By Faith With Christine Hoover

Sometimes unmet expectations seem to pop up everywhere in our lives. We experience hardship or failure in life and ministry over and over again. Today, author and pastor’s wife Lisa Hughes teaches us how to reshape our thinking regarding unmet expectations. She shares that we need to not only expect the hard things, but also accept that the Lord is always doing what seems good to Him. We can find joy in the hardship while drawing closer to Jesus when faced with unmet expectations, choosing to obey Him even when it’s hard.  SHOW NOTES Identifying an unmet expectation often means identifying a sin in your heart where you’re not thinking rightly about God or what He’s doing in your life.  Reshaping our thinking means letting the Lord do what seems good to Him and aligning our thoughts to match Scripture. You have to decide how to respond to unmet expectations: with despair or with belief and obedience to God.  QUOTES “It is the Lord, let Him do what seems good to Him. He’s given me this little

Life in a parachurch ministry often looks very different from life in other ministries, but the goal is always the same: live as a minister of the gospel. Rachel Shelton and her husband were called to minister full time at TBarM Camps in Texas. Rachel describes the joys and challenges of camp life, and how her family focuses on doing life with others as they point them to Christ.  SHOW NOTES Camp ministry allows campers to experience God in a unique environment where everyone is living outside their normal life.  Life at camp allows leadership to teach college students about pouring into others even when they feel completely empty.  No matter what ministry you serve in, strive to integrate the different areas of your life. You are called to minister the gospel everywhere.  QUOTES “We’re learning to be who we are as we relate to the students and share what the Lord is doing. They’re not looking for people older than them to try to connect and be real young and hip. They’re just lo

Ministry often stretches us to grow in ways we never imagined, some that are hard but many that can bring us deep joy. Raising children in a completely different culture for missions is no different. Missionary wife, author, and podcaster Keri Folmar joins me to shine light on the joys she experienced raising missionary children. She shares how God used their upbringing on a different continent to teach them about hospitality towards all and the unity that comes from Christ alone.  SHOW NOTES No matter what culture the Lord calls you to, parenting has joys and challenges. Embrace both and lean on Him.  One of the greatest joys in missions is allowing your children to see the unity that comes from Christ, not from culture.  The most important thing your children can see is you living for Christ and loving Him above all else, not living for your ministry.   QUOTES “The thing with being in a church like this, we don’t have any culture to unite us, but we’re united in the Lord Jesus Christ

Clint and Jennifer Clifton spent their lives planting churches as well as pouring themselves into training and encouraging planters and their wives all over the globe. Jennifer joins the podcast to talk about the legacy of her late husband and how she sees the Lord opening opportunities for her to continue to encourage ministry wives just like us. Jennifer also shares her unique perspective on helping marriage and family thrive within the framework of full-time ministry. QUOTES “What our roles are depends on what season we’re in. If we’ve got a bunch of little kids, it’s really hard to be super involved, but if your kids are older, it may be a little easier. Our roles change with seasons. It’s important for church planter wives to recognize that and be encouraged in that. And husbands need to recognize that about their wives and help them recognize what seasons they’re in and how they best can be used in that season.” -Jennifer Clifton “We just involved our kids

Finding your place in ministry as a pastor’s wife or ministry wife can leave you feeling frustrated and stuck. You might feel constrained by expectations in your church, confused about where you are being called, or feeling stuck because a role you used to fulfill is no longer needed. Pastor’s wife and podcaster Angie Brown Elkins joins me today to share how she has reinvented herself in ministry over the years and how changing her thoughts around “calling” has allowed her to always find ways to serve God.   SHOW NOTES Sometimes finding your place means saying “yes” to God, even if it means reinventing yourself and starting something new. Your calling is ultimately to make disciples and love your neighbors. There is always a way to minister in those areas. If you feel stuck, challenge yourself to do something you’ve never done before and commit to it. QUOTES “God will let you serve him if you will just say yes to whatever He’s asking, and maybe it will look completely different at times. You

