Comments for A Day in the Life of a Church Planter Wife http://planterwives.wordpress.com Sat, 23 May 2009 06:34:37 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 Comment on Emotional Break by nemi http://planterwives.wordpress.com/2008/09/18/emotional-break/#comment-77 nemi Sat, 23 May 2009 06:34:37 +0000 http://planterwives.wordpress.com/?p=132#comment-77 it is a great post to remind those who are working with thier husbands in the church planting. This too will be and always be my reminder.. if I will be there to place my husband desired to work... I will never forget this! .. it is a great post to remind those who are working with thier husbands in the church planting. This too will be and always be my reminder.. if I will be there to place my husband desired to work… I will never forget this! ..

]]> Comment on New Resources That Might Be of Interest by Kristina http://planterwives.wordpress.com/2009/04/24/new-resources-that-might-be-of-interest/#comment-76 Kristina Sun, 03 May 2009 20:36:09 +0000 http://planterwives.wordpress.com/?p=165#comment-76 Thanks, I have added it to my wish list. :) Thanks, I have added it to my wish list. :)

]]> Comment on Welcome To Our New Blog for Church Planter Wives! by Tracey http://planterwives.wordpress.com/2008/05/01/welcome-to-our-new-blog-for-church-planter-wives/#comment-75 Tracey Mon, 06 Apr 2009 16:47:54 +0000 http://planterwives.wordpress.com/?p=5#comment-75 My husband and I began our church plant one year ago. I work 4 days per week as a coordinator for pharmaceutical research studies. My husband takes care of our children when they come home from school and is able to focus on pastoring, sermon preparation, administration, etc. in the early part of the day and evenings. If I had a choice, I would prefer to spend my time taking care of my children, my home, and working on our ministry. I often feel like there are not enough hours in the day. I know that God has called us as a couple to start this church, and I remind myself that I am contributing to this ministry by providing income to allow my husband to focus on the church plant and the people we minister to. I am encouraged by seeing so many people come into relationship with the Lord as a result of our ministry - that makes the long days worth it. The Lord knows my desire to be in full-time ministry and I hope that comes in the near future. But until that time comes, I will be faithful to contribute to this work in any way that I am needed. My husband and I began our church plant one year ago. I work 4 days per week as a coordinator for pharmaceutical research studies. My husband takes care of our children when they come home from school and is able to focus on pastoring, sermon preparation, administration, etc. in the early part of the day and evenings. If I had a choice, I would prefer to spend my time taking care of my children, my home, and working on our ministry. I often feel like there are not enough hours in the day. I know that God has called us as a couple to start this church, and I remind myself that I am contributing to this ministry by providing income to allow my husband to focus on the church plant and the people we minister to. I am encouraged by seeing so many people come into relationship with the Lord as a result of our ministry – that makes the long days worth it. The Lord knows my desire to be in full-time ministry and I hope that comes in the near future. But until that time comes, I will be faithful to contribute to this work in any way that I am needed.

]]> Comment on Lifting His Spirits by rachellarkin http://planterwives.wordpress.com/2009/02/06/lifting-his-spirits/#comment-74 rachellarkin Tue, 10 Feb 2009 02:48:17 +0000 http://planterwives.wordpress.com/?p=158#comment-74 I agree with the comment above. I believe prayer is so important to your husband as a leader. I also try to stop everything I'm doing just to give him my undivided attention. I let him talk, I ask him questions to talk more, to just "get it all out". It helps after he has "unloaded" for lack of a better term. And then I pray like crazy! I agree with the comment above. I believe prayer is so important to your husband as a leader. I also try to stop everything I’m doing just to give him my undivided attention. I let him talk, I ask him questions to talk more, to just “get it all out”. It helps after he has “unloaded” for lack of a better term. And then I pray like crazy!

