Proclaimer Blog
Like a Fish Out of Water… [Summer Wives Conference]
Last week I spent 4 days at Hothorpe Hall at the PT Summer Wives Conference. [The annual residential PT for wives who have done 7 years or less in ministry]
Driving up from the centre of London I was daunted by thoughts of what this mysterious world would turn out to be like. 80 plus minister’s wives, a detailed programme containing both teaching, seminars, prayer groups and free time, as well as the presence of a handful of babies. I was fully aware that I was not in Kansas anymore. It was the great unknown and the temptation to do a U-Turn at Watford grew and grew with every painstaking mile in London traffic.
However, I soon discovered that the recesses of my imagination were far more warped than the reality itself. The four days were an absolute delight and though I was a cuckoo interloping on this conference nest, I learnt many wonderful things.
The teaching was great. Phil Sudell teaching through the life of Elijah from 1 Kings and Leonie Poole on 1 Timothy really encouraged, trained, rebuked and comforted in equal measure. The teaching alone was a joy to sit under.
The fellowship was rich and deepening, chatting to these dear women and learning about their contexts and ministries has been heart warming and greatly encouraging. These women do remarkable jobs in the midst of pressured and demanding home and church lives. They willingly share their husband’s time, energy and emotional capacity with others.
I think I have grown, through this conference, in massive admiration for my wife and wives in general who willingly walk this often lonely and unseen path. Throughout the conference I loved seeing relationships form and flourish, a place that women can share openly and honestly with others who get it, connecting with others who also see behind the curtain of pastoral ministry and there is a vulnerability that I found inspiring.
There are a great team of older ladies who do a wonderful job listening, encouraging, and praying for these younger wives, their service and efforts for the others is phenomenal. It is exciting, a rich blend of different people working in different denominations and contexts, sharing together about all they have in the Lord Jesus and the particular roles to which they have been called.
If you are reading this as a pastor in ministry, or someone training for ministry then here is my top tip. Send your wife to this conference or a conference like this. It will do them the world of good, and reciprocally your ministry together will be richer as a result.