I made an observation recently, and found it interesting when a friend said something similar to …
Resources for Planter Wives
Five ways to engage: the campus
1. Reach students with depth. As we engaged the campus a generation or two ago, we …
Five ways to engage: the suburbs
In recent years, increased attention has been given to the city centers of our world. This …
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 …
1. Learn the city.Find the best sources for learning about your city. There are likely newspapers, …
What I wish I had known about moving
Most of us in ministry will move several times during our careers and lifetimes. We will …
What I wish I’d known about friendship
As a young ministry wife, I was totally unprepared for the requisite sacrifice required of me …
Why you need to talk to your kids about race
“Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he …
What I wish I had known about forgiving others
I never thought I had an issue with forgiveness. I mean, in my sheltered life, I’ve …
I’ll admit it…I care what people think about me. Oh, I talk a big game 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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There are few things that will get you out of your comfort zone more than planting …
Walking alongside the mom of a special needs child
My heart has been heavy for moms who walk that special path—one that seems mostly up …
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In Tuesday’s post, we discussed identifying the needs of your community. Recognizing opportunities to show mercy …
Needs are all around us. Some are obvious and overwhelmingly urgent, such as a crisis situation. …
A growing trend in evangelical circles is the emphasis on being socially conscious, which includes caring …
Be mean about the vision. Wondering what I’m talking about, today? Vision. Tenacity. Determination. The ability …
I know different planters and pastors have different strategies for the ministry of the Word–topical or …
When we first started City Church, we had one weekly worship gathering. I would have a …
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 …
The city needs christians to dwell in its midst
Living in the city is hard. There are more inconveniences and risks. It’s a fact. (Why …
The life-preserving comfort of a godly friend
“When we arrived in Macedonia there was no rest for us. Outside there was conflict from …
The Planter’s Wife in Community: Challenges
Odds are, when your wife joined you on the journey of church planting, she left her …
The Planter’s Wife in Community: Intentionality and Cultivation
Community requires intentionality and cultivation Think of something that happens quickly. A roller coaster ride. A …
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The Planter’s Wife in Community: Openness and Vulnerability
For the first eight years of our ministry at an established church, I didn’t have a …
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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 …
The Planter’s Wife in Community
She Needs Community “Lonely and isolated” are words that many ministry leaders, male and female, use …
Showing up in both the joyous and the ugly
Just show up. Ministry life can be joyous. We have the privilege of being present at …
The key to being a resilient leader
“We are pressed on every side by troubles, but we are not crushed and broken. We …
Looking at the true root of relational stress
For a long time I have allowed myself to become extremely emotional as I have parented …
Redefining Success: City Transformation
Insignificance. Most of our nightmares revolve around this. We all want to know we are making …
Redefining Success: Family Culture
What makes a church successful? Is it the number of those who attend the weekly gathering, …
The importance of family rituals
The word spooked me out for the longest time. Rituals. I couldn’t help but think of …
How to have successful gospel conversations
We’ve all been there. Or even if you haven’t, people in your church have. You start …
We love drawing your attention to great resources. Today we are interviewing fellow ministry wife Holly …
When I got pregnant in early 2010, I feared that something was wrong with our baby. …
Ready, Set, Go—Equipping Sending Churches pt. 3
Some years ago, the movie “Chariots of Fire” introduced the world to an Olympic champion and …
Learning to celebrate the difficult journey
We checked no. Well, let me back up for just a moment. God gave us Alex …
Ready, Set, Go—Equipping Sending Churches pt. 2
Running has never been really fun for me unless it was an actual race. Although I …
Eight ways to comfort the suffering soul
When suffering happens to leaders we begin to comfort others differently. Our own journey informs our …
Ready, Set, Go—Equipping Sending Churches
I have been running marathons for almost 15 years now. It’s amazing how the sport of …
When Suffering Produces Endurance
…the testing of your faith produces endurance…” (James 1:3) Several years ago, our daughter and her …
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 …
Chauffeuring children to frequent doctor’s appointments, therapy, and extracurricular activities; spending hours reteaching school material to …
No matter how great of a minister, husband, leader or father he is, he’s not immune …
wrote the blog below on the 10th anniversary of my husband Rick Ferguson’s death in a …
Yesterday I was talking to a good friend about his next ministry assignment and what is …
How to face adversity and anxiety
Adversity is wrapped up in anxiety. Where there is trouble, there is also fear, worry, fretfulness …
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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Lessons learned from church planting
My friend Jenny was over recently, and my youngest son bounded into the room. He’s getting …
Don’t be surprised: on facing struggle, adversity, and suffering
Today we launch a new series on how to endure adversity, struggle, and loss well. Suffering and hardship …
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The importance of prioritizing as a church planter
This summer I stood in front of a room full of church planting wives and took …
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Why spousal support from pastors is important
One of the more pleasant surprises of this blog the past few years is the opportunity …
The Maturing of Self-forgetfulness
This blog by Michael Kelly was posted on my last birthday. I read and reread this …
In the last post I shared that the first theological distinction deals with the missionary nature …
In part one I explained that when I am asked to define the word “missional” I …
Four truths to fight the anger monster
Aisle Two was not the place to be this morning. Today at WalMart, I heard a …
For nine years I taught a course on evangelism at a small Christian college. There was …
How teaching high schoolers has made me a better mom
I recently learned of some heavy heartache a student of mine is carrying quietly upon his …
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Five cross-cultural lessons for families in public school
My 11-year-old daughter, Alli, looked anxious. It was sixth-grade summer orientation — her first year of …
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At the Pastor’s Wives conference of the SBC this summer, we had a helpful conversation with Faith Whatley, …
Three Sure Ways to Squander Your Influence
Our influence is temporary. It was given to us by God. It can be taken away. …
Five practices of an emotionally mature leader
When you think of emotional maturity what do you think of? Do you think of someone …
The Strength of a Reluctant Leader
Do people look to you to solve problems or provide the answers or direction needed to accomplish …
Leaders work smarter, not harder
A picture is worth a thousand words. Right? So what words does this one say? Uhhh, …
Five prayers to pray for your husband
Strength in the midst of discouragement Lord, I pray that my husband would turn immediately to …
He crushes me- when leaders lament
Chauffeuring children to frequent doctor’s appointments, therapy, and extracurricular activities; spending hours reteaching school material to …
The Importance of Vulnerability in Leadership
I have consistently made an effort to ‘be who I am’ and not ‘put on a …
Send Network Orientation: Planter Spouse Care
Kathy Litton, NAMB’s national consultant for ministry to pastor’s wives, hosted the panel consisting of Pam …
Generosity: Building a Generous Church
Encouraging generosity in the church is a matter I believe I can speak to because it …
Your Blind Spot Is Only Blind to You
For our series on leadership we are reposting this old blog on blindspots. Leaders, especially ones that …
John Bunyan once said, “You have not lived today until you have done something for someone …
The Resilient Leader: Don’t Quit
Did you know that 2 Corinthians is actually Paul’s 4th letter to that church? Since I’ve been …
The Disciplined Leader: Saying “No” When Necessary
One afternoon last fall, as I put the clean laundry away, I fell to the floor …
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“When we arrived in Macedonia there was no rest for us. Outside there was conflict from …
Not long ago I listened as another pastor’s wife confided some problems she was facing. It …
Leadership: committed to a cause
Cause – a principle, idea, goal or movement to which a person or group is dedicated. …
Most of us want to be leaders. We want to make our mark for Christ and …
Three Insights on Building a Team
Last year I started a ministry to internationals at our church. We live in the suburbs …