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Called to Marriage

Thomas & Marcia 60 Episodes Jul 6, 2026

A Christian podcast hosted by married couple Thomas and Marcia Oppong, exploring marriage and life as a parallel to their relationship with Christ. They aim to glorify God, edify the church, and leave a legacy for future generations. The show invites listeners who feel called to join the conversation.

Episodes

#60 How Charlie's Learning Changed at Age 5 Jul 6, 2026 00:16:47 Charlie is growing up, and that means the way he learns is changing too.In this episode, we share an honest update on parenting a five-year-old, why his Scripture memorization looks different today, how his love for God's Word has matured, and why we've learned to adapt our parenting rather than force the same methods.Every child develops differently, and we're simply sharing what we're learning a

#59 Our Baby Came Before the Midwives Arrived (Dad Delivered Her) Jun 22, 2026 00:14:34 Our third baby, Maggie, arrived sooner than we expected… and before the midwives made it.In this episode, we share the short version of Maggie’s birth story, how labor unfolded unexpectedly, what it was like welcoming her at home, and why going through birth together deepened our marriage.This was our third home birth by God’s grace and one we’ll never forget.Tell us in the comments:What was the m

#58 How Your Childhood Quietly Shapes Your Marriage Jun 12, 2026 00:18:13 How much of who you are today was shaped by your childhood?In this episode of Called to Marriage, we sit down for a simple conversation over dessert and answer questions that led somewhere deeper than expected.We talk about:• What we loved most as children• How our childhood experiences shaped who we became• Growing up in different family environments• The influence of parents and siblings• Faith,

#57 Why Siblings Are One of God’s Greatest Gifts May 8, 2026 00:42:32 In a culture that increasingly fears family, we wanted to talk about something we believe is deeply valuable: sibling relationships.In this episode, we reflect on our own experiences growing up, the beauty of watching our children bond, and why we believe siblings can become one of life’s greatest support systems.Family is not perfect. But by the grace of God, sibling relationships can become a li

#56 Modeling Connection Calls: Deepening Intimacy Through Questions Feb 9, 2026 00:43:00 Communication is essential in marriage, but knowing how to deepen it is where many couples struggle.One simple and powerful exercise we’ve used in our own marriage is asking each other intentional questions. Some are light and fun. Others invite us to reflect on our past, our experiences, and even the deeper questions of life. Each one opens the door to meaningful conversation and connection.Quest

#55 Reflecting on 7 Years of Marriage, Family Life, and God's Faithfulness Aug 11, 2025 01:05:51 In this intimate episode, we celebrate our 7-year marriage anniversary. We reflect on our journey together, from moving from China to the States, raising two boys, and experiencing God's constant faithfulness. We also share insights on parenting, facing challenges, documenting memories, and ministry, all while balancing life and family. We candidly discuss the importance of faith, family unity, ho

#54 Building a Vision: Our Homeschooling Conference Experience Jun 30, 2025 00:52:18 In this episode, we share insights from a Christian Homeschooling convention we attended recently. We discuss our plans for home education, the enriching experience of the convention, and provide a compact list of 10 lessons we learned from the convention. From fostering a vision for your family’s education to practical tips for engaging your child’s imagination and curiosity, this episode covers

#53 Fatherhood, and the need to lead, be present, and involved. Jan 28, 2025 00:43:34 In this episode of 'Called to Marriage, we dive deep into the challenges and joys of the postpartum period, emphasizing the crucial role of paternity leave. We share personal experiences from our journey with our second child, contrasting it with our first, and highlight the transformative power of teamwork and spousal support. This episode is packed with practical advice and inspiring testimonie

#52 The Birth Story of Baby Nti Jan 21, 2025 00:40:56 In this episode, we share our personal experience of home birthing our second child, Nti. We recount the details from the early contractions to the challenges of labor, and the joyous moment of delivery. We discuss the spiritual significance of childbirth, the importance of trust in God, and the significance of supportive spouse roles. Marcia provides insights on labor pain, the concept of the m

