By Faith With Christine Hoover

How can women who have the gift of leadership operate in the church in a godly, biblical way? Today, author and ministry director Jen Wilkin shares her origin story–how she got where she is today–what her greatest challenges are in leadership, and what she wants the church to know about men and women serving together within the local church context. SHOW NOTES 1. If you want to use your gifting to lead in the church and the answer is currently “no”, continue to pray for open doors. 2. When your church is starting to place women in leadership, expect growing pains, but remember God intended for men and women to minister together. 3. Being who God created you to be is not a license to sin. BEST QUOTES “If there are not currently doors open, pray that the Lord will make a way and continue to put yourself out there as you’re able to. I know how hard that is, to be met again and again with “no.” But there is good, meaningful, and satisfying work to be done in other spaces if that door is cl

The demands of life as a ministry wife can leave our hearts open to dangerous traps that bruise our spirits and discourage us in ministry. Today, Paige Wieser shares her experiences as a church planting wife and offers ways she’s learned to avoid these traps. EPISODE GUIDE Trap #1: Ministry is a taking endeavor; it’s taking everything from me. Trap #2: This is my husband’s “thing.” Trap #3: Hard seasons never end. This painful time will always be this way. BEST QUOTES “Satan wants to plant a root of bitterness that says, ‘Oh this is taking so much from me emotionally, timewise, and spiritually.’ But we should not be surprised or caught off guard, because church planting is actually a giving endeavor. When you start seeing it as a taking endeavor, there’s a lot of pitfalls and traps that come from that.” — Paige Wieser “Can’t we sometimes be dramatic, us girls? ‘This will always be like this, I’m never going to see the end of it.’ There will be hard.

The pressures of performing well as a ministry or pastor’s wife often fill us with anxiety. It’s easy to become lost in expectations and turn our eyes on ourselves. Author Scarlet Hiltibidal joins me today to discuss anxiety as a pastor’s wife. Scarlet, a self-proclaimed anxiety expert, shares how she fights fear with a heavenly gaze and an open Bible. EPISODE GUIDE 1. Anxiety whispers different fears to every woman’s heart. 2. There’s nothing wrong with wanting to be a good ministry wife and mother, but it’s not about you, keep looking upward to Jesus. 3. We’re all a mess; take it to the Lord together, open His Word and do what it says. BEST QUOTES “I was so anxious about my own goodness and what other people thought of me and what God thought of me. I could have said to you, ‘God sees the perfection of Jesus when He looks at me,’ but I didn’t live like I believed that, so I wasn’t at peace.” — Scarlet Hiltibidal “When I do something good, it’

“We love because He first loved us” (1 John 4:19, NIV). But how do we love like Jesus did, and how do we love those who are hard to love? Pascha Lee, director of Imagine Me Ministries, has dedicated her life to loving people well and creating an environment of safety for those in her community. She joins me today to help us think through how we can demonstrate the love of Jesus to everyone, including those we might find difficult to love. EPISODE GUIDE 1. Create a climate of comradery and safety. 2. When you think about who He has entrusted you with to love, it has to change your perspective. 3. Some people are harder to love than others. BEST QUOTES “It’s in safety that we can thrive, when we can peel off the layers, when we can be encouraged and then encourage others … that’s where forgiveness takes place. If you don’t have that safety, then there’s a guard and you can’t really have camaraderie and unity and get along well because you’re trying to make sure that not

“The point of life is not to get married. The point of life is to walk well with Jesus.” My guest today, Erin Berkey, shares these words as a core principle in the single adult ministry she and her husband lead. Far too often within the church, singles are overlooked and left behind. Erin joins me to offer practical, loving ways that we as ministry wives can build singles up in Christ while inviting them into our lives and into leadership. EPISODE GUIDE 1. Recognize that singles have different needs than families or married couples. 2. Create space for singles in the church by encouraging them to take part in ministry and valuing them as much as married couples. 3. Bridge the gap between married and single women by inviting them into your life and sharing your journey with Christ. Set the example and urge others to do the same. BEST QUOTES “Young adults need to understand their identity in Christ because it’s hard not to find identity in the wrong things, like their marital status. ‘Once I g

