3 Ways to love your spouse well on the church planting journey
What’s at stake if we plant a successful church, but fail in our marriage?
Resources for Ministry-Ministry Wives
Bearing burdens in a Pacific paradise
California church cares for a family facing a life-threatening pregnancy and a recommended abortion.
4 Ways to Build Sisterhood Among Planting Spouses
What do church planting wives need to thrive? In Research Findings on Church Planting Spouses, when …
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Lessons learned in Indianapolis
The gospel is immeasurably powerful. Scripture is sharper than any two-edged sword; It glorifies the power …
Helping women heal from deep and painful secrets
Not too long ago, I was sitting at my dinner table across from a young woman …
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Crisis care: Dispensing faith, hope and love
Our firstborn, Brett, had just arrived in our arms and in our hearts. We were 22 …
Seven areas in ministry life that require flexibility
Recently, a church planter’s wife asked me for advice on her situation. I didn’t really premeditate …
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When you face a season of fruitlessness
One of the beautiful realities of having a relationship with Jesus Christ is how He pursues …
Resiliency: What to remember when encountering setbacks
I put myself out there, and I was rejected. This morning was not fun as I …
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Adaptability: a necessity for pastors’ wives
Are you, or have you ever been, a youth minister’s wife? I have. What about a …
Five actions to take when tragedy strikes your church
My church body is currently in the midst of one of the greatest tragedies I’ve ever …
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How to avoid becoming the plastic pastor’s wife
I had only been married and in ministry for four weeks when our senior pastor told …
4 Questions to ask when setting boundaries
A little before midnight, there was a knock at our door. An officer apologized for waking …
About Kay Warren’s book, Sacred Privilege: Your Life and Ministry as a Pastor’s Wife
This morning I will be introducing Kay Warren as she speaks to hundreds of ministry wives …
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The Danger of being raised in the pew
My husband and I are partners in ministry. We are both called to full-time ministry, and …
When you are jealous of other churches
It happens when I’m driving down the road and pass “that” church. It happens after a …
My husband and I recently planted a new church in a transitional part of the city …
Our choices during discouraging ministry seasons
I didn’t grow up dreaming of being in ministry. Yet looking back I can see how …
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Learning to embrace each season’s call
This week’s Flourish post is brought to you by the Roberson family—Week of Prayer missionaries. Funding …
When we moved to Charlottesville to plant a church, we knew one person—our realtor. Then we …
Five ways to pass bravery on to the women you lead
We have been hearing from some very wise women about how true bravery is necessary in …
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“True Bravery” really comes down to one thing
When I think of bravery in 2017, I think of the people of Aleppo—the fighters for …
In our previous blog, we issued a call to show daring courage and take necessary risk …
Biggest ministry lesson from 2016: True bravery
Flourish unintentionally started a New Year’s tradition by discussing valuable lessons learned in the previous year. …
You know you’re a pastor’s wife if…
It’s happened to all of us. People say and do some unusual things. Things can get …
The healthy practice of letting go
Not only did Jesus set an example of being sent. He also set an example of …
“As the Father sent me so send I you” (John 20:21). Sent is a word straight from …
Four grace-filled responses to the Jen Hatmaker conversation
Surely this headline caught your attention: “The politics of Jen Hatmaker: Trump, Black Lives Matter, gay …
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Why time away from your church is a good thing
Today finds me sitting on a lava rock in the middle of the North Atlantic Ocean. …
Seven things you might not learn in seminary: Part 2
We are talking about the hard parts of ministry [part 1] that you may not have …
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Seven things you might not learn in seminary: Part 1
When my husband and I married, we were packed and ready for seminary. I felt prepared …
Seven things you might not learn in seminary: Part 1 Read More »
The pen is in your hand, the card opened and yet you are paralyzed. What should …
Understanding the economic divide in the Church
I had no understanding, prior to my life in ministry, that socioeconomic class is a powerful …
The emotions in a time of transition
Ron Edmonson’s website is rich with leadership and ministerial wisdom. This recent post on moving caught my eye as he …
How to support missionaries on the front lines
One of Christianity’s most compelling mission stories is that of William Carey, called “the father of …
9 ways to tell the difference between a prayer warrior and a gossip
I love reading anything Chuck Lawless writes. This insightful piece nails something we all know is true. Chuck …
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Lessons learned from Amy Carmichael
While looking through some old books recently, I happened across a beloved Christian classic, one I …
