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Whose Ministry Is It?

Linda* frequently chafed under the demands of the ministry because Jeff*, her husband, entered the ministry several years after they were married. When Jeff was in business, Linda was detached from his work, but the ministry brought demands she had not anticipated. She frequently moaned, “I did not marry a minister; I married a businessman.”

Julie’s* circumstance was the exact opposite. Called into the ministry when she was very young, she held several ministerial positions before her marriage to Sam* when both were in their thirties. Sam was now a senior pastor of a thriving congregation. Though happily married, Julie constantly struggled to find her place in ministry. Sometimes she inwardly felt she had sacrificed her ministry for her marriage.

The two couples were dealing with the same issue from opposite ends of the spectrum. The question they needed to settle: “Whose ministry is it—his or ours?”

Both Linda and Julie, and all ministers’ wives, have to settle some basic issues. First, what has the Lord called me to do? Some women are called to active involvement in ministry; others feel their first calling is their family. This is a question each of us women married to a minister has to settle between ourselves and the Lord.

Settle this issue personally, then discuss your calling with your husband. Find ways to compatibly fulfill your callings together, whatever that ministry is for you individually.

So in one sense the ministry is his, for both husband and wife should have their own identities and ministry. But in another sense, a ministerial couple can say together, “The ministry is ours.” A minister and his wife are laborers together in the ministry, and both will find fulfillment when they each accept their position in ministry as from the Lord.

*names have been changed

Prayer for this week:

Lord, help me today to close my ear to other voices and listen to what you are calling me to do. When I hear your voice, help me to respond decisively and be thankful to You for giving me a ministry.

PEGGY MUSGROVE is a licensed Assemblies of God minister. She is also a speaker, freelance writer, author and prayer group leader. Her latest book, Musings of a Maraschino Cherry was released in 2004.. You can visit her at www.musgroveville.com.

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