeting is at 10:30 a.m. in Room 236. At that time we gather for a time of fellowship, worship, prayer, and expository teaching of Scripture where we seek to understand better “the whole counsel of God” (Acts 20:27). At other times during the week and throughout the year, we encourage and challenge one another over meals and small group meetings, as well as planned activities as an entire class. We also are intentional in seeking not only to know our great and glorious God, but also to make him known through various evangelistic outreaches as part of the outreach ministry of Ninth and O.

Our class name is due to the fact that I am the main teacher of the class. However, our aim is that every member of the class is involved in some important and meaningful way. In fact, our aim is to encourage and facilitate the exercise of every member’s gifts in service and ministry to the Lord and to one another. We are not interested in status quo Christians; we are committed to walking our talk, and to do so in such a way that our thinking, our marriages, and every aspect of our lives is “a living sacrifice to the Lord” by “being transformed by the renewing of our minds” (Rom 12:1-2). If you are looking for an ABF which will encourage and challenge you to know and love the Lord more; to grow in love and service to one another; to be more of a debtor to the gospel for Christ’s sake; and to build strong, healthy, and Christ-honoring marriages as well as friendships with one another, then we invite you to join us.

- Dr. Wellum