Ministry is hard. And every ministry wife needs—and deserves—encouragement. A woman marries a man, not his ministry. But all too often her husband's calling complicates their life together. What if ministry life isn't what she bargained for? What happens when her children make mistakes? How does she deal with church gossip, or even slander? As a pastor's wife of almost fifty years, Jani Ortlund addresses these questions, along with many others, as she offers encouragement and guidance to ministry wives. Jani reminds readers that God works out his delightfully good purposes in and through their sacrifices.
Although their calling is joyous, pastors' wives encounter special challenges because of the nature of their husbands' work. These letters from the wives of experienced and well-known pastors provide empathy, wise counsel, and encouragement.
When a church hires a new minister, they are really hiring both him and his wife. Many women entering this role for the first time have never considered what it means to be a minister's wife and consequently suffer stress, chaos, and confusion. In order to thrive, she needs a solid understanding of the biblical teaching on her role and how to best serve her husband as he fulfills his role. Susie Hawkins brings thirty years of experience as a minister's wife coupled with her role as the mother of two ministry wives. By focusing on key relationships and responsibilities in relation to the church and home, Susie guides young women to a greater understanding of how to serve God faithfully as the wife of a minister.
Life as a pastor's wife offers meaningful opportunities to play a significant part in God's work, to witness and participate in the beauty of changed lives. Yet it also carries the potential for deep wounds and great conflict that can drain the joy out of service. Is it worth it? Oh, yes, says Kay Warren, wife of Pastor Rick Warren and cofounder of Saddleback Church. It is more than worth the risk--it's a sacred privilege. Drawing on more than forty years in ministry in every possible size church, Kay provides encouraging principles and life lessons, along with intimate personal stories, that will give readers the confidence needed to lead and live well. Pastor's wives learn to - accept who they are - adapt to change - help their children survive and thrive - protect their private lives - deal with criticism - live with integrity - develop an eternal perspective Whether she is excited, struggling, or feeling broken and tired, every pastor's wife will find hope and encouragement for their calling in Kay's warm and wise words.
Pastors' wives are in a privileged—yet often difficult—position. Various challenges make it is easy for ministry wives to feel discouraged about their relationship with God, lose their wonder at the mystery of the church, and forget the joy of serving alongside their husband. In this encouraging and humorous book, Gloria Furman offers pastors' wives a breath of fresh air, reminding readers that Christ stands ready to help regardless of the circumstance—whether it's late-night counseling sessions, unrealistic expectations about how they spend their time, or complaints about their husbands' preaching. Filled with life-giving truth from God's Word regarding the privilege of ministry in Christ's name, this book will help women joyfully treasure their Savior, serve their husbands, and love their churches.
She never expected to be a minister’s wife. And the life she discovered was more challenging—and more beautiful—than she could have anticipated. We all wrestle with tough questions about life and faith, and Karen Stiller has learned that answers don’t come any easier when you’re married to the minister. What does it mean to live faithfully in our complicated world? Is there a place here for me—the real me? What does everyone expect of me, and what if I fail? In The Minister’s Wife, Karen shines a light on the rhythms and tough realities of the spiritual life for each and every one of us. She explores how community helps us grow; the unexpected beauty of doubt; the messy pain of families and funerals; how church can hurt and heal; and the beauty of showing up when sometimes it is more appealing to go to a coffee shop on a Sunday morning (even when you’re the pastor’s wife). Warm, witty, and achingly honest, The Minister’s Wife is a memoir in essays on choosing to belong, and an invitation to join a spiritual adventure.
The wife of a minister is made of the same stuff as any other woman, but her circumstances set her apart. If you've married into the ministry, you know the difficulty of balancing the demands of your church and your family, the stresses of clergy marriage, the pressure of unrealistic expectations, and the setbacks of ministry---and the joys. Other than Jesus himself, only a ministry wife really understands what it's like to be a ministry wife. This devotional is written for you. In its pages, you'll find not only wisdom and encouragement from God's Word, but also the reassurance and solidarity of fellow ministry wives who are traveling the road with you and who know the territory. Kathy Chapell, Jeanne Hendricks, Barbara Hughes, Heather Olford, Jan Ortlund, Noel Piper, Sue Sailhamer, Paulette Washington, and many others share their experiences and their hearts in ninety daily reflections that begin with a Scripture verse and conclude with a prayer. Their insights are short, honest, intimate, and practical---and they always point you back to the One who is your ultimate source of help and guidance.
