By Kimm Harvey
Okay, let’s talk about take-home points. One of the main points I carried away from the conference was simple but, oh my, very critical. (….and, by the way – if you were not able to attend you can listen to it at the Sovereign Grace website) Here goes: My marriage to a leader gives me a stewardship of influence and opportunity. That’s right. Because I go with tall, dark and handsome over there….not only do I have opportunities for study and growth but I’ve been given a trust that I must steward for God’s glory. It’s called influence.
Now, I’m interested in how this is playing out for you….how does it work in your life? Both messages from "the Carolyn’s" were so inspiring and thought provoking – it was great stuff! In fact I had a chat with one young pastors wife who said, “This is a message I definitely want to act upon.” Another wife said she really “wanted to apply this message and not let it slip by.” Those are the right places to go. But what does that look like for you? How has the Holy Spirit prompted you to act on these ideas?
Recently Liz Emerson related a story about a woman in her church that acted on a burden the Lord has given her for the young ladies in the church. She now prays for them, leads them in Scripture memorization and encourages them. And she’s begun to see fruit!...young girls blossom over the past year. Liz said, “There are just so many creative ways that we can put Titus 2 in action like this.”
Women like Liz inspire me. Now I’m moved to pray and ask the Lord specifically for how I could creatively love and care for the women around me. That’s influence….and that’s what we’re talking about.
Lois Machowski gathers a group of young moms in her home once a month just to talk about homemaking and being a mom. Her older daughters babysit for the moms, all who live near by. These moms truly feel like they have been given a gift in Lois. Once again, it’s about influence. Just normal pastors’ wives giving a little time to make a big difference.
What does this look like for you? Think about one small step you can take. And then write in and tell us about it. Then we can be influenced and inspired by YOUR example!
Monday, April 27, 2009
Monday, April 20, 2009
Real Simple Ministry Idea
by Janis Shank
Have any of you read the Real Simple magazine? I am drawn to the clean, simple cover and the practical advice included in small doses. How to get things done in less time, maximum return for minimal effort, just the essentials, simple solutions to everyday household problems, cost effective recommendations for basic items ... I love this stuff! Well, heres a “real simple” women’s ministry idea to consider as summer is approaching: Park Day!
Let me explain and give some background. Years ago, while living in Virginia Beach we hosted a series of four Wednesday morning outreaches titled “Summer Fair” at a regional park. Our goal was to provide moms and their kids an exciting morning of fun and fellowship, as well as provide an opportunity for women to invite neighbors and friends to a “non-church” event. We rented a pavilion, printed invitations, purchased a professional banner with the name and logo, and planned four fun events, one for each week as follows: 1. fire truck demonstration complete with firemen and fire safety tips; 2. a bee keeper demonstration complete with honey samples (very interesting, educational and safe), 3. a dentist who came did a fun program with skits and posters on dental hygiene and gave out free tooth brushes and sugar free gum (not quite as fun as the bees!); 4. I don’t remember! (sorry, I’m over 45!)
You might be asking, where is the “real simple” in this idea!?Yeah, you’re right, it wasn’t real simple. Fun, rewarding, a hit, but not easy. So the next summer we ditched the “fair” part and maintained the “summer” part! We staked a claim at a residential beach with public parking and bathrooms and put an announcement in the bulletin inviting all moms and kids and anyone else to come join us for fellowship and fun! It was so easy and the moms and kids loved it! We continued this tradition in Denver, only this time we had no beach. Bummer! Instead, we chose two parks, central to the geographic areas where most of the families in the church lived, making sure they had public parking and bathrooms. We put the information in our church bulletin, including dates, times, places and a contact person for questions. On the first week of the summer park days, we included a flyer/invitation with some suggestions and reminders to make these fellowship times fruitful and safe, something along these lines:
1. Opportunity for moms to delight their kids with a morning at the park. The safety and whereabouts of children is always primary and is the mom’s responsibility, along with food and drinks.
2. Opportunity to meet and encourage other moms.
3. Opportunity to reach out to neighbors and friends.
4. Opportunity to reflect the gospel to one another!
Perhaps this spurs an idea of how something similar may work for the women in your church. If your church is large, maybe this can be modified for small groups.
Lots happened on those park days! Kids had fun, moms built relationships where care, prayer and practical help was given and the gospel was on display to friends and neighbors. Ask my kids and they will say that these days were wonderful memories in their childhood and ask my friends who will testify to friendships birthed and nurtured that exist to this day though miles separate us. Park Day truly yielded a maximum return with minimum effort. Simply wonderful!
By the way, we still want to hear from you! Please email us your questions, suggestions, ideas and comments. This is your blog!!!
