Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? Romans 8:35 NKJV
Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:37- 39 NKJV
Did you think when you became a Christian you would be a pastor’s wife one day?
It did not cross our minds at the time, but it didn’t take long to feel like it was our calling.
Tell me about when you realized you were called to be a pastor’s wife?
Actually, before we got saved I spent some time in a women’s maximum security prison. There I would have dreams of my husband preaching under a big white tent. So when we got saved, it all started to make sense.
What kind of challenges do you face as a pastor’s wife raising Preacher’s Kids?
I think the same challenges as any Christian, except everything they do is magnified. So, raising kids who understand why we do what we do. Always reassuring them that being a servant is worth it.
What is the hardest thing about being a Pastor’s wife?
In our first church, I was always under the critical looking glass. As we pastored our other churches that hasn’t been an issue.
What has been the most unexpected benefit to pastoring?
Being a missionary.
Are you ever lonely?
All the time. The language barrier of difficult for me. My husband is fluent and I am not so I do feel left out. I battle it by being in prayer.
Who inspires you?
My pastor. I don’t have a pastor’s wife, she died of cancer yet he still prays for the sick and believes in the power of healing. That speaks volumes.
Do you ever want to quit?
No, we understand that Jesus warned us of violations and persecutions; it comes with the job.
Keep your heart with all diligence, For out of it spring the issues of life. Proverbs 4:23 NKJV
How do you keep your heart and zeal for people and God, in spite of people’s failings and some turning against you?
We serve God for who He is not what He can do for us. That’s enough.
Can I share a very personal experience?
When we pastored our first church, I was raped by a disciple, a 19 year old boy who we took in under our wing. He was an orphan and struggling teen, a two time offender, but we thought he had changed. It was so traumatizing, it took us out of ministry for two years. I couldn’t understand how something like that could happen. I didn’t trust people and I didn’t want to open my life up. It tested my marriage. It tested my faith.
It took a real miracle to bring me to the point where I realized that we will be violated and persecuted as we serve God, and for me to love Jesus enough to open my heart and trust again.
To console those who mourn in Zion, To give them beauty for ashes, The oil of joy for mourning, The garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; That they may be called trees of righteousness, The planting of the Lord, that He may be glorified. Isaiah 61:3 NKJV
Just want to say that Jesus is worth serving no matter what tribulations we go through. God has totally restored my heart. I love people and trust again and He is doing amazing things in our ministry now.
For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. Romans 8:18 (KJV)
What is your favorite thing about being a Pastor/ Pastor’s wife?
Helping people make it into their destiny. –Stephanie Delcid, Missionary Wife, The Potter’s House CFM, Cuenca, Ecuador
Tell Your Heart to Beat Again -Danny Gokey (a story & a song)
© 2016 Rachael M Colby
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Tattoo It On Your Heart 
This comforts and challenges me. Thank you.
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Praise God.
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Rachael, thank you for sharing this post. And Stephanie, thank you for sharing your testimony. It couldn’t have been easy. I struggle a great deal to trust others because of the mistreatment my family suffered at the hands of other Christians during our youth ministry. But our struggles pale in comparison to the horror you’ve been through. God has carried you through much! Thank you for being vulnerable so that others can take heart seeing God’s grace through you.
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Beautiful testimony – thank you for sharing your life and your heart. This is the God we serve; beauty for ashes. Something tells me that you are able to reach deep into other’s hearts because of what you have been through. That place of such pain and suffering in your heart has become “good ground” – a lovely garden that brings glory to His name.
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I really appreciate that. It was a constant fight in my soul as I sat in my mother church. My heart was for Jesus but the mind battles wouldn’t allow me to break free, but I continued to do what I knew, be faithful and push through and one day at that altar God took the pain and the hurt away and gave me back an urgency for the lost. I am very grateful that I was able to come back from that.
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Stephanie, wow. I hurt reading your pain, and I’m blown away by your faith despite it all. I’ve lived in fear so much of my life that when I hear it’s possible to be whole and survive an atrocity like rape, it emboldens me. Bless you, precious sister, a thousand times and may Jesus continue to sustain and comfort you as you love people in His name. I have been to La Fe church in Cuenca (daughter church of where I attend in Michigan). Are you near there?
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I really appreciate that. It was a constant fight in my soul as I sat in my mother church. My heart was for Jesus but the mind battles wouldn’t allow me to break free, but I continued to do what I knew, be faithful and push through and one day at that altar God took the pain and the hurt away and gave me back an urgency for the lost. I am very grateful that I was able to come back from that.
We are close to that church, we are located at Park Iberia, where they sell the guinea pigs to eat in Cuenca. Thank you for commenting, it means a lot to me.
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Thank you so much, I think it happens a lot more than we are aware. Honestly I didn’t think I would come back from it. I couldn’t understand how something like that could happen to me. I have my life, my time, my finances, my prayers into serving people and then to be violated in such a way. But I learned so much through this, and I know that God is worth taking risks for, and people will always disappoint because we are human and fall short of Gods glory .
It is a great blessing to be la boring for God again and I have a love for people again, a passion for the lost, and an urgency in the hour in which we live. Thank you for sharing with me as well. ❤️
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Great post, Rachael! Your whole series amazes me. I am very proud of you!
Hi Stephanie,
It took a lot of courage to tell your story. I have been mistreated by men before on a physical level so while I can’t understand your story fully, it brings tears to my eyes that you went through that. You are brave for talking about it because you help people know they aren’t the only ones going through something difficult–albeit at that level. My faith has been tested as well due to chronic pain for the past ten years. I am inspired by your faith because my sufferings don’t come close to yours. Thank you for sharing your story. It helps me and my walk–to not give up due to pain and past abuse. Thank you.
Blessings my precious sister in Christ,
Sylvia
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I especially like the Bible passages you have used throughout!
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