October was ‘Pastor Appreciation Month’ and our church family at Crossings Community blessed us immensely. We are so incredibly blessed to participate in real-life relationships with such incredible people. I wanted to take a few short words and appreciate ‘the pastor’s wife’ and most specifically my wife and partner in ministry.
Pastor’s wife is a heavy calling
We are quickly approaching our 15th wedding anniversary (next month!) and my bride has been the greatest blessing to me. I am confident that God created Lori as the perfect match for me. She makes my weaknesses stronger as well as making my strengths more effective. First, she is my administrative support. There are so many different administrative tasks to be juggled in an organization such as the church and she is constantly, every day, helping me juggle those tasks. From making sure we have stamps to pay bills, to making sure there is coffee creamer for Sunday mornings, she is on top of things. She makes phone calls, helps pay bills, does print editing, and purchases supplies. One of her greatest strengths is that she is also passionate about investing in and caring for the families of our church. She will do everything in her power to spend time with the great women of Crossings Community. She is also constantly inviting new people to come experience our great church family. She is submerged in the joys and responsibilities of ministry and she shines beautifully.
Maybe the hardest aspect of her calling is carrying a huge load with our family of three children. There are many evenings during the week when I am gone in meetings and she is doing baths, feedings, and getting three kiddos in bed all by herself. There are many Saturdays where she goes out of her way to take the kids out to play so that I can focus on the final stages of preparing for Sunday’s sermon. Every single Sunday morning she wakes the kids up, gets them ready, and has them to church at least an hour before church begins. Why so early (you might ask)? Because she is either helping with our worship team, serving in our children’s ministry, or is just there to encourage the others that might be serving that morning.
Although I could go on and on there is one last thing I need to highlight. There are often days when I get home from various engagements with a very heavy spirit. God has gifted her with perfect amount of understanding, mercy, and grace to encourage and sustain me even when she knows that I cannot share with her all that might be swimming around in my mind and heart. God called me to pastor, but even more important is that he gave me wonderful bride perfectly equipped to excel at all that the wife of a pastor encounters. The pastor’s wife carries a calling at least as heavy as her husband and I am humbled by the favor our Creator has bestowed upon me through the gift of my incredible bride and partner in ministry.
Matt
Matt Powell serves as teaching pastor at Crossings Community Church, a body of believers whose mission is to engage, equip, and empower homes for gospel transformation in Katy, TX.