Serving in traditional ministry can sometimes make us forget the effectiveness of genuine friendship and neighborhood outreach. Missional communities, like the one today’s guest Linda Yang lives in, provide an opportunity to live out daily life on mission within your local neighborhood. Linda is an employment specialist with World Relief Chicagoland, working with newly settled Afghan refugees. She joins me to share how she and her family have seen God open hearts through simple acts of kindness and banana bread. EPISODE GUIDE 1. What are the essentials of the missional community model of church? 2. Living in a missional community means thinking outside the traditional box. 3. Sometimes God’s mightiest work happens when we are simply being a friend. BEST QUOTES “A missional community is a group that is faithfully present among specific people with the intention of making new disciples of Jesus. It is a spiritual family on mission together, investing in relationships wherever God calls us.” —

We want to be everything for everyone all the time. We see the needs of others and want to intervene, even when we aren’t meant to. How do we determine which needs are ours to meet, and which are not? Aimee Joseph joins me today to share how she has found freedom in deciphering when a need is a call for action. Aimee spent many years directing women’s discipleship and ministry at Redeemer Presbyterian Church and Campus Outreach San Diego. She and her husband are currently planting Center City Church in their neighborhood in San Diego. She is the author of Demystifying Decision-Making. Aimee helps us understand that we sometimes need to say “no” to a need to glorify God and activate the Body. EPISODE GUIDE 1. How do we discern when the need is a call? First, recognize that God created us to be limited, exhaustible, and dependent on each other and Him. Determine each week what is in your circle of responsibility and what is in your circle of concern. If you see a need you are unable to meet, connect the need to

It’s easy to support women whose lives and ministries look like ours, but the body of Christ is made up of unique believers and various roles of Kingdom work. As ministry wives, we have the unique opportunity to support other women, no matter how different their ministry or season of life is from ours. Amy Dodd shares today about her life as a single woman working full-time in a parachurch ministry. Amy serves with Athletes In Action, a sports ministry of Cru, in Raleigh, NC. She’s been with AIA since 2009, and now ministers at Shaw University and NC State. Amy has a passion for seeing others understand and grow in the love of God, and her unique position in parachurch ministry allows her to share the gospel with collegiate athletes. Amy joins me to discuss the joys and challenges of parachurch ministry and serving as a single woman. EPISODE GUIDE 1. Walk alongside women in ministries that are different from yours. Ask questions, offer support, speak truth, and pray. Seek to find ways to partner. If you

Jesus called us to go and make disciples of all the nations, but how do we as ministry wives put that call into action? How do we come alongside other women, walking with Jesus and doing life together? Kandi Gallaty provides valuable insight into the importance of meditating on the Word, listening to the Spirit and committing ourselves to one another on this holy journey of discipleship. Kandi Gallaty is an author, speaker, pastor’s wife, and boy mom. She and her husband have been serving the Lord in full time ministry for the past 18 years and currently live outside Nashville, TN. Kandi joins me today to discuss being a disciple of Christ and making disciples for Christ. EPISODE GUIDE 1. Commit to living as a true disciple of Christ. Get alone with Jesus everyday: find a cozy little nook and get in the Word. Jesus has something to say to you. Listen and His Spirit will speak. When you fill yourself with Christ, investing in others will be the natural effect of that commitment. “I always encourage other

When God calls us into ministry, our fears can outweigh our excitement to serve the Lord. These fears can paralyze and keep us from the fullness of His grace. Nira Abella knows the gripping power of fear, and the freedom that comes from surrendering it to Christ. Today, she shares how Christ has helped her overcome fears in ministry, allowing her to extend the same grace she was given to others. Nira Abella is married to Jose, a pastor, and together they serve at Providence Road Church in Miami, Florida. In addition to raising their six children, Nira enjoys working in the women’s ministry at their church. EPISODE GUIDE  1. Common fears we face as ministry wives: “My past is so sinful. What if it hinders the ministry?” “What about my family? How will we afford to live in this calling, and how can I protect my children as we serve?” “I’m so limited in my abilities. How do I minister to who God has called me to? “I think most pastor’s wives come to this point where they

Practicing biblical hospitality is a vital skill for ministry wives and all Christians to cultivate but can sometimes seem daunting. Amber Williams has a heart for hospitality and shares with me how she and her family live a life of welcome. She offers us practical (and simple) ways we, too, can honor others with our presence. Amber has been a pastor’s wife for almost 13 years and lives in Louisville, Kentucky with her husband and five beautiful children. She speaks Spanish and loves cooking and baking, but more than anything, enjoys opening her home to people from every walk of life. EPISODE GUIDE  1. Biblical hospitality is not a picture perfect home and an elaborate meal. Hospitality is about making time and space for people, whether there’s a meal, coffee, or simple conversation. Do not underestimate the power of presence. When we make space in our busy lives for others, it speaks volumes. You don’t have to have a Bible study every time, but invite Jesus into the space and be sensitive to the Holy Spirit’