]]> Comment on Lifting His Spirits by Kristina http://planterwives.wordpress.com/2009/02/06/lifting-his-spirits/#comment-73 Kristina Mon, 09 Feb 2009 17:52:00 +0000 http://planterwives.wordpress.com/?p=158#comment-73 For me personally I feel I need to remind my husband of the call God has put on his life in times when he feels discouraged or like things are just not coming together. To remind him of the finger prints of God we have seen along the road coming to this place, at this time, to plant this church. Reaffirming in him what his spiritual gifts are. Another thing I do is pray for him specifically when I know he is gong to be talking to people who tend to have a negative tone, think things should be moving along faster than they are. Sometimes it is just people who think we are just plain silly for leaving the "known" for the "unknown". I pray for the protection of his mind, heart and spirit when I know he is coming in contact with people who unintentionally can cause him discouragement. For me personally I feel I need to remind my husband of the call God has put on his life in times when he feels discouraged or like things are just not coming together. To remind him of the finger prints of God we have seen along the road coming to this place, at this time, to plant this church. Reaffirming in him what his spiritual gifts are.

Another thing I do is pray for him specifically when I know he is gong to be talking to people who tend to have a negative tone, think things should be moving along faster than they are. Sometimes it is just people who think we are just plain silly for leaving the “known” for the “unknown”.
I pray for the protection of his mind, heart and spirit when I know he is coming in contact with people who unintentionally can cause him discouragement.

]]> Comment on Second Printing by rachellarkin http://planterwives.wordpress.com/2009/01/26/second-printing/#comment-72 rachellarkin Sat, 31 Jan 2009 14:21:16 +0000 http://planterwives.wordpress.com/?p=151#comment-72 I got this book last year and its amazing! One of the best things I've read to help me through this journey! I got this book last year and its amazing! One of the best things I’ve read to help me through this journey!

]]> Comment on Emotional Break by rachellarkin http://planterwives.wordpress.com/2008/09/18/emotional-break/#comment-71 rachellarkin Sun, 11 Jan 2009 16:07:46 +0000 http://planterwives.wordpress.com/?p=132#comment-71 This is a good post! It seems like when you're in the middle of this journey, you don't realize you have had no "stress reliever time" until it's too late and you have a day of "the breakdowns"...great post! Really good reminder...and I love all the things you mentioned to do, I have to make a rotating calendar for those times...hee hee:) This is a good post! It seems like when you’re in the middle of this journey, you don’t realize you have had no “stress reliever time” until it’s too late and you have a day of “the breakdowns”…great post! Really good reminder…and I love all the things you mentioned to do, I have to make a rotating calendar for those times…hee hee:)

]]> Comment on Whispers by Beth http://planterwives.wordpress.com/2008/08/14/whispers/#comment-68 Beth Sat, 16 Aug 2008 16:55:51 +0000 http://planterwives.wordpress.com/?p=95#comment-68 Jennifer, I pray that God continues to give you encouragment and peace as you follow His direction. May He give you a love for the people in the culture that He is leading you. May that Love create such an expectency of God's activity that you are able to praise Him in all the circumstances that transpire as you follow Jesus as Lord. I pray you are able to honestly encourage your dh as he trusts God's leading and provision. Thanks for letting us share the journey! Jennifer,
I pray that God continues to give you encouragment and peace as you follow His direction. May He give you a love for the people in the culture that He is leading you. May that Love create such an expectency of God’s activity that you are able to praise Him in all the circumstances that transpire as you follow Jesus as Lord. I pray you are able to honestly encourage your dh as he trusts God’s leading and provision. Thanks for letting us share the journey!

