Just as he did nearly 34 years ago, Frederick Myles offered his right arm to his bride Lillian, joining hand in hand, and in front of friends and church family, they committed their lives to each other—again.

The Myles were just one of 40 couples to stand at the altar of Antioch-Lithonia Missionary Baptist Church and renew their vows on Feb. 11 at the Southeast DeKalb County church.

“We were married in West Point, Mississippi in 1978 and it seems like it was just two or three years ago when we made that commitment to each other and to the Lord,” Frederick Myles said. “We’ve had our storms—all couples will-but as long as you have God in the middle of the equation, when you pull away or she pulls away, God brings you both back to the center to face things head on together.”

Antioch’s “One in Christ” vows renewal service was led by Pastor James C. Ward and Minister Larry Lee, who co-directs the church’s couples ministry with his wife of 43 years, Shirley. The celebration comes in the wake of rising divorce rates around the country and even as President Obama sang his rendition of recording artist Al Green’s song, “Let’s Stay Together” a few weeks ago.

According to the latest data from the U.S. Census Bureau, more couples divorced in the South than anywhere else in the country. For every 1,000 men in the South, 10.2 were divorced, while the national average was just 9.2, the Bureau’s data shows.

The numbers were higher among women: There were 11.1 divorced women compared to 9.7 nationally.

The Office for National Statistics shows divorces nationally rose 4.9% with 119,589 couples divorcing in 2010 compared to 113,949 in 2009.

Pastor Ward says the rising number of divorces makes the marriage renewal service all the more special to him and the members of his church.

“This is a very important celebration because God honors marriage. He considers the Church as the bride of Christ,” said Pastor Ward.

“With marriages and the idea of even needing to be married being attacked on so many fronts, it holds a special place in my heart to see all these couples renewing their commitment.” 

Ward said far too many couples approach marriage as a contract, instead of a covenant.

“Marriage is literally a covenanted commitment, but too many of us approach it as a breech of contract when a spouse isn’t doing everything right,” Pastor Ward said. “When a person makes a mistake or commits a reneging of services, if you will, you don’t bail out. You work it out and you will become a stronger couple from those situations.”

Pastor Ward said he married his “beauty queen,” Idell, on April 15, 1975—Tax Filing Day.

“I’ll never forget when we got married because it was in front of the Justice of Peace in Mississippi and we said from that day on, we would never have to file separate taxes again,” said Ward.

Robert and Colette Maddox, married for three years and the youngest couple at the ceremony, said they were excited to be a part of the service.

“We were married in Helen, Georgia in the mountains because we wanted to have a more intimate wedding,” said Colette Maddox. “As we got dressed up for this one, I began to get those same exciting butterflies. It’s important for people to get back in front of each other and say how much they love each other. Love is in the air.”

Pastor Ward prayed for each of the couples’ homes and families and a rekindling of their love, commitment and strength for one another.

Minister Lee also offered some words of wisdom for the couples:

“Everyday together is a learning experience. It’s not the wedding ceremony that counts.

Whether you spend $50,000 or $50 on your wedding ceremony, it’s the days that come after that when the work begins and you really build towards living a happy marriage together.” said Lee.