Due to popular demand, we are on our second printing of the book, My Husband Wants to be a Church Planter, So What Will That Make Me. In case you see someone with it, it does have a new cover (above), but the contents remain the same. If you don’t have a copy, you can download one at www.ChurchPlantingVillage.net/wives or you can email me at planterwives@namb.net and I’ll send you a hard copy.
Hope your 2009 is off to a great start!
As we look ahead to 2009, I would love to share with our readers your stories. What did God teach you about being the wife of a church planter in 2008? What are you doing different in 2009? Send me your stories: planterwives@namb.net.
I look foward to hearing from you!
A note from the blog creator…
I apologize for the lack of updates in recent days. Things have been extremely busy for me and apparently for many of you!
I hope you are taking some time to spend with family over the holidays. In ministry, Christmas can be a particularly hectic and stressful time of the year, so even if you have to say “no” to some things, be sure you are taking some time to spend with your children and husband.
For January, I would love to hear what God taught you as the wife of a church planter in 2008 and what you are doing different in 2009. Email me at planterwives@namb.net.
In the meantime, have a joyful, restful Christmas!
Sherri Jachelski
We hope you’re enjoying a day of rest with your family!
Take some time to think back over your journey in church planting. What has God taught you? We’d love to hear your stories! Email them to us at planterwives@namb.net and we may just feature your story as a post!
Happy Fourth of July! We hope you are able to take some time to spend with your family.
Reminder: We’re always looking for stories from wives of church planters who would be willing to share about an area you have struggled as a church planter wife and how you have worked through that. We have a lot of ladies reading who are getting ready to begin the church planting journey, so this is your chance to help another lady to perhaps navigate the waters of church planting a little easier. Send your stories to planterwives@namb.net.
Our blog for church planter wives is now a month old and as we look to the future, we would like your input. If you could take just a couple minutes to complete a five question, anonymous survey we would greatly appreciate it! Click here to take the survey.
This post was written by Kim Edmondson. Kim and her husband planted a church in Clarksville, Tennessee in September, 2007.
I’m sure this will come as no surprise to many of you, but I find one of the most challenging parts of my week as a church planting wife starts on Saturday evening and runs into Sunday morning.
I don’t know why it took me so long to catch on to the fact that the stress level in our home started to rise on Saturday evening. Things like our children not getting along, my husband and I struggling with communication, and an urgent need from a church member seemed to be the usual for the Saturday evening line up. By the time I fell into bed on Saturday night I was physically worn out and emotionally frustrated to the point of searching for the enthusiasm to get up on Sunday morning and head to church. Sunday mornings were a test in themselves without Saturday evening. In order to make sure I was ready before my children were up and my husband scooted out the door, I would get up at the crack of dawn and work myself into a frenzy trying to get everything done for home and church. By the time I pulled into the parking lot I was a mess. However, I would paint on a smile and keep on keepin’ on.
Finally, a friend mentioned to me that my “smile” was not very convincing. So, I began to seek the Lord for His answer to help smooth out this rough time of the week. He reminded me that the evil one was all too happy to keep me distracted from looking forward to going to church. Who better to have stirred up and in a tailspin than the pastor’s wife?!?
His solution for me was to “delight myself in Him” in the process of getting ready for Sundays. Because I tend to be a Martha, I was getting caught up in the details of “what had to be done” and missing the “one thing that is needed.”
So now, I begin preparing for church and worship on Saturday morning. I focus my heart and my thoughts on what is to come on Sunday. I pray for our staff, volunteers and my husband throughout my daily tasks. I lay out everyone’s clothes on Saturday afternoon, (including socks and underwear…..I have all boys!). I pack the diaper bag, and set it next to the car seat, which is right beside my Bible, purse and keys.
I still get up early on Sunday morning, but I try to keep a quiet spirit and get some praise music going as soon as I head downstairs so that my heart and mind are filled with the purpose of this day of worship.
It has been such a help and blessing for me to learn that by removing the distractions throughout my day on Saturday I am more prepared for worship on Sunday.
The blog does look different. Not all the features I wanted were available on my previous theme, so I’ve made a change. Hope you like it!
We want to help you connect with other church planter wives so we’ve added some links to church planter wives’ blogs in the sidebar. Check them out. (If you’d like your blog added to the list, please post your link in Comments.)