The difficulties of life as a ministry wife can often leave us feeling discouraged, and sometimes, when our expectations for life and ministry go unmet, we may even find ourselves feeling deep disappointment with God. My guest today, Kathy Litton, understands this feeling and joins me to discuss how we can face discouragement in ministry. Kathy lives in Mobile, AL with husband Dr. Ed Litton, pastor of Redemption Church. She knows the sting of death and the journey of loss against the backdrop of a loving Savior who proved to be faithful and good. Kathy is the Director of Planter Spouse Development at the North American Mission Board, as well as a mother and grandmother. Listen as Kathy discusses ministry wives balancing the reality of disappointment and unmet expectations with a God who is faithful even in the darkest times. EPISODE GUIDE 1. You will face unmet expectations as a planting wife in ministry. The church plant site might not be what was expected, the community response lackluster, or the planting

My name is Christine Hoover, and I’m starting a new podcast in partnership with the North American Mission Board focused on helping and encouraging ministry wives. In the Ministry Wives Podcast with Christine Hoover, you’ll hear from incredible guests who voice the issues and questions we all face in ministry. There will be “how-to” episodes on discipling women and hospitality, conversations about anxiety, longevity in ministry, and knowing which needs God is calling you to meet. We will receive insight, tools, and hope regarding those issues, reminding us of the joys of serving the Lord in ministry. I am a pastor’s wife, mom of three boys, Bible teacher, and author of six books, including The Church Planting Wife, Messy Beautiful Friendship as well as my newest release, How to Thrive as a Pastor’s Wife. This new podcast – Ministry Wives – is an extension of the resources I’ve already created and will allow us, together, to explore how ministry impacts us and how we can impact others in the

Christine closes out the season by sharing the first two chapters of her book, How to Thrive as a Pastor’s Wife.The first chapter is called Locating You, and what you can’t see in the audiobook version is a map Christine's friend Haley drew for the book. Throughout the book, this landscape architectural drawing is used to illustrate what relationships must hold our priority and how to incorporate healthy boundaries and rhythms in your life in order to help you thrive.The second chapter is called You are Anchored. It’s meant to help you know and remember your identity as you serve the Lord as a pastor’s wife.NOTE: Starting in mid-August, By Faith will evolve into The Ministry Wives Podcast with Christine Hoover, produced by NAMB. The good news is that if you’re already subscribed to By Faith, you’ll automatically see The Ministry Wives Podcast show up in your feed then. If you’re not subscribed, please do so today, so we can continue the conversation together about all the ins and outs of ministry.LINKS FROM T

Christine is joined by two guests, Irene Sun and Glenna Marshall, who talk about two different transitions in ministry: one moving to a new church and a new role and the other staying at the same church but experiencing significant change. LINKS FROM THE SHOWIrene's church // Glenna's church // Irene's books // Glenna's books // My previous episode with Irene on raising PKsCHRISTINE'S NEW BOOK FOR PASTORS' WIVESAmazon // Barnes & Noble // Lifeway // Baker Books // Christianbook.com // Find out more about the book and download the discussion guides: howtothriveasapastorswife.comREVIEW BY FAITH ON ITUNESCONNECTConnect with GlennaWebsite // Facebook // Instagram // Twitter Connect with IreneInstagram Connect with ChristineWebsite // Facebook // Instagram // Twitter // BooksSign up for Christine's monthly newsletterMusic for By Faith was created by The Silver PagesArtwork for By Faith was created by Reed Harmon

Christine talks with Marcella Hernandez, who is married to Mike, a pastor on staff at a church in Delaware. He is not the lead pastor, so Marcella speaks from an associate pastor’s wife’s perspective. She shares about facing discouragement in ministry: how we can recognize it, how we can respond to it, and how we can help our husband when he is discouraged. She also touch on a few topics along the way that may be helpful to you: being an introverted pastor’s wife and being a pastor’s wife who enjoys serving behind the scenes. LINKS FROM THE SHOWMarcella's Church, Crossroads PresbyterianCHRISTINE'S NEW BOOK FOR PASTORS' WIVESAmazon // Barnes & Noble // Lifeway // Baker Books // Christianbook.com // Find out more about the book and download the discussion guides: howtothriveasapastorswife.comLIFEWAY'S ONLINE BIBLE STUDYInfo on Seek First the Kingdom // Register for the study with LifewayREVIEW BY FAITH ON ITUNESCONNECTConnect with ChristineWebsite // Facebook // Instagram // Twitter // BooksSign up for Christin

