Unsung Heroines

We have been entertained in many homes because of our traveling ministry, and pastors and pastors' wives are always gracious, kind and hospitable. Hospitality is a part of the gifting of God for a pastor and his wife.

But it is not the only part of the unique life of pastoring a church and attending to the flock of God. In recent months psychiatrists and counselors have been examining the life of the pastor's wife and they have come to some startling conclusions.

Here is one of them!

"As those in the ministry know, Protestant pastors' wives are unique in the extent to which they are impacted by their spouse's vocation. Clergy marriages are highly visible, closely scrutinized by community members, and frequently looked to as the models for Christian marriage." (Alleman D., art. WMM's A New Kind Of Model, Theology News and Notes. December 1990).

The truth is, pastors' wives are just the same as all other Christian women, with some strengths and some weaknesses, the same needs, emotions, trials and responsibilities. Their difference lies in two directions: one is that their congregation expects so much from them; and the other is that their marriage and family are so highly visible.