New · 2025
The Secrets of A Good Marriage
What Every Husband and Wife Should Know
Drawn from more than four decades of pastoral ministry, The Secrets of A Good Marriage is Pastor Melkamu Negeri's warm, scriptural guide for husbands and wives — and for anyone preparing to build a home that lasts.
Pastor Melkamu calls the book a “first aid” resource: a place to turn whether you are getting ready for marriage, raising children, weathering a storm, or rebuilding after one. With honesty and compassion, he walks through God's design for the family, the work of choosing a partner well, the realities of divorce and the path to reconciliation, the modern pressures bearing down on families, and the practical, daily habits that keep love whole.
It is the fruit of a lifetime of counsel — couples restored, families made whole — offered now so that yours can be too.
“I do not claim that this book exhaustively addresses every dimension of marriage and family life. However, I pray that it will serve as a helpful guide — an encouraging “first aid” resource — for families in crisis, as well as for those seeking to build their homes on a solid foundation from the start.”
214 pages · Published by Salem Printing Press. ISBN 978-99990-1-101-3.
Table of contents
- 1God's Original Plan for a Family
- 2The Godly Family
- 3The Importance of Family
- 4How to Start a Family
- 5Getting Ready for Marriage
- 6Talk with Your Future Life Partner
- 7Choosing Your Life Partner
- 8The Wedding Day and After
- 9The Issue of Raising Children
- 10Divorce and Its Causes
- 11Is Divorce a Good Option?
- 12The Impacts of Divorce
- 13Reconciliation After Divorce
- 14Family is in a Constant Attack
- 15Today's Family Threats
- 16Diagnosing and Healing a Troubled Marriage
- 17Signs of Hidden Marital Issues
- 18The Unshakable Bonds
- 19How to Manage Daily Routines and Life Changes
- 20Pathways to Marital Healing
- 21You Can Make Your Family Enjoyable
- 22Summary and Conclusion
Dedication
To all the couples who have walked hand in hand through the storms of life, proving that love, commitment, and faithfulness can stand the test of time… To those who believe marriage is a covenant, not a contract, may your lives continue to reflect the beauty and strength of God's design for the family.
What pastors are saying
“For those on the brink of marriage, or who have been searching the complexities of partnership for years, this book gives invaluable insights — a must-read for those looking for a deeper understanding of love and commitment. Rev. Melkamu has expounded, with expertise and long-standing experience on the topic, and has plenty of insights to share.”
“This book is a great contribution to the church and society. Rev. Melkamu Negeri shares with us not just his research but also his life and ministry experience. I have never read such a comprehensive presentation of marriage, one which integrates the cultural and biblical perspectives. It is packed with guidance for pastors in providing premarital counseling, addressing conflicts, and maintaining healthy and strong marriages.”
“A long-time shepherd of one of the pioneer Oromo congregations in the United States and a devoted family man, Pastor Melkamu offers both biblical wisdom and personal reflection in this timely book. He carefully guides readers through God's original design for marriage, the importance of preparation, the conflicts couples may face, and the modern threats that test family bonds — making this work valuable not only for couples but for unmarried young men and women preparing for marriage.”
Bring it home
Order the printed book — ships within the U.S. and worldwide.
Stay close to the ministry
Receive Pastor Melkamu’s reflections and hear first when book three arrives.