As ministry wives, it’s far too easy to put ourselves inside a glass bubble with expectations that God does not desire for us. First and foremost, God calls us to be faithful Christians and church members. Pastor’s wife Jeanine Sanchez shares how she teaches other ministry wives to examine the motivations behind their internal and external expectations, focusing on God’s intentions for them in ministry, and how to walk in the inevitable disappointment of others.  SHOW NOTES Examine internal and external expectations through prayer and intentionality, asking God to reveal the true intentions of your heart, always seeking the counsel of your husband. There will be seasons where God’s expectations will stretch you beyond comfort, but He won’t keep you there forever. People will have unmet expectations of you. Disciple them by responding with humility and help them think rightly. QUOTES “At the end of it, you can’t be all things to all people. Think back to the Messiah complex. You are one

It can be difficult to fully understand the life of a pastor’s wife without being a pastor’s wife. But understanding this role can help us not only be more compassionate with one another as ministry wives, but also show us how we can better serve one another. Caroline Saunders has been a pastor’s wife for the last 14 years and shares with us the difficulties, the joys, and even some of the hilarious moments she’s encountered along the way. SHOW NOTES Pastors’ wives have to learn to endure and persevere in building up the church even when they don’t agree with the decisions being made by their husbands or the elders. Relationships are harder to navigate because of the nature of their husband’s job and the complexities that go along with the areas of overlap. Bless your pastor’s wife by asking God to help you see ways that she is unseen, and encourage her in those areas. QUOTES “This is the thing that’s teaching me faithfulness, the beauty of the body of Christ and how I must not let secondary

When Covid hit, none of us could have imagined how far reaching its effects would be, nor for how long we would be grappling with the various issues raised by its influence in our lives. Toronto Send Relief Ministry Centre Director and church planter’s wife Kimberley McGibbon shares how Covid forever changed her life and ministry. She explains how God used Covid to return her identity to Christ, pushed her to reach out to others amidst isolation, and opened her eyes to the new opportunities for discipleship within her city. SHOW NOTES Isolation is deadly. Humble yourself and be willing to be welcomed by other ministry wives for much needed love and support. Allow yourself to grieve when people leave, but take that grief to Jesus. He knows better than anyone what it’s like to be left. Covid has made unchurched people question life like never before. The harvest is ripe for the church to minister in their cities! QUOTES “In the past 20 years, lots of times people have left for different reasons. Som

In its most basic form, Women’s Ministry isn’t about fancy events or complicated Bible studies; it’s about meeting women’s needs where they are. Lifeway Women’s Ministry Specialist Kelly King shares how we can create a lifestyle of women’s ministry that helps get women in the Word, providing encouragement and creating a deeply desired community. Kelly also gives us some practical ideas for troubleshooting challenges that may arise, along with basic leadership principles to help us grow as ministry wives in leadership.  SHOW NOTES Successful women’s ministries are centered on God’s Word and create an atmosphere of friendship and authenticity. When trying to start a new women’s ministry, look at the needs of the women in your church and community. How can you encourage them and lead them towards Jesus? If you are willing to listen to feedback, the Lord can help change you to love and lead others better. QUOTES “Number one, women need encouragement. So start there. How are we encouraging women, but a

Love one another. Serve one another. The New Testament is full of commandments instructing us to engage in relationships with one another, including those of the opposite sex. The church must battle against the lie that men and women cannot operate as friends and recover brother-sister relationships within the body of Christ. Close friends and colleagues Jen Wilkin and JT English share today how their friendship is based on mutual respect and trust, the importance of spiritual maturity in this area, and how the church can become stronger and more effective by embracing biblical male/female friendships. SHOW NOTES We need to recover friendship between brothers and sisters in the church, encouraging one another, celebrating each other, and elevating one another’s gifts. Biblical friendship is dependent upon trust, respect, and spiritual maturity. Continue to offer the hand of friendship even in spaces where you don’t feel entirely welcome. QUOTES “The lie that has been told to a generation, not just

