Shepherd-Princes & Sarah’s Daughters ~ A Series of Interviews with Pastors and Their Wives in Honor of Pastor Appreciation Month 2016, (Part 1)

In honor of Pastor Appreciation Month, October’s posts will feature interviews with Born Again Christian pastors and their wives from around the world. Some I know personally, others I don’t. There are also a few interviews with preacher’s kids, (PKs).The participants represent a variety of churches- Baptist, Pentecostal, Non-denominational, Presbyterian… I will be posting several times throughout the month.

My intention is to bless ministers. I want to introduce people to the life and heart of pastors and their wives so they see them as the heroes of the faith they are, and also as people who need the love and support of their congregations. 

I believe education can bring understanding, which brings respect and appreciation for one another, maybe even make us pray a little more for each other. The churches featured range from small struggling pioneer works to established larger ones on three different continents.There is no compare factor here as far as I’m concerned as we’re all called to do what God calls us to, and there is nothing better than fulfilling what God has for each of us. I believe there is no insignificant task when we are in God’s will, but all our loads feel lighter with a little appreciation.

                               ______________________

And I will give you shepherds according to My heart, who will feed you with knowledge and understanding. Jeremiah 3:15 NKJV

They opened their mouths and jewels came tumbling out. I tried to catch them all, lest any fall to the ground. Oh God; woe is me. This is holy ground.

I set out to bless pastors and wives with this project, but in the process, I have been blessed, challenged, humbled. They have shown me my poverty. I am made rich by the words of their testimony. They have brought me low, to the foot of the cross, the highest place on this side of eternity. I have laughed, I have cried, I have repented. Oh wretched man that I am…

“God, change me. I want a heart like theirs, wholly after You, one willingly given for the cause of winning souls. Jesus, I want to know you, to honor You and to make You known.”

I saw their humanity and the Divine Who dwells in them. They are leaking Jesus. They are humble and mighty. They are convicting. Their hearts are beautiful. I am honored to shine the light on them. Allow me to introduce you to some of God’s shepherd-princes and Sarah’s daughters.

                                                                                               -Rachael M Colby

                                         ~~~~~ * ~~~~~

 

What has being a pastor/ pastor’s wife cost you?

It has cost me nothing yet everything. There is no price too great when serving the Lord.   -Pastor Wayne Shaffer,  New Life AG, Altoona PA

 

My will for the will of God.  -Pastor Patrick Jordan, The Door CFM,  Jamaica West Indies

 

We left our daughters at 16 and 18 to become a missionaries, which was the hardest part.  Also we closed 2 businesses, gave both our vehicles to people who needed them, and all our furniture and belongings.                     -Pastor Raul and Stephanie Delcid, Potter’s House CFM, Ecuador

Jesus said, “Truly I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or farms, for My sake and for the gospel’s sake, but that he will receive a hundred times as much now in the present age, houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and farms, along with persecutions; and in the age to come, eternal life. Mark 10:29 – 30 NASB     

What is the hardest part of being a pastor/ pastor’s wife?

I think the hardest thing about being a pastor for me is the fact that I do not know how much of a difference I am actually making.                             -Rev. Michael Duncan, speaker, author, Pastor of Mountain View Baptist Church, Darrington, WA

 

The roller coaster ride of your heart, feeling the hurt of others.Seeing someone begin the race and not finish. When people leave, feeling the empty place that no one else is going to fill and realizing that could happen to me too.  –Alejandra Williams, Pastor’s Wife, Victory Chapel, Cape Cod, CFM

 

Focusing on a pastor’s primary job, which is an intimate relationship with the Lord and one’s family. The temptation is to make solving church-member problems my priority.  -Dr.George W. (Bill) Nichols, Ph.D., Pastor, missions worker, author.

 

What is your biggest challenge pastoring?

Attempting to reach the youth who have been brought up in a culture that is greatly disconnected from a Biblical foundation.                                       -Pastor, Transformation Ministries, Ohio.

 

We have to be intentional about setting time for family and for us as a couple. -Pastor Bruce Hanlon, Forrestdale Church, Sandwich, MA

 

What is your favorite thing about being a pastor/pastor’s wife?

Encouraging others to rise up, imparting the vision to them. When they catch the vision! Helping people, ministering to them. -Pastor Roger Williams, Victory Chapel CFM, Cape Cod, MA

 

Seeing God change people’s lives and they are blessed and go on to do the will of God. -Lori Ganiear, Pastor’s Wife, Victory Chapel CFM, Cape Cod MA

 

What are your favorite memories of pastoring?

… seeing the people “get it.” My greatest joy is seeing the people meet Jesus in the preaching of His Word. They come to church hungry, and when they get filled by the preaching of the Word, my heart is overjoyed.   -Pastor James La Belle, author, Pastor of Presbyterian Church of Cape Cod

 

How do you keep your heart and zeal for people and God, in spite of people’s failings and some turning against you?

By always thinking about the BIG picture, that it’s not about us, it’s about the people. Like my husband always says, “We are here to serve.” So when you have that mentality you realize you will be used, hurt by people and that is OK. After all we don’t love and serve people because they are nice back to us, but because we are capable of loving them with Jesus’s help, even when it’s hard. -Vika Aaltonen, Missionary Wife, The Door, CFM, Helsinki, Finland

 

What is the funniest or craziest situation you’ve experienced during your ministry that you are free to share?

When potty training my toddler, they ran down the church aisle naked during praise and worship. Yikes! – Donna, Pastors Wife

 

What do you see as the biggest threat to the church today?

I think we are on a teetering point. The biggest problem I think is internal; people who lose faith to take God at His Word. People who like to wear the Christian badge, but that’s it. It’s part of their Facebook profile, but not part of their personal profile. They are not converted. -Pastor Chip Ganiear, Victory Chapel CFM, Cape Cod, MA

 

What do you believe is the key to revival?

When the Church recognizes its distance from God, repents and takes steps toward God. Lordship means supreme authority. Lordship and forgiveness are two keys to revival. Many know Jesus as savior and healer, but not as Lord. Without Christ’s lordship, there is no revival.                       Pastor Greg Winslow, Missionary to Zihuatanejo, Mexico

Share some words of appreciation for your pastor and he will be listed on the Wall of Honor and entered to win a retreat at the Energize Lodge.

Pray for your pastor! Text the word PASTOR to 74574 for daily reminders and prompts to pray for your pastor.

© 2016 Rachael M Colby