Part 3~ Shepherd-Princes & Sarah’s Daughters (A Godly Heritage) ~Interviews with Pastors & Wives in Honor of Pastor Appreciation Month

Simple definition of Heritage: noun  her·i·tage \ˈher-ə-tij, ˈhe-rə-\         the traditions, achievements, beliefs, etc., that are part of the history of a group or nation   Merriam-Webster’s Learner’s Dictionary

You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up. You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates. Deuteronomy 6:5-9 NASB

The lines have fallen to me in pleasant places; Indeed, my heritage is beautiful to me. Psalms 16:6 NASB

Did you think when you became a Christian you would be pastoring one day?

No. I told God I would never be a missionary.  -Suzanne Winslow, Pastor’s Wife, Missionary to Zihuatanejo, Mexico

No.  -Pastor Greg Winslow, Missionary, Zihuatanejo Mexico

 

Never.  -Pastor Paul and Nancy Halas, Victory Chapel CFM, Billerica MA

 

No.  -Pastor Tim and Faith Scott, The Potter’s house CFM, Roselle Park, NJ

 

No way!!  -Maria Winslow, Preacher’s Kid, 3rd generation Pastor’s Wife, Victory Chapel CFM, Hagerstown MD

No, not really. I did not want to be a pastor. But God won out! There was no one time when God told me. My walk with God has been full of twists and turns. Always full of new challenges and points where God has led me and waited for me to respond. God called me into the ministry. There was no denying or putting it aside. I did not choose to pastor I told God long ago that He was in full control. I meant it then and I still do.  -Pastor Matthew Winslow, 2nd generation Pastor, Victory Chapel CFM, Hagerstown MD

What is your biggest challenge pastoring?

Waiting on God’s timing. For fruit, favor, revelation, etc. A lot of patience is needed.   -Pastor Matthew Winslow, 2nd generation Pastor, Victory Chapel CFM, Hagerstown MD

 

Fighting discouragement when you work so hard with someone and they don’t follow Jesus or betray you.  -Pastor Greg Winslow, Missionary, Zihuatanejo Mexico

A few questions for pastor’s wives: Are you ever lonely? If so, how do you counter it?

Not as much anymore. It used to be bad but God has helped me find comfort in the companionship of my kids and husband.   -Nacy Halas, Pastor’s Wife,Victory Chapel CFM, Billerica MA

 

Yes. I pray, make phone calls.   –Maria Winslow, Preacher’s Kid, 3rd generation Pastor’s Wife, Victory Chapel CFM, Hagerstown MD

 

Yes, at times. The way out of that is worshiping and spending time with God.  -Suzanne Winslow, Pastor’s Wife, Missionary, Zihuatanejo Mexico

What is the hardest thing about being a Pastor’s wife?

Knowing what Jesus could do in transforming a person’s life if they would just make the right decisions and watching them make the wrong ones and miss out on what God has for them.   -Nacy Halas, Victory Chapel CFM, Billerica MA 

 

Being away from friends and family.  –Maria Winslow, Preacher’s Kid, 3rd generation Pastor’s Wife, Victory Chapel CFM, Hagerstown MD 

 

The demands on your time. It’s like a huge family. They all need care, like they are your children. -Suzanne Winslow, Pastor’s Wife, Missionary to Zihuatanejo Mexico 

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

Knowing it’s God’s will.   –Maria Winslow, Preacher’s Kid, 3rd generation Pastor’s Wife, Victory Chapel CFM, Hagerstown MD

 

I love all the relationships I’ve made with people all over the world.  -Nacy Halas, Pastor’s Wife,Victory Chapel CFM, Billerica MA

 

To see people grow, change, come to their potential and become men and women of God. When people stick and with a passion is what excites me. The miracles. When marriages are put back together.   -Pastor Greg and Suzanne Winslow, Missionaries to Zihuatanejo Mexico

What kind of challenges do you face as a Pastor’s wife raising Preacher’s Kids?

