Dr. B.W. & Bernetta McClendon

The concept of marriage is as old as time itself but the practicality of being married requires maturity, commitment, and accountability. Maranatha Marriage and Family Ministries, International brings together the wisdom of scripture and the reciprocity of loving respect in a partnership. Billy and Bernetta McClendon, Sr. have the lived experience of 50 years of being married, becoming parents, grandparents, and great-grandparents. The Maranatha Marriage and Family Ministries, International has grown from their own need for marital intervention to then mentoring other couples, providing resources, prayer, and hosting conferences. 

Billy has an earned Doctorate of Ministries from Perkins School of Theology at SMU in Dallas, Texas. Bernetta has an Associate’s Degree in Child Development and has completed 30 hours of Continuing Christian Education Leadership Training from Shaw University Divinity School. Billy has served on the State of Texas Board of Examiners for Marriage and Family Therapists under governors George W. Bush and Rick Perry. Bernetta is a certified facilitator for a premarital program called Prepare Enrich, as well as Franklin Covey’s 8 Habits of a Successful Marriage and 7 Habits of Highly Effective Teens. She is a PREP (Within Our Reach) trained Instructor, a certified Family Wellness Instructor through the Texas Health and Human Services Commission. She is also a participant of the Central Texans Building Healthy Relationship Coalition. 

The McClendon’s have conducted workshops in America and abroad. They have been the keynote speakers at marriage seminars and in the early inception of Maranatha Marriage and Family Ministries, they hosted marriage and family conferences and retreats. They are currently serving under the leadership of Dr. Samuel Tolbert as Marriage Family Commissioners in the National Baptist Convention of America. They give countless hours to singles and couples who are in dire need of their counsel. Billy is a published author, teacher and pastor of St. James Missionary Baptist Church in Austin, Texas. Their deepest joy is knowing that with God all things are possible and they strive to set alight this hope for others that seek His peace within their marriage and family.