How the Family Helps Ministry
Dad was committed to Mom; the folks were committed to the kids; our home was committed to the Lord; and our energies were committed to the church.
Paul D. Robbins
I asked a pastor's wife from Washington in what ways she contributed to her husband's ministry. "I'm the only person who can get him to church both happy and on time," she said with a twinkle in her eye. She's used that line to limit the number of church responsibilities she assumes. "I tell people that's such a big job that I have to let other people use their gifts in many of the other areas of ministry."
Family members contribute to the effectiveness of a ministry in a variety of ways. Even if they aren't directly involved in church programs, they still have a tremendous indirect impact. From the Leadership research, here are some ways family members help ministry.
A source of support. Many pastors testify to the sense of stability and support they gain from their families. "They encourage me; they believe in what I'm doing for God," says one pastor. "I think that's important. I want to be behind them in the same way in whatever they're doing."
A minister from Ohio says, "Spending time with the most important people in my life not only builds self-esteem, it also restores my energy and renews my vision. A healthy family life prevents my tendency to be consumed by the ministry and supplies love and encouragement from people who see me in terms of who I am, not what I do."
A measuring stick for ministry. Family members play a unique role in keeping ministry skills sharp. "Not only is my wife my best critic, but she has also, in a sense, become the goal of my ministry," says a pastor from Michigan. "As I evaluate my preaching, I ask, Did I feed Martie this morning? ...
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