Have any of you read the Real Simple magazine? I am drawn to the clean, simple cover and the practical advice included in small doses. How to get things done in less time, maximum return for minimal effort, just the essentials, simple solutions to everyday household problems, cost effective recommendations for basic items ... I love this stuff! Well, heres a “real simple” women’s ministry idea to consider as summer is approaching: Park Day!
Let me explain and give some background. Years ago, while living in Virginia Beach we hosted a series of four Wednesday morning outreaches titled “Summer Fair” at a regional park. Our goal was to provide moms and their kids an exciting morning of fun and fellowship, as well as provide an opportunity for women to invite neighbors and friends to a “non-church” event. We rented a pavilion, printed invitations, purchased a professional banner with the name and logo, and planned four fun events, one for each week as follows: 1. fire truck demonstration complete with firemen and fire safety tips; 2. a bee keeper demonstration complete with honey samples (very interesting, educational and safe), 3. a dentist who came did a fun program with skits and posters on dental hygiene and gave out free tooth brushes and sugar free gum (not quite as fun as the bees!); 4. I don’t remember! (sorry, I’m over 45!)
You might be asking, where is the “real simple” in this idea!?Yeah, you’re right, it wasn’t real simple. Fun, rewarding, a hit, but not easy. So the next summer we ditched the “fair” part and maintained the “summer” part! We staked a claim at a residential beach with public parking and bathrooms and put an announcement in the bulletin inviting all moms and kids and anyone else to come join us for fellowship and fun! It was so easy and the moms and kids loved it! We continued this tradition in Denver, only this time we had no beach. Bummer! Instead, we chose two parks, central to the geographic areas where most of the families in the church lived, making sure they had public parking and bathrooms. We put the information in our church bulletin, including dates, times, places and a contact person for questions. On the first week of the summer park days, we included a flyer/invitation with some suggestions and reminders to make these fellowship times fruitful and safe, something along these lines:
1. Opportunity for moms to delight their kids with a morning at the park. The safety and whereabouts of children is always primary and is the mom’s responsibility, along with food and drinks.
2. Opportunity to meet and encourage other moms.
3. Opportunity to reach out to neighbors and friends.
4. Opportunity to reflect the gospel to one another!
Perhaps this spurs an idea of how something similar may work for the women in your church. If your church is large, maybe this can be modified for small groups.
Lots happened on those park days! Kids had fun, moms built relationships where care, prayer and practical help was given and the gospel was on display to friends and neighbors. Ask my kids and they will say that these days were wonderful memories in their childhood and ask my friends who will testify to friendships birthed and nurtured that exist to this day though miles separate us. Park Day truly yielded a maximum return with minimum effort. Simply wonderful!
By the way, we still want to hear from you! Please email us your questions, suggestions, ideas and comments. This is your blog!!!
Monday, April 13, 2009
Random Thoughts from a Groggy Pastor’s Wife after a Pastors Conference
by Kimm Harvey
Every year I say the same thing, “How will they ever top that? It was the BEST conference--Ever!!!”
Returning from a conference like we’ve just had can be like returning to earth from orbit: You know home is where you’re meant to be, but the view and the quiet were so incredible up there, (not to mention the fellowship and the meals) that reentry can be rough. I’ve captured some of the common thoughts from the morning following conferences. I hope they encourage and edify…I hope you can identify.
Waking up: I guess I’ve grown accustomed to the pleasant voice of our hotel operator gently informing me that, “The time is now 7 a.m. It’s time to wake up.” This morning my wake up call came from my children flinging themselves at me out of delight that Mom and Dad are home. Delight…that’s funny.
Brushing my teeth: Who are we having breakfast with this morning? How about lunch? Oh, that’s right. I’m making breakfast…oh, and I’m making lunch, too. I haven’t gone shopping yet…my fridge is about as empty as my head feels this morning.
The shower: It’s beginning to hit me…the closest thing I’m going to get today to being led in worship by Bob is the Psalms CD. The clearest teaching voice I’m going to hear today is my own (and this thought begins to frighten me).
Getting dressed: It’s funny, isn’t it? How different life feels when you’re at a conference compared to what it feels like when you actually have to return to it and live it? Funny might not be the best word for it.
The walk downstairs: It seems so strange that just 24 hours earlier, I had unshakable faith for every issue in my life. Standing in Gaithersburg with my arms raised high in worship, I felt like, with God’s help, I could conquer the world. Now, I can’t seem to remember where I put my shoes and I am desperately trying to remember even the smallest application point.
The trip to the coffee pot: I left this house in great shape for the sitter. Now, I’ve got a stack of pizza boxes 3 feet high and a strange pile of wet towels in front of the fridge. Wait, what did Carolyn McCulley say, “Men aren’t the problem”? You got that right sister, a lack of coffee is the problem!
After the first sip of coffee: Wait…I remember now…we went to the conference to be equipped and encouraged for real life. Yes…that’s it…God has given the grace for this. He’ll join me in this work and do it in and through me. God has called me to this…and I have every reason to trust His faithfulness.