Why family stories are important in ministry
Stories stick. People remember them. Let’s not kid ourselves both as parents and leaders. We may …
Why solely giving to the church is dangerous
As a pastor’s wife, I’m prone to think of church in certain terms, and it’s mostly …
Learning to celebrate the difficult journey
We checked no. Well, let me back up for just a moment. God gave us Alex …
Eight ways to comfort the suffering soul
When suffering happens to leaders we begin to comfort others differently. Our own journey informs our …
The Benefit of the Bird’s Eye View
Not long ago I listened as another pastor’s wife confided some problems she was facing. It …
Three Ways to Encourage Others with Your Suffering
Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion …
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Five practices of an emotionally mature leader
When you think of emotional maturity what do you think of? Do you think of someone …
“When we arrived in Macedonia there was no rest for us. Outside there was conflict from …
The Pep Talk You Need To Hear Today
“We are pressed on every side by troubles, but we are not crushed and broken. We …
The Biggest Ministry Lesson from 2015: Loving the Foreigner
Flourish will continue a New Year practice of identifying a specific critical ministry lesson from the …
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The Best Pastor’s Wife Advice I Ever Received
We’re re-posting some of our favorite blog posts from 2015. This might just be our most commented …
How to Deal with Being Far From Family
“Come over to Macedonia to help us.” Macedonia? Let me translate that for you: “far from family.” …
How to Deal with that Mean Church Member
Recently, I’ve been asked more times than I can count if I have any insight as …
When the Pastor’s Wife Goes Back to Work
Leaving behind our house of vomiting children, I went for a quiet walk on a beautiful …
How Generosity Affects My Ministry
When we first started in ministry, I heard a lot about the pastor’s wife as the …
How To Survive A Ministry Transition
Still relishing the warmth of my blankets, I am snuggled among my down pillows willing the …
An Open Letter: I Don’t Have it All Together
Dear Friend, I got your message. I hate what happened to you this past week. You …
“Get out your cell phones.” When is that ever said in a gathering? During the annual …
When You Feel Like a Hypocrite on Sunday Morning
My husband and I had a truly awful weekend together. I wish I could blame it …
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Why I’m Rewriting My Task List Today
I’m a “get it done” kind of girl. Make the lunches. Do the laundry. Plan the …
Events You Need to Know about at the 2015 Southern Baptist Convention
Each year, at the annual gathering of Southern Baptists, there are events that women need to …
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To The Woman Who Knows Too Much
What’s healthy is 64 ounces of water a day. What’s healthy is exercising several days a …
The Parable of the Peep Toe Shoe
I have a confession. Granted, I will never be confused as a fashionista—my wardrobe far too …
For When You’re Paralyzed by Planning
I’m not one to make rash decisions. No spontaneous big purchases. No impetuous schedule changes. I’m what …
When I was five years old, my family picked up and moved from southern Georgia to …
I need a break from all of you and all of it! Or maybe everything needs …
Dealing with Conflict in Ministry
Conflict in ministry. It happens. Someone will betray you. A volunteer will let you down. A …
I love everything about Christmas…Music, decorations, gift giving, and get-togethers! I feel so close to Jesus, …
Penguins? Yes, penguins. In the past two years I have been beating this drum to ministry …
I am not a good cook but I can usually bake sweets. “Why cook when I …
We all had our preconceived ideas of what being a Pastor’s wife would be like. What …
Liberating Ministry From the Success Syndrome
I have rarely read a book about ministry that is as candid and straightforward as this …
My life includes zero exposure to military culture so I rarely think in that genre. Yet …
Seven Inescapable Realities of Small-Town Ministry (Part 2)
Small-town life can be very isolating for the ministry family. There is also great potential for …
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Seven Inescapable Realities of Small Town Ministry
In the short time my husband has been a pastor, we’ve served in several small-town churches. …
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Eight Thoughts on Serving in the Local Church
You should serve in the local church. It is dangerous to assume all ministry wives serve. There may …
She sighed and said, “So…how do I tell him?” My friend had confided that her husband …
DO’S AND DON’TS OF SOCIAL MEDIA Pt 2
Social media is like anything else – it can be used for good or for evil, …
DO’S AND DON’TS OF SOCIAL MEDIA Pt 1
Social media has radically altered the cultural landscape. As ministry wives, we have an unparalleled opportunity …
Fight to Remember Your Purpose
The day after I deep clean has historically been a very rough one. I cringe (on …
The Lonely Pastor and His Wife
How can someone who is almost never alone be lonely? Unfortunately, no one prepared me for …
“I’m seeing someone else.” I spoke the words with a tremble in my voice. I didn’t …
Seven Inescapable Choices Pastor’s Wives Face
We are not haplessly at the mercy of our emotions or our circumstances. We have choices. …