#51 Choosing Names for Our Children Jan 7, 2025 00:49:10 In this episode, we delve into the thought-provoking and personal journey of naming our sons. From discussing the significance of names to sharing family traditions and personal anecdotes, this episode provides a heartfelt look at how we navigated this important aspect of parenthood. Learn about the stories behind our choices, how we balanced tradition with personal preference, and the meaningfu

#50 Breastfeeding in Modern Culture: A Vital Discussion Dec 18, 2024 01:17:35 In this episode, we dive deep into the topic of breastfeeding. We discuss the challenges and rewards associated with breastfeeding, share personal experiences, and explore cultural perspectives. Marcia highlights the difficulties she faced while breastfeeding both of our children and emphasizes the invaluable benefits, including health and emotional bonding. We also touch on the important role

#49 Navigating Wedding Culture with Intentionality and Faith Jun 27, 2024 01:05:03 Marcia and Thomas challenge the conventional wedding and event culture, emphasizing a return to simplicity and biblical principles. They discuss the significant impact of societal norms on our celebrations and explore key themes such as financial stewardship, cultural traditions, and the true intent behind events. Through engaging conversation, they provide insights on navigating cultural pressure

#48 The Power of Contentment: Embracing Your Season May 14, 2024 00:17:49 In this episode of 'Called to Marriage,' we delve into the significance of finding contentment and simplicity amidst the busyness of life. Beginning with a scripture from Ecclesiastes 4:6, we reflect on its meaning and relevance to our current season of life, which is characterized by living simply and making financial sacrifices. We share our personal experiences of choosing to live on on

#47 Waiting on the Lord Feb 16, 2024 00:26:06 What are you waiting on the Lord for? How are you waiting? What is your attitude and posture toward God in delay? Thomas and I answer these questions for ourselves on this episode. We are waiting, hoping, and praying for another baby. Feel free to agree with us in prayer 🙏🏾 😊 but we are genuinely grateful to and content with God and all He has given us. Be encouraged, and may God’s PERFECT will be

#46 Finding the Right Partner: Christian Marriage Essentials Jan 12, 2024 00:46:45 Key Qualities to Look for in a Christian Marriage Partner In this episode hosts Marcia and Thomas discuss essential qualities to look for in a potential Christian marriage partner. They emphasize that choosing a spouse aligned with Christian values and beliefs is crucial for a harmonious and fulfilling marriage. The episode outlines seven key qualities, including being a Christian with shared bib

#45 Downsizing to Upgrade Dec 22, 2023 00:39:16 After a few lovely years in our last apartment, we have decided to move! Some would consider it a downgrade, but we consider it a great move for us in this season! God has prospered us, and we are trusting Him in our new place and in this new season! We are just sharing some life updates for testimony and posterity sake. FOLLOW US FOR MORE CONTENT: YouTube Instagram Facebook TikTok

#44 Marital and Pre-Marital Counseling Sep 1, 2023 00:42:31 Counsel is important for life in general, and especially when making one the the most important decisions of life, which is who to marry. On this episode, we discuss the value of counseling at every stage of a relationship, whether simply interested in someone, actually seeing someone, about to get married, or married for several years. The Bible said that in the multitude of counselors there is s

#43 Lessons we've learned from Charlie Aug 18, 2023 00:29:53 Lessons we’ve learned from Charlie 1. The activity of the flesh causes visceral reactions in us. We should apply grace but also discipline! (00:43) 2. We are made to be moving constantly! (9:06) 3. From a young age, we have the capacity for extreme focus and diligence (17:10) 4. We are born with courage that we should work to protect. Fear hinders you. (Release your inhibitions!) (22:00) 5. *bon

#42 The Wisdom of the Ancestors Jun 26, 2023 00:52:51 We’re talking about the wisdom of the ancestors! NO, we aren’t talking about soliciting the voice of your dead ancestor through seance or mediums. We are talking about walking in the GOOD ancient path referred to in Jeremiah 6:16. We are talking about not forgetting the old, good ways of the past that societies sometimes lose value for as they advance in technological conveniences and modernize i

