“A Girl Below 26 Has No Business Getting Married” - Rev. Christie Bature Advises Young Women to Focus on Purpose Before Saying ‘I Do’

Reverend Christie Bature has sparked widespread conversation after advising young women against rushing into marriage, arguing that many are still discovering themselves before the age of 26.

Speaking on a recent episode of The Fearless Woman Podcast, the minister said she believes too many women enter marriage before fully understanding who they are, a decision she says can lead to challenges later in life. According to Rev. Bature, she doesn’t get overly excited whenever young women tell her they have found someone to marry because she believes self-discovery should come before lifelong commitment.

“A girl below 26 has no business getting married,” she said.

Explaining her stance, the minister pointed to brain development, noting that experts generally agree the human brain continues to mature into a person’s mid-twenties.

“The human brain is not fully developed till 26. Some of the stupid decisions our children take, it’s not because they want to be stupid. It’s that the brain is not fully developed,” she explained.

Rev. Bature said many young women who marry at 18, 19 or 20 are still growing emotionally and mentally, and may later discover that they have become different people from who they were when they got married. While making it clear that she supports dating and building meaningful relationships, she stressed that marriage requires maturity, self-awareness and a strong sense of identity.

The minister also shared her personal experience, revealing that watching many women around her abandon their dreams after marriage shaped her own perspective on relationships.

She said she prayed for a husband who would not only love her but also recognize her purpose and support her calling. Eventually, she stopped making marriage her primary focus and dedicated herself to pursuing what she believed God had called her to do. Encouraging women not to put their lives on hold while waiting to get married, she urged them to invest in their purpose, careers and personal growth.

According to Rev. Bature, marriage should enhance a person’s purpose not become the reason they lose themselves.

Her remarks have since sparked intense reactions online, with many agreeing that young people should prioritize self-discovery and financial stability before marriage, while others argued that readiness for marriage depends more on individual maturity than age alone.

As the debate continues across social media, Rev. Bature’s message has reignited conversations about the right age for marriage, personal growth, and whether purpose should come before saying, “I do.”