Always knowing you could and probably will make a mistake. –Maria Winslow, Preacher’s Kid, 3rd generation Pastor’s Wife Victory Chapel CFM, Hagerstown MD (Maria and Matthew have 4 children.)

 

 Comparison.  -Faith Scott, Preacher’s Kid and 2nd generation Pastor’s Wife (Faith and Tim have 3 children) 

 

Trying to find the balance between making sure they are examples to everyone else who is watching as a guideline on how to raise their kids and being gracious and understanding that they are kids like everyone else and need our patience and grace. -Nacy Halas, Victory Chapel CFM, Billerica MA (Nancy and Paul have 4 children)

 

Trying to juggle homeschooling. -Suzanne Winslow, Pastor’s Wife, Missionary, Zihuatanejo Mexico (Suzanne and Greg have 6 children.)

What most breaks your heart?

When converts leave the Faith.  -Pastor Tim and Faith Scott, The Potter’s house CFM, Roselle Park, NJ

 

Brothers and sisters who have left the will of God.  -Pastor Matthew Winslow, 2nd generation Pastor, Victory Chapel CFM, Hagerstown MD

What keeps you going?

Others that went before us and what Christ did for me.   -Pastor Tim and Faith Scott, The Potter’s house CFM, Roselle Park, NJ

 

God keeps me going. Thoughts of the effects quitting might have on my family and others. Thoughts of not wanting to be out of the will of God. -Pastor Paul Halas, 1st generation Pastor, Victory Chapel CFM, Billerica MA

 

The call of God on my life. The support of my family and the devotion of my wife.  -Pastor Matthew Winslow, 2nd generation Pastor, Victory Chapel CFM, Hagerstown MD   

What most encourages you? 

What most encourages you?  The Word of God and my wife.  Pastor Paul Halas, Victory Chapel CFM, Billerica MA

 

When converts get revelation.  -Pastor Tim, The Potter’s house CFM, Roselle Park, NJ

 

Seeing people make it for God.  -Pastor Matthew Winslow, 2nd generation Pastor, Victory Chapel CFM,  Hagerstown MD

 

To see our children and people we pastor raised up and walk with God. -Pastor Greg and Suzanne Winslow, Missionaries to Zihuatanejo Mexico

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

A personal relationship with my Jesus. Praying daily and reading the Word.  -Pastor Tim and Faith Scott, The Potter’s house CFM, Roselle Park, NJ

 

P: That’s something God has to do in you. N: I remind myself I’m doing it for Jesus, not for people. As long as He is pleased with my life, that’s what counts.  -Pastor Paul and Nacy Halas, Victory Chapel CFM, Billerica MA

 

By making a decision to always forgive, knowing we fight against principalities and powers. -Pastor Greg and Suzanne Winslow, Missionaries to Zihuatanejo Mexico

 

As many times as I’ve had to ask for forgiveness, I ask God to remind me of that when people hurt me. It keeps it in perspective for me. (Mark 11:25-26) I know I’m gonna need more forgiveness before I am done!  -Pastor Matthew Winslow, 2nd generation Pastor, Victory Chapel CFM, Hagerstown MD

I have heard people say “The pastor has it so easy, he doesn’t have to go to work. What does he do all day? All he has to do is write a few sermons a week. So, the following few questions are aimed at setting the record straight. What does a day in your life as a pastor look like?

I’m a working pastor.  -Pastor Paul Halas, Victory Chapel CFM, Billerica MA

 

As a working pastor I am extremely busy. Picture your normal day with kids, spouse, and job issues. Then add preparing sermons, follow up, outreach, and church responsibilities on top of that. Basically there are no days off!!   -Pastor Matthew Winslow, 2nd generation Pastor, Victory Chapel CFM,  Hagerstown MD

What are some duties you perform for the church on a regular basis that your congregation may not be aware of?