Churches all over the world are dying and God longs to see His churches revitalized, brought back to life, thriving as lights for the Kingdom. But along with the excitement of revitalization can come burnout from the intense emotional, physical, spiritual, and mental work of revitalization. Today, Andrea Valenti shares how she has walked through the highs of revitalization and the lows of burnout, learning to ask others for help and asking Jesus to revitalize her heart.    SHOW NOTES Revitalization requires patience, active listening, and meeting people where they are. Burnout can look like numbness, mental and physical fatigue, irritated responses, and a feeling of being overwhelmed. Try to prevent burnout through healthy boundaries and habits, but if it hits, seek counsel from other ministry wives and resources like the SEND Network. QUOTES “Part of the issue is that sometimes there’s so much stigma in discussing the reality of burnout and other mental health concerns. There’s almost

Life as a church planter is rewarding and encouraging, but also spiritually, emotionally, and physically exhausting. It’s easy to completely burn out when we aren’t intentionally engaging in the rest Jesus commands us to take. Vance and Kristie Pitman share today how God brought them into a season of forced rest. What they found on the other side was trust in Jesus’ work in His church, stronger family rhythms, and freedom. SHOW NOTES Rest is as spiritual as work and a command that comes from Jesus Himself. Ask trusted believers to be gatekeepers in your life, protecting you from over-committing and forcing you to take times of rest. The primary call on our lives is not ministry; it’s intimacy with Jesus. QUOTES “We had to learn that rest is as spiritual as work. Jesus told the disciples to ‘Come away with me and rest for a while.’ In the Greek language, it’s an imperative, meaning rest is a matter of spiritual obedience.” -Vance Pitman “The primary call on our lives is intimacy a

The enemy hates any ministry that seeks to increase the kingdom of God. How do we recognize when we are in spiritual warfare, and how do we practically fight against it? James and Desiree Westbrook, planters of The Realm Church in Oakland, California experience immense spiritual warfare every day. They share with us how they battle warfare with Christ’s love, truth, and a right perspective, remaining dedicated to preaching the gospel no matter how the enemy attacks.  SHOW NOTES Spiritual warfare is anything designed by the enemy that seeks to derail, discourage, or destroy. Shift your perspective past what’s directly in front of you. There is a correlation between suffering and greatness in the kingdom of God. Fight warfare by gathering to pray, filling your mind with encouraging spiritual content, and intentionally taking time to rest. QUOTES “We have to be reminded that there is a correlation between suffering and service that leads to greatness in the kingdom of God. So when we are going throug

In honor of Hispanic Heritage Month, this episode of the Ministry Wives podcast is being released completely in Spanish. Send Network Español is a branch of the North American Mission Board’s church planting ministry, Send Network. This ministry resources and helps support Spanish speaking church plants all over North America. Today’s episode features four Spanish speaking ministry wives sharing their heart for the Lord and their communities.  If you are a Spanish speaker, this episode is for you! If you are not, I encourage you to listen to the first few minutes, praising God for His mighty work in reaching every tribe and tongue and lifting up prayers for our sisters who are serving in Spanish speaking ministries.  Conmemorando el Mes de la Herencia Hispana, este episodio del pódcast Ministry Wives ha sido lanzado completamente en español. Send Network Español es una rama del ministerio de plantación de iglesias de la North American Mission Board, Send Network. Este ministerio provee recursos y apoya las pl

Seeds of bitterness can grow in our hearts for a myriad of reasons. Our own insecurities, criticisms, and the sheer volume of tasks that need to be completed can harden our hearts towards those we’ve been called to serve. We can even be tempted to harden our hearts towards God in the midst of difficult ministry seasons. Author and Discipleship Director Amy Gannett shares the work God has done in her heart, teaching her to humble herself before Him and softening her heart for others and the work of ministry.  SHOW NOTES The enemy is the number one reason there is a fight against bitterness. He wants your heart to harden. God wants your heart to be tender, so pray confidently that He will soften it! When practicing forgiveness feels unfair, remember that God knows your story and fights for you and that you are held in the nail-pierced hand of a Savior who knows what you are feeling. QUOTES “So much of the weight we bear on our shoulders and carry in our hearts in ministry is unseen. Part of that is God