ABOUT THE BOOK: Chosen to Be a Minister's Wife provides a candid and enlightening look into the life and ministry of Joyce Rogers, wife of the late Dr. Adrian Rogers. "Being a minister's wife is a calling from God. I was married to Adrian for 54 years before the Lord took Adrian home. We grew closer to God and to each other over those years, but it wasn't always roses. Through Chosen to Be a Minister's Wife, I hope to help mentor the next generation of ministers' wives by sharing my experiences-both joyful and difficult-and the insights the Lord taught me along the way." In Chosen to Be a Minister's Wife, Joyce Rogers shares personal anecdotes and life stories that reveal biblically-based principles for "how to" encourage your minister husband by being a woman of integrity and wisdom; discover your own uniqueness; develop a hunger for greater knowledge, understanding, and love of God's Word; uncover the secret to having the best marriage in the world; make your home ring with laughter; prepare your children for the calling God has on their lives; nurture close friendships, learn to set priorities, and practice godly mentoring. **** ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Joyce Rogers is an author, speaker, and wife of the late Dr. Adrian Rogers, pastor for 32 years of the well-known Bellevue Baptist Church in Memphis, Tennessee, and the three-term president of the Southern Baptist Convention. A pioneer of women's ministry in the Southern Baptist Convention and a Bible teacher for 60 years, Joyce loves encouraging and challenging others in their Christian walk through speaking to ministers' wives, widows, and women of all ages. She is a committed homemaker and mother of five children, grandmother of nine, and great-grandmother of seven
Every pastor's wife is a faithful servant and leader in her own right. She has great influence on her church, her community, her family, and her husband, and she finds joy in seeing God move in the lives of others. Yet she also faces unique challenges that too often go unnoticed and unaddressed. At times, a pastor's wife may feel she can't talk about her struggles even with those who are closest to her, which can leave her feeling alone, depleted, and misunderstood. She may settle for this way of living, but that's not God's desire for her. Christine Hoover knows firsthand the unique struggles and opportunities afforded a pastor's wife--she's been filling that role for more than 20 years. Coming alongside as an understanding friend, she offers encouragement and guidance to the struggling pastor's wife, showing her how to make meaningful personal relationships with God, her husband, her children, her church community, and other women--relationships that will sustain her and help her thrive.
What if God has purposed your marriage for something so much more than "happily ever after?" Since the very beginning, God's design for marriage has been for husbands and wives to be ambassadors of holy love to a hurting world. Still, too many couples stop short at happy and wonder why they feel unsatisfied. Rather than "you and me against the world," God calls each couple to the rich and meaningful mission of "you and me for the world." In Marriage After God, Aaron and Jennifer Smith, popular marriage bloggers at HusbandRevolution.com and UnveiledWife.com, transparently share their own journey of turning a marriage in crisis into a marriage built on Christ's redemptive love. With fresh biblical insight and intimate stories of their own struggles and victories, this book will guide you toward a God-centered, ministry-minded, and thriving marriage. Throughout Marriage After God, you'll learn to: Discover the signature marks of a marriage after God Find principles for building an unshakable marriage foundation Let God's story take the lead in your love story Recognize the tools God has already equipped you with for a missional life together Filled with timeless wisdom, this thorough and practical book will empower you and your spouse to dream, decide, and do as you step hand in hand into God's ultimate purpose for your marriage. God has created your remarkable, romantic, and redemptive relationship to be a powerful light to a dark and hurting world. Let Marriage After God be your invitation to marriage as God intended--a life-saving, hope-inspiring, and transforming force of God's love. Praise for Marriage After God: "This book is an incredible resource for anyone trying to grow or step into a healthier and more life-giving marriage. Aaron and Jen pull no punches; are honest, raw, and authentic; and show that a marriage in pursuit of Jesus can change the world." --Jefferson Bethke, New York Times bestselling author of Jesus > Religion "There is a short list of books I'm stashing away for my three small kiddos to read when they are older--Marriage After God is one of them. Dear couples of the world, you have picked up a treasure! This book will give you clear direction to live out God's will for your marriage. There is no greater gift you can give yourselves than to run after Him together. Marriage After God will show you how!" --Lara Casey, author of Cultivate and Make It Happen
