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Guest blogger, Jennifer Landrith is the wife of David who serves as the senior pastor at Long Hollow Baptist Church, Hendersonville, Tennessee, where they have been for 13 years. She shares with ministry wives the essential need for unity in the body of Christ.
Ephesians 4:3 – “Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.”
I have been a pastor’s wife for over 20 years. The first church we went to had gone through a split prior to us going. After a time of healing, they were excited to see young children running around and new life in the place. The second church we went to had been through a “split” or “friendly separation” depending upon whom you ask. After a year of healing, they too were healthy and ready to grow. All of the previous staff had left and started a new congregation so feelings of betrayal and fears were present in trusting leadership again.
I didn’t go through the times of disunity but I saw the “after affects” and they were not pretty. There were always those that seemed to never recover from these difficult times. Riding down the road with a church member, I was told, “That is where Mr. White lives and he hasn’t gone to church since the business meeting” or” Mrs. Denney lives there and she left very bitter.” Over time, I saw some came back, some went other places and still others never attended. The way people acted during these times had to affect people’s view of God and God’s people. They are accountable for themselves but I wonder how some might have turned out if they had not witnessed such a time of disharmony with the church? Disunity always leaves scars.
Unity is precious!! The gold at Fort Knox is guarded by many soldiers and in a deep vault and it would take layers of people and security systems to get through to get to it. It should be this way at church and in the Christian community. It should take layers to go through before unity can be broken. We need to guard against disunity. Unity is a hill to die on because when we don’t have it, we are showing the world an inaccurate picture of a loving God who has transformed lives.
Dear sisters, let us make every effort to bring peace whether that is in our marriages, our parenting, our church or our workplace. Unity is precious so guard it and fight for it because it is worth it to present an accurate portrayal of Christ to a lost and dying world!
Jennifer and David have three children, Rachel, Sam and Josh. Jennifer serves on the Women’s Leadership team and teaches Bible studies for women in her church. She is a LifeWay Ministry Multiplier, conference leader helping ministers’ wives and co-authored the Bible study for ministers’ wives, In Our Shoes: Real Life Issue for Ministers’ Wives by Ministers’ Wives. She has been a minister’s wife for over 20 years and has a passion for encouraging other wives in ministry as they serve.
Resources:
In Our Shoes: Real Life Issues for Ministers’ Wives by Ministers’ Wives
Between Us Ministers’ Wives???? If we have link on line to this event in 2013 by then.
Handbook for Ministers’ Wives, Dorothy Patterson
Being a Minister's Wife - And Being Yourself Nancy Pannell
http://www.flourish.me/
http://contagiousjoy4him.com/
http://leadingandlovingit.com/
Of course, and play the piano and teach the children and cook a big Sunday meal for anyone and, and and…..Right!
OK, seriously, if this is your assumption, then you must also thing each woman in the church has a pre-arranged ministry to lead and you know just what it is! How many of us, pastor’s wife or not, have served out of obligation or “because someone else wouldn’t volunteer?” Probably all of us!
At times, there is just some work that has to get done in church, but if we are spending most of our time and resources where we are not gifted and passionate, we will burn out quickly. We will also not be investing our time in the place that has most significance, or as some say, ROI (return on investment). Now, I am not saying that we must serve in some areas out of necessity, but I am saying that should not be where we spend the majority of our time and effort. The same is true for the pastor’s wife.
We should never assume because she is a woman in that position that she is “supposed” to lead women. She may have a calling to lead women and know what God has designed her to do, but we just cannot assume it. Years ago when our new pastor came on staff while I was in Texas, we desired that she serve on our women’s leadership team because our previous pastor’s wife had and we desired her insight and influence. But as we got to know her, we discovered her passion was young adult couples. She had led in that area before and felt God had truly called her to invest in these young marrieds. So, she sat as an advisor on our team when she could, and she opened most of our events with welcome and a story with spiritual significance. She was great at that and loved to do it.
Let’s give our pastor’s wives a break, get to know them, love on them, support them in whatever God has called them to do. Pray into position the women God is calling for each leadership position with your women’s team.
For more on calling and leadership passion, see blog posts for Jan. 6, 9, and 13. Or check out these resources below.