Sinful comparison and competition can creep quickly into our hearts when we aren’t focused on Jesus. It’s easy to look at what other women are doing (or even what our husband is doing) and begin to compare what is “lacking” in our own life and ministry. On today’s episode, pastor’s wife Carla Sibley explains how God has taught her to shut down the world and turn her eyes on Jesus, refusing to give a foothold to the division that comparison and competition create.  SHOW NOTES Put on blinders towards the world, turn your eyes on Jesus, and ask Him to give you new eyes for your life. There’s no comparison or competition in God’s eyes. He has specifically gifted you and placed you where He can use you. Combat competition with transparency and by cheering other believers on in their ministries. QUOTES “What was purchased for me through Christ is so much more than anything earthly, anything temporary. So I don’t have to cling to those things I think I need or want, the accomplishments or the recog

When we look around our communities, we so often see the suffering of those living in poverty and homelessness. The fear of not knowing what to do frequently keeps us from doing anything. Cassie Hammett, Executive Director of The Hub Urban Ministries, shares how Jesus radically changed her heart for those in distress in her city. She explains how we can engage in our own communities, building friendships, meeting needs and allowing God to steer our ministries. SHOW NOTES Radical ministry can start when you allow Jesus to radically transform your heart. The fuel of community ministry is friendship. Once you know someone, you will better know what their needs are and how to meet them. Remove fear from encounters with those in need by taking practical steps to be prepared. QUOTES “I think what keeps people from engaging with individuals in different socioeconomic levels is that there’s an assumption of, ‘We are so different. There’s this chasm between me and her.’ We also make

If we want to reach the culture around us with the good news of Jesus, we must first understand that culture and the motivations of those who live in it. Author Trevin Wax joins the podcast to explain how we as ministry wives can learn about the specific culture around us, enabling us to connect with and draw others to Christ.    SHOW NOTES As you get to know someone, ask deeper questions that help you understand how they narrate their life, where their desires lie, and what drives their anxiety. We must be reaching into the culture while building a strong culture within our homes and churches to invite others into. We are all leaders; we have all been given a sphere of influence. Determine what your sphere is and be intentional with how you cultivate it. QUOTES “Sometimes we think of culture as something out there that we are to engage with. But we don’t recognize that we are to make and create culture in our own families and churches. That in itself is a really powerful way of demonstratin

Sometimes God calls us into a new season of life and ministry when we least expect it. Navigating decisions about those new seasons can be scary and stressful, but ultimately, God wants us to lay it all at His feet. Emay Yeng shares today how she and her husband John navigated God calling them into vocational ministry from the corporate world. Emay and John learned to prayerfully walk into their new season, seeking unity of spirit and trusting that Jesus is better.

Life as a ministry wife doesn’t always look like radical revivals. Often it’s staying home while your husband leaves to minister to others or answers nonstop phone calls that interrupt family time. Unless you’re constantly lifting your eyes heavenward, it can be difficult to see eternal reward in the daily grind. Grace VanMaanen joins me today to share how prayer, intentionality, and a heavenly perspective protect her from bitterness as a ministry wife.  EPISODE GUIDE Praying for one another creates intimacy, even when physically separated. Be intentional about talking with your spouse about one another’s needs, both at home and apart. Use the time that your spouse is doing ministry to engage in kingdom work of your own. BEST QUOTES “I think that’s what we forget: there is eternal blessing in the sacrifice. It’s that John 12:24 principle of a kernel of wheat falls to ground and dies and it produces many seeds. There’s fruit that’s born from that death, Christ being th