]]> Comment on In Honor of Father’s Day by Tina Cole http://planterwives.wordpress.com/2008/06/12/in-honor-of-fathers-day/#comment-67 Tina Cole Wed, 06 Aug 2008 14:16:42 +0000 http://planterwives.wordpress.com/?p=29#comment-67 I completely understand the constant changing of schedules. We have five children...two in college, two in high school, one in junior high. We planted a cowboy church four years ago and, besides the needs of a new church plant, we also have the needs of the horses, arena, etc. One of the challenges is that the older two are not involved in horses. Horses are big part of what we do with our church, as it is a common denominator for most of our people. Our oldest daughter is away at college and our son is going to a local community college. When our daughter comes home for the weekend, she doesn't feel that she "fits in" because we are usually having an event at the arena...a playday or a roping. We can't always stop and give her a full weekend of attention, and she understands that. We do try to schedule at least one family meal together. She gets most of her "daddy" time on the trips back to college in the fall and moving home in the summer. Our oldest son gets to have lunch with his dad at least once a week during the school year and that is good. He is studying to go into youth ministry. He assists with the youth at our church. The younger three get most of their "dad" time in the arena with the horses. We try to have family game nights as often as we can. They like to play board games, especially "Risk", which they play without me...not my kind of game. We don't always limit our game nights to family...we have a lot of kids that hang out at the house and are just part of the family. We do have times that we go to our bayhouse that we limit to just family time. We are currently on a family vacation with some old friends and the drive out was 27 hours....LOTS of family time. It is easy to get so focused on ministry that you leave your family out. Sometimes I have to "clue him in" that the kids need some dad time, but for the most part, he stays in tune with his role that is being their dad and not their pastor. I completely understand the constant changing of schedules. We have five children…two in college, two in high school, one in junior high. We planted a cowboy church four years ago and, besides the needs of a new church plant, we also have the needs of the horses, arena, etc. One of the challenges is that the older two are not involved in horses. Horses are big part of what we do with our church, as it is a common denominator for most of our people. Our oldest daughter is away at college and our son is going to a local community college. When our daughter comes home for the weekend, she doesn’t feel that she “fits in” because we are usually having an event at the arena…a playday or a roping. We can’t always stop and give her a full weekend of attention, and she understands that. We do try to schedule at least one family meal together. She gets most of her “daddy” time on the trips back to college in the fall and moving home in the summer. Our oldest son gets to have lunch with his dad at least once a week during the school year and that is good. He is studying to go into youth ministry. He assists with the youth at our church. The younger three get most of their “dad” time in the arena with the horses. We try to have family game nights as often as we can. They like to play board games, especially “Risk”, which they play without me…not my kind of game. We don’t always limit our game nights to family…we have a lot of kids that hang out at the house and are just part of the family.
We do have times that we go to our bayhouse that we limit to just family time. We are currently on a family vacation with some old friends and the drive out was 27 hours….LOTS of family time.
It is easy to get so focused on ministry that you leave your family out. Sometimes I have to “clue him in” that the kids need some dad time, but for the most part, he stays in tune with his role that is being their dad and not their pastor.

]]> Comment on Welcome To Our New Blog for Church Planter Wives! by Tina Cole http://planterwives.wordpress.com/2008/05/01/welcome-to-our-new-blog-for-church-planter-wives/#comment-66 Tina Cole Wed, 06 Aug 2008 13:30:59 +0000 http://planterwives.wordpress.com/?p=5#comment-66 I had decided to go back to school and get my teaching certification just before we decided to become church planters. The certification program that I was in allowed me to teach and take the college courses simultaneously. I was taking 9 college hours, in my first year of teaching, we had also just moved into our dream home...a 90 year old home that we wanted to renovate...it was an old boarding house...has 9 bedrooms! We began that October with a small group Bible study and then had our first service in December. Now, four years later, I am thankful for my job. I feel that it is not only another opportunity for ministry, but that it gives me an outlet away from the church. Church planting can be an all-consuming adventure. I love our people and the ministry that God has given us, but I also love teaching in the primary school in our community. I love the connection to other believers outside of my own church as well as the opportunity to "touch" those colleagues who need to find the Lord. One of the really neat things is to be walking down the hallway and have one of the kids say, "I saw you at the Cowboy Church"....and see the teachers look at me as if to say, "they go to your church?" We reach a lot of the unchurched segment who are a bit rough around the edges...their children are as well. The teachers are encouraged to know that these little guys are attending church. I had decided to go back to school and get my teaching certification just before we decided to become church planters. The certification program that I was in allowed me to teach and take the college courses simultaneously. I was taking 9 college hours, in my first year of teaching, we had also just moved into our dream home…a 90 year old home that we wanted to renovate…it was an old boarding house…has 9 bedrooms! We began that October with a small group Bible study and then had our first service in December.
Now, four years later, I am thankful for my job. I feel that it is not only another opportunity for ministry, but that it gives me an outlet away from the church. Church planting can be an all-consuming adventure. I love our people and the ministry that God has given us, but I also love teaching in the primary school in our community. I love the connection to other believers outside of my own church as well as the opportunity to “touch” those colleagues who need to find the Lord.
One of the really neat things is to be walking down the hallway and have one of the kids say, “I saw you at the Cowboy Church”….and see the teachers look at me as if to say, “they go to your church?” We reach a lot of the unchurched segment who are a bit rough around the edges…their children are as well. The teachers are encouraged to know that these little guys are attending church.

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