OGUN BAPTIST CONFERENCE WORKERS’ SEMINAR FOR 2012. THE ROLE OF THE PASTOR’S WIFE IN CHURCH PLANTING Lecture delivered by Rev. Mrs. Nike Jayesimi of Ogun Baptist Conference.

Young ladies only have a calling to be a servant of Christ. As Pastors’ wives we are called to be servant of God willing to do whatever the Lord has for us to do. There is no particular call found in the scripture for a woman but we are all called to be willing servants for God when we are saved. Genesis 2:18 states that “it is not good that the man should be alone; I will make a help meet for him”. Pastors, wives concern and responsibility should be that they are help meet for their Pastors’ husband. As a Pastor’s wife there will be sacrifices that we will need to make along the way as we share in the ministry God has given to our family. II Cor. 8:5 says, “And this they did, not as we hoped, but first gave their own selves to the Lord and unto us by the will of God”. We need to keep a positive attitude and realize that the results of the ministry are worth the sacrifices we make along the way. At times we may need to leave our comfort zone be it our career or whatever that is paramount to us for the purpose of kingdom growth.

Pastors’ wives are unpaid assistant of a Pastor who needs to grow in her spiritual journey like any other church member. Pastors’ wives are considered as integral part of the package deal the church receives when the Pastor is called, but are not given room to air their feelings and desires. The church expects them to be involved on every level: music, Bible studies, women’s and children’s ministries, hospitality, outreach, etc. Each church you pastor will have to change your role in church planting. In order words there is no stated or rigid role of Pastors’ wives in church planting because churches are different from each other.

There is need to do our job in the church because of the love we have for God, our husband and the church of God. Our joy should be who we are and God using us to His glory. We should be confident in our relationship with God before ministry and what we will be if ministry ended. We need to be what fits best for us in the ministry. Know your gift and make best use of it for church planting. For a Pastor’s wife to be effective in church planting, she must pursue the following attribute; godliness, righteousness, faith, love, endurance, gentleness, passion for the lost souls etc. The following are question you can ponder on as self examination of your stand in your call as church planter.

1.       Are you godly?

2.      Would the people around you say that you have a passion for God?

3.      How stable is your home?

4.      Can you preach?

5.      Do you lead and do you care?

6.      Is there an external confirmation to your call?

7.      Are you a true follower in your husband leadership?

8.      Is your commitment brings joy and blessings to your husband?

9.      Are you jealous seeing other women church members with your husband?

10.  Do you create enough time to pray for the ministry?

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Conclusively, Pastors’ wives should see themselves as favoured of the Lord, who are supposed to give all most especially our time, talent and resources towards kingdom growth. The position of Pastors’ wives is honourable, therefore we should honour the call with the fear of God.

REFERENCES

1.Lorna Dobson, I’m More Than Pastor’s wife. Zondervan Publishing House, Michigan.1995.

2.Pam Farrel, Women of Influence. Gospel Vision Publication.Nigeria, 1984.

3. www. Goggle.com.