#41 How we add value to each other Jun 11, 2023 00:33:51 It is good to make a frequent habit of appreciating your spouse. On this episode, we list the ways we help and add value to one another. Gratitude is good for the soul, and it helps your spouse feel joyful and fulfilled in their service to you. Try it! OUR WEBSITES: thomasandmarcia.com calledtomarriage.org FOLLOW US FOR MORE CONTENT: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/calledtomarriage Faceboo

#40 Living on One Income - Part 2 May 9, 2023 00:21:07 On this episode of CTM, we dig a little deeper into how we live on one income, particularly since having our son. The lifestyle is not for everyone at every time, but if you want it, there is a very good chance you could do it! Set your priorities and make decisions according to them. Most of all, align with your spouse! FOLLOW US FOR MORE CONTENT: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/calledtomar

#39 Living on One Income Mar 26, 2023 00:21:48 Many families struggle to imagine how they could possibly live on one income, but on this episode of Called to Marriage, Thomas and Marcia offer encouragement to those who aspire to do so. They recount going from Marcia being the “primary breadwinner”, to both working for a short period, to neither working for an even shorter period, to finally Thomas being the sole provider. Everyone’s marriage a

#38 Responsibility Mar 19, 2023 00:31:20 Responsibility. Life calls for it, and most of the good things in life require it. Sometimes we are afraid of being responsible for anyone or anything other than ourselves. It feels very risky, but we must remember: with big risk comes big reward. We talk about all that and more on this episode of the Called to Marriage podcast. CALLED TO MARRIAGE PODCAST: https://anchor.fm/calledtomarriage You c

#37 The Importance of Going to Church Sep 7, 2022 00:41:51 On this episode, we discuss the importance of going to church. We start out by naming some reasons folks give for not attending church, and then we break down our thoughts and finally try to summarize some reasons why people absolutely should go to church. In addition, we make mention of the fact that the way churches gather in different places and times varies greatly, so regardless of where or h

#36 Date night is overrated. Aug 5, 2022 00:21:56 Date night is OVERRATED! 😆 Honestly, date nights are wonderful, but in our opinion, not having regular date nights doesn’t mean your marriage is in the red! Date nights are a tool with an important sentiment behind them. That sentiment is vital to a healthy marriage, but the utility of date night in your relationship depends on your circumstances. Hear our thoughts and drop a comment adding your v

#35 The Reality of Sex Within Marriage Jul 3, 2022 00:28:07 Does a person’s sex life diminish and become boring and dry once he/she gets married? What can you expect your sex life to look like once you start your married life? On this episode of Called to Marriage, we discuss what we’ve discovered over the past four years concerning sex. The reality of sex within marriage is not as grim as it is sometimes portrayed to be! CALLED TO MARRIAGE PODCAST: http

When I look back to my younger self Apr 25, 2022 00:03:51 I reflect on how when we look back to the past, we're able to make sense of many things that we were blind to.  One of the lessons I take away from this realization is that I need to be humble. I figured the more I grow, the more I'm able to recognize and sincerely appreciate the fact that I'm not as wise as I thought.   Someday, I may look back to myself at this very moment I'm typing t

#34 Things We Love About Our In-Laws Apr 13, 2022 00:59:08 In-law relationships can be tough to navigate! On this episode, we draw out the good qualities that our in-laws have which others can adopt for the benefit of everyone. We also caution against some notoriously shady in-law behaviors! Finally, we thank God that in Him we find wisdom for every relationship and circumstance.

#33 Boundaries Feb 19, 2022 00:38:39 Or who shut in the sea with doors, When it burst forth and issued from the womb; When I made the clouds its garment, And thick darkness its swaddling band; When I fixed My limit for it, And set bars and doors; When I said, ‘This far you may come, but no farther, And here your proud waves must stop!’ -Job 38:8-11 Boundaries are very important. Even God sets boundaries. Why do we then have so mu

#32 Security and Insecurity Jan 23, 2022 00:33:01 What does it mean to have security in marriage? And what does it mean for a man to protect his wife? On this episode, we discuss the importance of having a level of commitment that endures even when your spouse isn't doing the right thing. We give some examples of things that cause insecurity in marriage and how commitment to God and our marriage causes us to be willing to work through things tha

#31 It's not all about you! Nov 22, 2021 00:41:42 Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others. Philippians 2:3-4   Have you ever realized something about yourself that you were oblivious to prior? On this episode, we discuss the insidious nature of self-centeredness.

