Written by Becky Badry
Ministers and their wives are often the last to mention their needs or ask for help. What kind of support system do you have for yourself or for other ministers' wives you know? If you don't know what's available in your area for ministers' wives to support and encourage one another, God might be leading you to start a local support system for ministry wives.
If that sounds interesting, take a look at three steps you can take toward starting such a support group if God leads you in that direction:
1. Know your purpose.
A support group is simply peers - in your case, ministers' wives - who meet
on a regular basis for the purpose of encouragement, support, and nurturing.
One thing to clear up on the front end is that your group will not want to become simply a "gripe session." While you are there to listen to needs and hurts to support one another, it's important to keep interaction authentic, encouraging, and moving toward growth and progress. Share the positive issues about being a minister's wife as well as the difficult ones.
Also, pay attention to the issue of confidentiality, making sure that any ladies who would be in this potential group feel safe confiding in each other (assuming no one is sharing accounts of illegal or life-threatening circumstances). For ministers' wives, sharing within the church and even within the community must be done with discretion and good judgment.
2. Start small.
Your group doesn't have to include a long list of women you don't
know. Begin by contacting just two or three ministers' wives in
your own church. Then consider all the churches in your area. Regardless of
denomination, staff position, church size or structure, the realities of
ministry are the same for ministers' wives. Don't be afraid to reach out.
3. Do simple things together.
Beginning this type of support group doesn't have to call for elaborate
planning and events. Many groups are springing up according to the needs
and desires of the ladies involved. Before planning anything, talk to
ministers' wives you know to find out their needs and think of ways you can
serve one another.
Your times together as a support system can be spent doing anything from having a girls' night out to going through a book or Bible study together. Pray and see where the Lord leads!