Resources:
Is God Calling Me, Jeff Iorg
The Power of the Call, Henry T. Blackaby & Henry Brandt
Beautifully Gifted: Equipping Today’s Women for the High Calling of God, Angela Bisignano
Women Reaching Women, Chris Adams
Ministers’ Wives, if you missed this special web cast just for you! It's not too late! We interviewed minister's wives LIVE from our National Women's Leadership Forum!
Click here to view the web cast!
LifeWay Women Live AT WOMEN’S FORUM: Ministers’ Wives GET REAL to Connect All Generations of Minister’s Wives! with guest ministers’ wives Rachel Lovingood, Jennifer Landrith, Pam Case, Leighann McCoy and Brandi Wilson. Hosted by Chris Adams and Paige Greene.
While serving in ministry is a privilege it also comes with unique challenges. Join some real ministry wives to discuss the very real life issues facing us today. If you are minister's wife and you are joining us in Nashville at the Forum, make plans to join us in the live audience. If you can't make it to the Forum this year, join us at 9:30 a.m. for this special webcast!
Ministers’ Wives don’t miss this special web cast just for you! We will be interviewing minister's wives LIVE from our National Women's Leadership Forum!
Don't miss this special webcast on Thursday, November 10th at 9:30 a.m. (Central Time)
LifeWay Women Live AT WOMEN’S FORUM: Ministers’ Wives GET REAL to Connect All Generations of Minister’s Wives! with guest ministers’ wives Rachel Lovingood, Jennifer Landrith, Pam Case, Leighann McCoy and Brandi Wilson. Hosted by Chris Adams and Paige Greene.
While serving in ministry is a privilege it also comes with unique challenges. Join some real ministry wives to discuss the very real life issues facing us today. If you are minister's wife and you are joining us in Nashville at the Forum, make plans to join us in the live audience. If you can't make it to the Forum this year, join us at 9:30 a.m. for this special webcast!
Click here to register for the web cast!
Women’s ministry leaders can be catalysts to encourage love and support for our ministers’ wives. Check out these suggestions provided by women’s leader and pastor’s wife Becky Badry.
The ministers' wives in your church are special ladies in your women's ministry with a set of needs unique to ministers' families. Make special efforts to take care of a minister's wife and family by trying a few practical ministry ideas:
1. First and foremost, pray for her. Ask for her prayer requests, and check back for answered prayers. If she shares with you, confidentiality is a must.
2. Ask her to give her testimony at a women's event.
3. Recognize her during pastor appreciation month (October) as part of the pastoral family.
4. Take up a love offering just for her.
5. Get to know her. Ask her questions about her favorite people, places, and things.
6. Send her cards and notes of encouragement.
7. Remember birthdays and anniversaries with cards and or gifts. 
8. Be sensitive to ministers' family time.
9. Be responsive in times of illness or needs.
10. Give her a prepaid phone card so she can call family and friends.
11. Offer free childcare so that she can have a break from the kids.
12. Give her a gift certificate to her favorite restaurant.
13. Go shopping with her, and buy her a new dress or outfit (Don't just give her the money - she's like every other woman and will probably spend it on the kids or something for the home!).
14. Invite her to have lunch with the girls.
15. Pay for her to have a manicure, pedicure, or a day at the spa. 
16. Pay for the minister's family to have a night out (ballgame, movie, or dinner)
17. Pay expenses so that she may attend women's ministry or ministers' wives events.
18. Give her a gift of thank-you cards, and include a book of stamps.
Use these simple ideas to encourage the ministers' wives in your church and show your support from one church leader to another.
Additional resource:
Becky is former Director of Women’s Resources and Missions Mobilization for the Colorado Baptist Convention. She is also a LifeWay Ministry Multiplier. In addition to serving Colorado Baptists as a missionary with the North American Mission Board, Becky has been a minister’s wife for over 30 years. She and her husband have served churches in Oklahoma, Georgia, and Colorado and are currently members of Riverside Baptist Church, Denver, CO. Becky has a passion to see minister’s wives network and find the encouragement they need to faithfully fulfill God’s call in their lives. Becky has completed her Women’s Ministry Certification at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, and is a graduate of Golden Gate Theological Seminary with a Master of Arts in Educational Leadership. She was also the recipient of the Educational Leadership Service in Ministry Award in 2010. Becky and Jay have two sons, Jeremy and Justin, and a wonderful daughter –in-law, Rochelle. Becky is also the founder and director of Women in Leadership Coaching .