#30 Working Dad, Stay-At-Home Mom Nov 3, 2021 00:35:53 What does it take to have a stay-at-home parent in the house? On this episode, we talk about establishing our values as parents and the associated costs and benefits that come with our decisions. We also declare our thanks to God and trust in God to help us carry out the vision for our family.

#29 Living Through Covid-19 Oct 16, 2021 00:24:49 Oh give thanks unto the Lord, His mercy endures forever!  What was it like to experience the thing that many in this season dread? Having survived by the grace of God, we chronicle our experience with Covid-19. With words of encouragement from Scripture, we affirm that we will not fear, and we look to God for help and with a spirit of thanksgiving for His healing power and His love and care t

#28 Postpartum and Learning to be Parents Aug 14, 2021 00:37:17 "If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him." James 1:5   On this episode of Called to Marriage, we talk about our experience and insights nine weeks into the postpartum journey. We also discuss our experience learning to be parents and navigating decision-making in regards to our child. Lastly, Charlie makes hi

#27 Working Through Pregnancy Aug 4, 2021 00:33:11 "A woman, when she is in labor, has sorrow because her hour has come; but as soon as she has given birth to the child, she no longer remembers the anguish for joy that a human being has been born into the world." -John 16:21 On this episode of Called to Marriage, we talk about working through all the ups and downs of our pregnancy, including food aversions, baby movements, and all the emotions

#26 Planning for Pregnancy & Parenthood Jul 26, 2021 00:49:17 "There are many plans in a man's heart, nevertheless the Lord's counsel- that will stand." - Proverbs 19:21 In this episode we recount our decision and planning to have a child. We also talk about looking forward to being first time parents and the responsibilities that come with that.

#25 Things we miss about China Feb 6, 2021 00:23:13

#24 Updates (Re-settling in the US after 4 years in China) Feb 6, 2021 00:25:19

#23 Leaving China after 4 years (Part 2) Aug 13, 2020 00:29:16  At the time of recording this, we were closer than ever to leaving China indefinitely! We were moving back to the States, but before leaving, we wanted to reflect on the process a bit more. Here is Part 2 of the topic, "Leaving China after 4 years." We talked about seeing God at work in the midst of an uncertain time, and we pray you will be encouraged and have hope after listening.

#22 Leaving China after 4 years Jun 17, 2020 00:45:11 The countdown begins! After four blessed and exciting years in China, we are moving to the United States. As we close one chapter and begin another, we reflect on what we'll miss about China and what we look forward to in the U.S.

#21 The Importance of Family May 15, 2020 00:53:42 In this time of global lockdown, people are spending time with family whom they live with, or perhaps reaching out to loved ones distant from them. But how important is it to stay unified with your family? And what are some of the roadblocks to family unity? On this episode, we explore these topics and highlight the value of the family unit in society.

#20 Personal Faith Apr 26, 2020 00:52:36 Just because you had a Christian upbringing doesn't mean you automatically become a Christian yourself. Faith is personal, and on this episode, we talk about the transition from being guided as young people to having our own personal faith and relationship with God.

#19 Christian Upbringing Apr 3, 2020 00:38:27 How did your parents both intentionally and unconsciously raise you in Christian faith in your formative years? We are exploring this question as we reflect on what we feel was the most important gift our parents have given us: fear and knowledge of the Lord, leading to faith in the gospel, and our salvation in Christ.

#18 The Significance of Good Friends Mar 22, 2020 01:11:44 What friendships do you consider dear to you, and why? We're discussing our oldest and closest friends, and the roles they have played in our lives.

