- Aug 18, 2022
- 7
- 8
- 67
- Country
- United States
- Faith
- Non-Denom
- Marital Status
- Divorced
My name is Michael Nelson (Mike) and my prospective wife is Mary Theresa Fernandez (Terry). We are not members of a specific church but worship at the Upland Church of Christ, in person when able, otherwise by live stream. We go in person when the staff of our assisted living facility is willing to assist me to get out of bed on Sunday morning (there are many times they are not).
We have been residents of two skilled nursing facilities and now an assisted living facility. The church mentioned is next door to the facility. I am 65 and she is 60, we are both severely disabled. The church next door is about the limit of my capability of travel. We have known each other for four and one half years and have been in love for at least four of them. We believe in the Nicene creed and would consider ourselves evangelical Christians.
We are roommates but live chastely. This sometimes troubles my conscience as Christians are advised to "refrain from even the appearance of sin." However, we have learned that this is the only way we can help protect each other from the abuse and neglect both medical and custodial that disabled people who have to depend on Medicaid are often subject to. We are only alive by the grace of God and the diligent advocacy each for the other.
We are both scripturally (to the best or our knowledge and belief) divorced from our respective first spouses. Neither of us we sinless, but have suffered adultery. After much prayerful consideration, we wish to marry.
We would have done so were it not for US Government rules. Terry would lose every cent of her SSI immediately, and could apply for wife's benefits under my Social Security Disability (which would be substantially less) after one year. In the meantime, we would be about $1,000 per month short of the rent here, and could not afford even lesser rent at any place where we could get adequate care.
These facts have been repeatedly confirmed by the Social Security Administration.
I would gladly endure economic hardship to marry the woman I love; but the government would demand economic suicide. I have come to believe that government has cruelly abused their purported power over marriage, and people shouldn't need or want government permission to marry. But for us it is also a matter of survival, definitely economic and perhaps literal survival.
We offer this situation to God for His help and we humbly ask anyone who could help for their assistance. It would be a great blessing if a pastor who believes in Sovereign Christian Marriage could come to Upland.
We have been residents of two skilled nursing facilities and now an assisted living facility. The church mentioned is next door to the facility. I am 65 and she is 60, we are both severely disabled. The church next door is about the limit of my capability of travel. We have known each other for four and one half years and have been in love for at least four of them. We believe in the Nicene creed and would consider ourselves evangelical Christians.
We are roommates but live chastely. This sometimes troubles my conscience as Christians are advised to "refrain from even the appearance of sin." However, we have learned that this is the only way we can help protect each other from the abuse and neglect both medical and custodial that disabled people who have to depend on Medicaid are often subject to. We are only alive by the grace of God and the diligent advocacy each for the other.
We are both scripturally (to the best or our knowledge and belief) divorced from our respective first spouses. Neither of us we sinless, but have suffered adultery. After much prayerful consideration, we wish to marry.
We would have done so were it not for US Government rules. Terry would lose every cent of her SSI immediately, and could apply for wife's benefits under my Social Security Disability (which would be substantially less) after one year. In the meantime, we would be about $1,000 per month short of the rent here, and could not afford even lesser rent at any place where we could get adequate care.
These facts have been repeatedly confirmed by the Social Security Administration.
I would gladly endure economic hardship to marry the woman I love; but the government would demand economic suicide. I have come to believe that government has cruelly abused their purported power over marriage, and people shouldn't need or want government permission to marry. But for us it is also a matter of survival, definitely economic and perhaps literal survival.
We offer this situation to God for His help and we humbly ask anyone who could help for their assistance. It would be a great blessing if a pastor who believes in Sovereign Christian Marriage could come to Upland.
