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  I first met Kunle Oyedeji last year in Guildford, Surrey.
 
  He had a speaking engagement at the University Of Surrey's
  Christian Union, and was also appearing on Faith Jegede's Gospel
  Show on GU2 Radio (word to the wise: get to know that show).

  He's a typical educated twentysomething 21st century Black man in
  the UK: sharp, aware, intelligent and articulate, a million miles away
  from the hoodie-swathed, posturing stereotype you’re more than
  likely to have been presented with in mainstream media.

Paradoxically he's atypical in terms of the cause he champions: running seminars on the complex issue of relationships and dating, territory usually reserved for older, wiser types.

Today’s bookshelves are filled with books concerning marriage obviously aimed at adults with hardly any for material the younger generation (moreso those from a Black Christian background) in order to help them prepare for a successful relationship, leading to successful marriages.

Real-life
And there's nothing better than getting advice on a subject as powerful and profound from someone close to your own age.

The added advantage here is that Kunle is a skilled orator, and much of his seminars draw on real-world examples, Government-published statistics and practical Christian lifestyle advice, with precious little Christianese to get in the way of getting a firm grasp and practical presentation on a complex issue.
 
Relationship Matters
A lot of that knowledge, experience and information is being distilled into Kunle's first book, Relationship Matters, which according to its press release is ‘aimed at Christians who may be taking the steps towards forming solid and sustainable relationships with the opposite sex’.

The book covers key topics such as relational myths, for example exploring the notion that God has ‘one person out there’ for individuals, highlighting different biblical approaches and underlining the differences between how mainstream and Christian relationships function.

The book critically analyses the differences between dating and courting, while answering questions on topics young people have always wanted to know about:
physical intimacy before marriage how far is ‘too far’ before marriage?

Relationship Matters looks at the importance of maturity before and during a relationship, with chapters that are packed with biblical references and model examples to follow.
 
Coming of age
It looks in detail at the famous biblical coming of age tales of Joseph, Ruth and the Proverbs 31 woman, commonly viewed as the model outline for a wife. The textual analysis is based on how such stories and scriptures can be interpreted today in order to relate to young people.

Relationship Matters concludes with an extract taken from the theme of a sermon entitled ‘True Love’, capturing the essence of what true love is, and advocating it be sought in God first before others.

The biblical stories bring home the theme of the book and empower young people who may have made wrong decisions in both their relationships and their sexuality to start over again with God on their side and the book as both a manual and a tool.  

Relationship Matters is released this weekend, 28th February 2009, and will be available from Kunle's website and UKGShop.com.

Yinka Awojobi

Inspirational | Soulful | Jazz | African

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Yinka Awojobi

Founder, UKG/ UKGospel.com group of sites. 

I really didn't want my picture here, but I'm bowing to pressure.

George Luke

Freelance journalist, all-round nice guy.

Has a weird obsession with international gospel music.

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