#17 Spending time together Mar 5, 2020 00:40:40 How do we spend time together, both intentionally and unintentionally? We are getting real about what spending time together looks like in our marriage.

#15 Humble Beginnings Feb 25, 2020 00:30:14 Should we have achieved complete independence and success before getting married? We're discussing the humble beginning of our relationship, and how we've been able to embrace it and see advantages of building success together.

#14 The Coronavirus Outbreak in China Feb 9, 2020 00:34:05 Since we are living in China, the origin country of the Coronavirus, we thought we'd give a personal update on what it's been like for us since the outbreak. Our thoughts may surprise you!

#13 Eating In China Feb 7, 2020 00:42:52 What's the food like here in China, from our perspective? And how do we eat while we're here? We answer that and more on today's episode.

#12 How Thomas Came To China Jan 27, 2020 00:23:01 How in the world did Thomas end up in China? Let's hear his account of the series of events that led him to becoming a civil engineering student in Changchun, China.

#11 How Marcia Ended Up In China Jan 26, 2020 00:36:07 How in the world did Marcia end up in China? Let's hear her recount how she ended up becoming an English teacher in Changchun. As well, she covers what her experience has been like as a university English teacher the past few years in China.

#10 Having Children? 2 (with Jeremy & Faith Muzenda) Jan 25, 2020 01:28:22  On this episode, guests Jeremy & Faith Muzenda take the topic of having children to another level, contributing their real-life experience to our thoughts and ideas. What an insightful conversation about pregnancy, parenting, and more!

#9 Having Children!? Dec 10, 2019 00:36:43 Should all Christian marriages bear children? We tackle this controversial topic, as well as revealing how we are dealing with it in our personal marriage. We discuss family planning, parenting, fears, hopes, and adoption.

#8 Life After Marriage Dec 6, 2019 00:48:03 Life after marriage for the Oppongs looks like growth, developing our new family unit, humility, learning, and more. On this episode, we cover a hodgepodge of topics related to our lives since being married.

#7 Before I got Married 2 (Dating History) Nov 12, 2019 00:47:51  What were our lives like before getting married? What was our focus? What were our struggles? What helped us in our singleness? What things unique to our singleness changed or were eliminated in marriage? We delve into this and more in a two part series.

#6 Before I Got Married 1 Nov 10, 2019 00:42:03  What were our lives like before getting married? What was our focus? What were our struggles? What helped us in our singleness? What things unique to our singleness changed or were eliminated in marriage? We delve into this and more in a two part series.

#5 Living Together As A Couple Oct 30, 2019 00:58:43 Oh the joys of being one! Today, we discuss the ups and downs of living together and how the grace of God compels us to be gracious to one another. We talk through our approach to keeping a peaceful home, including attitudes like agreement, teamwork, and selflessness.

#4 Solemnizing Our Marriage (Love & Support From Church) Oct 30, 2019 00:54:26  Having been married over a year, we reflect upon how we made it to this point, giving many thanks to our friends and loved ones who supported us all along the way. God's love and faithfulness being evident in our life and marriage, we encourage our listeners to enjoy and embrace fellowship with other believers, we all being one as the body of Christ. 

#3 Engagement & Getting Married In China Oct 30, 2019 00:39:21 On this episode, we reveal the atypical circumstances surrounding our marriage and recall having to define what marriage meant to us. We discuss going against the grain in our approach to our marriage, as well as the challenges and rewards that came with that.

#2 How We Met, & Dating In China. Oct 30, 2019 00:46:49 On this episode, we discuss our unlikely meeting in a country foreign to the both of us - China. We touch on some of the challenges of having dated in China, as well as the challenges of dating as Christians. In the end, we reflect upon hand of God upon our relationship and His incredible goodness to us.

#1 Intro. & Why This Podcast? Oct 28, 2019 00:27:51 On this episode, we introduce ourselves (Marcia and Thomas) as the hosts of this podcast and explain the reasons why we decided to start it. We talk about the importance of glorifying and thanking God, leaving a legacy for our children, and edifying our listeners. We also reveal what listeners can expect to hear on our podcast in the future.

Called to Marriage

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