N: Hours of book-work, cleaning, etc. P: All the hours of counseling in off hours, all the study time.  -Pastor Paul and Nacy Halas, Victory Chapel CFM, Billerica MA

 

All of them! Ha ha, we’re just a baby church so everything from mow the lawn to cleaning the church.  -Pastor Matthew Winslow, 2nd generation Pastor, Victory Chapel CFM,   Hagerstown MD

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

Luke warmness.  -Pastor Tim Scott, The Potter’s house CFM, Roselle Park, NJ

 

Spiritual indifference. Apathy.   -Pastor Paul Halas, Victory Chapel CFM, Billerica MA

 

Apathy… To God’s word, the lost and his church.  -Pastor Matthew Winslow, 2nd generation Pastor, Victory Chapel CFM,  Hagerstown MD

 

Lukewarmness. Becoming passive, complacent, being satisfied leading to lazyness and powerlessness is a dangerous place. -Pastor Greg Winslow, Missionary to Zihuatanejo Mexico

What has being a pastor cost you?

“Cost?” -Pastor Greg and Suzanne Winslow, Missionaries to Zihuatanejo Mexico  (They both hesitated at this question at first. I waited for their answers.)

Leaving family in the US. Less stuff, but I don’t consider it a loss, but a privilege.-Suzanne Winslow, Pastor’s wife, Missionary to Zihuatanejo, Mexico

I never thought about it. I got the call and answered. Grief and grey hairs. Family time. Putting aside our own will to meet others’. I had to learn there is more to being a pastor than preaching. Ministry is hard and heartbreaking, but it’s rewarding. Knowing and serving God is a privilege, not a burden. If one person gets saved it’s worth it, because you can’t put a price on a soul.  -Pastor Greg Winslow, Missionary to Zihuatanejo Mexico  

 

It costs you everything. Had we not pastored we’d own a home, we’d have a lot more money… But then again, being in God’s will, we don’t look at it like it costs us anything. I think it costs a lot more to not do the will of God.  -Pastor Paul Halas, Victory Chapel CFM, Billerica MA

 

I thought this was kind of a funny question! I cannot think of anything that pastoring has cost me. I guess there might be a deeper answer but honestly my brain does not work like that. God runs the show! It’s His will, His bill!  -Pastor Matthew Winslow, 2nd generation Pastor,  Victory Chapel CFM, Hagerstown MD

Who inspires you?

Lots of people inspire me but my top five are: #1 my dad, #2 my pastor, #3 my wife, #4 my two brothers, and #5 my best friend.  -Pastor Matthew Winslow, 2nd generation Pastor, Victory Chapel CFM Hagerstown MD

 

Anybody who is persevering in the faith.   -Pastor Greg Winslow, Missionary, Zihuatanejo Mexico

Is there anything you would like to tell us about your parents?    

My parents would pray and read their bible together every day. They were prayer warriors. They prayed for those on their list individually. I believe that’s why I am where I am today. They would say to us, “Read your Bible and pray, or you won’t make it as a Christian.”

Thanks for running the race and making it!  You have set the example and now you are both with Christ!  And because of that I will see you both again someday!  -Faith Scott, Preacher’s Kid and 2nd generation Pastor’s Wife

 

My parents as well as Matthew’s parents have left us with a rich inheritance we are so grateful for. Thanks to them and their sacrifice we have the marriage and family that we are blessed with. They shaped us by raising us up with the Gospel and their example into who we are and and gave us the tools to survive this life and we are blessed!!  -Maria Winslow, Preacher’s Kid, 3rd generation Pastor’s Wife, Victory Chapel CFM, Hagerstown MD, 

Do you have any words of encouragement for pastors and wives raising kids in the ministry, especially to those who have prodigals?

Keep praying! My grandmother prayed 12 children back into the kingdom!  –Maria Winslow, Preacher’s Kid, 3rd generation Pastor’s Wife, Victory Chapel CFM, Hagerstown MD

*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 | Tattoo It On Your Heart