Christine talks with Mandy Post, who moved with her husband Jason from Texas to Galway, Ireland in 2003 to plant a church. They have four children together, all of whom were born in Ireland, and they’ve served long-term there, growing and building a church, as well as growing as Christians and as cross-cultural workers. Mandy shares about how they were called overseas, what "home" means to her now, how she shares her faith with her friends, what she sees her kids experiencing as third-culture kids, and how God has helped her endure when she’s wanted to quit and pack her bags. LINKS FROM THE SHOWGalway City Church // World Venture  CHRISTINE'S NEW BOOK FOR PASTORS' WIVESAmazon // Barnes & Noble // Lifeway // Baker Books // Christianbook.com // Find out more about the book and download the discussion guides: howtothriveasapastorswife.comLIFEWAY'S ONLINE BIBLE STUDYInfo on Seek First the Kingdom // Register for the study with LifewayREVIEW BY FAITH ON ITUNESCONNECTConnect with MandyInstagramConnect with Christin

Christine talks with Christina Im,  a social worker, speaker, wife to Daniel, the Lead Pastor of Beulah Alliance Church in Edmonton, Canada. Daniel and Christina have three kids and host the IMbetween Podcast, a podcast about marriage and parenting, so she joins Christine to discuss raising PKs. We’ve all heard those horror stories about pastors’ kids who rebel or grow up to hate the church and God’s people, so we tend to worry about raising kids in the ministry. Christina shares how she is purposefully seeking to give her kids a healthy perspective on church, how she seeks to protect them from some of the hard parts of ministry, and what rhythms she and Daniel are building into the culture of their family to help her kids grow up to thrive. LINKS FROM THE SHOWChristina's church // IMBetween Podcast // The Im's Glass House Episode // NAMB // Lifeway's Online Bible StudyCHRISTINE'S NEW BOOK FOR PASTORS' WIVESAmazon // Barnes & Noble // Lifeway // Baker Books // Christianbook.com // Find out more about the book

Christine talks with Rachel Welcher, a pastor's wife living in South Dakota, about navigating church hurt and church conflict. How can we as pastors’ wives navigate situations that leave us dealing with anger, bitterness, cynicism, and sadness? Rachel addresses how we can know when we need to confront someone who has hurt us, how we can deal with hurt when we can’t confront them, how to respond when someone tells us we've hurt them, and how we can respond when it’s our husband who is hurt. LINKS FROM THE SHOWRachel and Evan's church in South Dakota // Rachel's book Talking Back to Purity Culture // Rachel's first interview on By Faith: "Unwanted Divorce"CHRISTINE'S NEW BOOK FOR PASTORS' WIVESAmazon // Barnes & Noble // Lifeway // Baker Books // Christianbook.com // Find out more about the book and download the discussion guides: howtothriveasapastorswife.comLIFEWAY'S ONLINE BIBLE STUDYInfo on Seek First the Kingdom // Register for the study with LifewayREVIEW BY FAITH ON ITUNESCONNECTConnect with RachelWebsit

Christine talks with Gregg & Kelly Matte. Gregg serves as the pastor of Houston’s First Baptist Church. The Mattes share wise advice about creating healthy rhythms of rest and renewal as individuals, as a couple, and for their family. They talk about Sabbath days, turning “off” ministry at the end of each day, and how (and why) they take sabbaticals. LINKS FROM THE SHOW Houston’s First Baptist Church // Breakaway Ministries // Gregg’s book Capture the Moment // Send Relief CHRISTINE’S NEW BOOK FOR PASTORS’ WIVES Amazon // Barnes & Noble // Lifeway // Baker Books // Christianbook.com // Find out more about the book and download the discussion guides: howtothriveasapastorswife.com LIFEWAY’S ONLINE BIBLE STUDY Info on Seek First the Kingdom // Register for the study with Lifeway REVIEW BY FAITH ON ITUNES CONNECT Connect with Gregg Facebook // Twitter Connect with Christine Website // Facebook // Instagram // Twitter // Books Sign up for Christine’s monthly newsle