Journey of the Pastor’s Wife

Strip away the comforts of supportive friends whom she has grown to love as family. Remove her from the nurturing environment of those who tarried with her and witnessed her transformation from a sinner to a beloved child of God.

Wrap her in a blanket of deceit arrayed with the trimmings and tapestry of “You are so wonderful, we are overjoyed that you are a pastor’s wife.” Tell her she is being sent out as a chosen vessel of God. And, question her intelligence, while boasting proudly, “She doesn’t know the difference between a send out and a put out.”

Launch her into a desolate place – a wilderness, with no thoughts of commissioning or embracing her, and make all attempts to destroy any existing support systems that are left behind.

Call her mother, even though she is only in her twenties, and give her the responsibilities of a woman who is greatly experience in church planting, parenting and developing others.

Surround her with women who are well beyond the age of her own mother, and out of necessity (for there is no one else available) give her authority over these women.

Disregard the fact that she is four months pregnant, position her where she must drive almost a hundred miles round trip at least twice a week in order to get to church. Insist that she is on time and readily available to serve.

Add to her journey a couple of interim stops to pick up visitors, and members of the church. Enrich her drive, in her sub compact car, with two small boy ages 5 and 2.

Ensure that her place of worship does not have adequate heat, air conditioning, running water or a water source. Give her a decaying privy (outhouse) that is a home to rats and snakes as her make shift bathroom.

Follow her on her journey of over twenty years as she refuses to become discouraged even when her family, job, church, and marriage appear to be crumbling at an accelerated pace.

Follow her as she embraces the physical, emotional, domestic, and financial hardship with love, humility, and steadfastness to God that causes others to marvel.

Follow her as she remains committed to her task even when her very best efforts are scorned as worthless, careless, or unnecessary.

Follow her as she thrives and blossoms spiritually, emotionally, and physically into a pillar of integrity and influence.

Follow her as she equips children, women, and men with love, knowledge and wisdom to live God glorifying lives.

Follow her as she establishes Sunday school classes, women auxiliaries, community outreach programs, training and equipping workshops and seminars, vacation bible schools, and fellowship gatherings.

Follow her as she excels on her job as a well respected and honored teacher while balancing the duties and responsibilities of wife, mother, major care provider to her sick mother, and vital leader of her church family.

Rejoice with her as she remembers the souls she has won to the Lord.

Rejoice with her as she recalls when her children and members of her church family were baptized with the Holy Ghost.

Rejoice with her as she revisits the day when her mother was baptized in the name of Jesus Christ and joined her church family.

Relive the moments with her when she realized that her place of worship where she had labored for over twenty years had been destroyed by a storm.

Recall with her the time when she was told that the ministry would be relocated, and she must start all over again.

Notice her radiant smile as she starts anew with a refreshing zeal and a determination that says, ”Lord, I am ready to start over. Just lead the way and I’ll follow you.”

Praise God with her as the new beginning starts to unfold and reveal the handy work of God.

Praise God with her as she sees her children embracing the power of God.

Praise God with her as she witnesses her children bring souls to Jesus Christ.

Praise God with her as she sees members of her church family filled with the Holy Ghost and their lives being transformed by the word of God.

Hear her when she proclaims, “I am Deborah ….the blessed one!”

Submitted by:
Bishop Fred E. Hill, D.D.