Richard Ray: A lesson from the heart of the pastor’s wife

Last week, I focused on the importance of pastor-to-pastor fellowship. This week, I want you to hear from the heart of the one who serves alongside the pastor.

This person sees the victories and the heartaches a pastor experiences in ministry. This person sees the pastor leave at all hours of the day and night to meet a person in need. This person knows the pastor better than anyone does. This person is the pastor’s wife. Today’s article comes from the heart of a pastor’s wife. I pray it will bring encouragement to the wife of the pastor as well as remind the pastor how blessed he is to have this person in his life as they serve the Lord together.

Richard RayFrom Grace for the Ministry by Kiyoe Kroeger: “As a pastor’s wife, the joys and struggles that come with following the Lord Jesus Christ in my husband’s ministry are experienced through the grip of God’s love and grace. Understanding that my husband’s calling from God to pastoral ministry involves the character of my life along with the time and talents the Lord has called me to fulfill moves me to draw closer to God in my daily prayer life (John 15:5). As important as my own personal prayer time is for me, there is more.

“Bill and I are spending more and more time together in prayer before God’s throne of grace and mercy every day (Hebrews 4:16). One way we support each other in ministry is through the prayers we share with each other in faith and love. In an atmosphere of honesty and transparency, we share our blessings and burdens, along with our joys and sorrows. Then for the days and weeks ahead, we keep our eyes and ears open to see and hear how the Lord is working his grace on the people and circumstances of our church and community we have prayed for by name.

“God has blessed me with certain musical abilities, as I enjoy playing the piano in our church services every Sunday and singing a song I believe the Lord has placed upon my heart to share with the congregation when he gives me the opportunity. Though God has blessed with a good musical ear, it is in my physical disability that the grace of God amazes me even more.

“With retinitis pigmentosa, I am visually impaired. My condition, for which there is no treatment or cure, brings the degeneration of the retina, resulting in a gradual loss of peripheral vision progressively over time. As Bill and I visit in our community, I have the opportunity to share how God’s strength works in my weakness with my white cane. By the Lord’s ability, I have been able to direct Bellaire Baptist Church’s annual Christmas program for many years with the help of my husband and others. With joy, I am thankful to serve in south San Antonio. I find great comfort and hope in 2 Corinthians 12:9. ‘My grace is sufficient for you: for my strength is made perfect in weakness.’”

I find comfort in knowing God not only calls us to serve as pastors, but he calls another to walk alongside us as we serve the Lord. Pastors, we need to recognize those who walk alongside us with appreciation and love, for without them how lost we would be.

In next week’s article, you will read from the heart of a minister’s child. We call them PKs for “preacher’s kid,” but I am not so sure the PK is OK with that.

Remember, God has called you to serve, but God has not called you to serve alone. Let us be your advocate, your resource, and your prayer partner as you fulfill your calling. Until next time, please visit our website, www.bivocational.com.

Richard Ray is executive director of the Bivocational/Small Church Association and director of missions for the Tri-Rivers Baptist Area. You can reach him at brother_ray@juno.com.