After first cup of coffee: Now…where are my shoes?!
Every year I say the same thing, “How will they ever top that? It was the BEST conference--Ever!!!”
Returning from a conference like we’ve just had can be like returning to earth from orbit: You know home is where you’re meant to be, but the view and the quiet were so incredible up there, (not to mention the fellowship and the meals) that reentry can be rough. I’ve captured some of the common thoughts from the morning following conferences. I hope they encourage and edify…I hope you can identify.
Waking up: I guess I’ve grown accustomed to the pleasant voice of our hotel operator gently informing me that, “The time is now 7 a.m. It’s time to wake up.” This morning my wake up call came from my children flinging themselves at me out of delight that Mom and Dad are home. Delight…that’s funny.
Brushing my teeth: Who are we having breakfast with this morning? How about lunch? Oh, that’s right. I’m making breakfast…oh, and I’m making lunch, too. I haven’t gone shopping yet…my fridge is about as empty as my head feels this morning.
The shower: It’s beginning to hit me…the closest thing I’m going to get today to being led in worship by Bob is the Psalms CD. The clearest teaching voice I’m going to hear today is my own (and this thought begins to frighten me).
Getting dressed: It’s funny, isn’t it? How different life feels when you’re at a conference compared to what it feels like when you actually have to return to it and live it? Funny might not be the best word for it.
The walk downstairs: It seems so strange that just 24 hours earlier, I had unshakable faith for every issue in my life. Standing in Gaithersburg with my arms raised high in worship, I felt like, with God’s help, I could conquer the world. Now, I can’t seem to remember where I put my shoes and I am desperately trying to remember even the smallest application point.
The trip to the coffee pot: I left this house in great shape for the sitter. Now, I’ve got a stack of pizza boxes 3 feet high and a strange pile of wet towels in front of the fridge. Wait, what did Carolyn McCulley say, “Men aren’t the problem”? You got that right sister, a lack of coffee is the problem!
After the first sip of coffee: Wait…I remember now…we went to the conference to be equipped and encouraged for real life. Yes…that’s it…God has given the grace for this. He’ll join me in this work and do it in and through me. God has called me to this…and I have every reason to trust His faithfulness.
After first cup of coffee: Now…where are my shoes?!
Monday, April 6, 2009
A Note From Carolyn
Welcome to a new blog just for you—the pastors’ wives of Sovereign Grace Ministries.
Some of you dear ladies have grown up along with this ministry. You were among the original rag-tag group of young people with lots of passion for the Savior and the local church—and not much else! Some of you are newcomers—from the US and around the world. You’re trying to figure out who everyone is and how we’re connected.
All of you love the Savior. All of you serve your husbands and children. All of you sacrifice for your churches.
And we want to serve you.
We want to help you model, teach and pass on the virtues of biblical femininity to the women in your church. We also want to encourage and support you in this exciting and challenging, perplexing and rewarding call to be a pastor’s wife. Most of all we want to regularly remind you of the sweetest truth of all—that God sent his Son Jesus Christ to save sinful women like us.
Each Monday (hopefully!) our posts will cover a wide variety of content:
• Relevant Resources – book reviews, helpful messages, useful links
• Meet the Pastor’s Wife—get to know other SGM pastors’ wives from Cherry Hill, New Jersey to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
• Life of the Pastor’s Wife – encouragement, lessons learned, and practical tips from regular writers and guest authors
• You ask – send us your questions and we’ll find a pastor’s wife (or pastor!) who has an answer
• We ask – we’ll pose a single question to several pastors’ wives and post the answers.
• Women’s Ministry Ideas – we’ll scour the churches for the most creative, effective ideas and pass them along to you
What else would you like to see? Send us your ideas, your questions, your comments! Kimm Harvey and Janis Shank have graciously agreed to help me in this endeavor, but we’d love to hear from you. We can’t reply (we know you understand) but we’ll read them all, and your requests will help shape our content.
Try as we might—there’s no way to thank you enough for the way you serve your husband, your family and the church. This little blog is just a start.
Thank you.
Carolyn Mahaney
Some of you dear ladies have grown up along with this ministry. You were among the original rag-tag group of young people with lots of passion for the Savior and the local church—and not much else! Some of you are newcomers—from the US and around the world. You’re trying to figure out who everyone is and how we’re connected.
All of you love the Savior. All of you serve your husbands and children. All of you sacrifice for your churches.
And we want to serve you.
We want to help you model, teach and pass on the virtues of biblical femininity to the women in your church. We also want to encourage and support you in this exciting and challenging, perplexing and rewarding call to be a pastor’s wife. Most of all we want to regularly remind you of the sweetest truth of all—that God sent his Son Jesus Christ to save sinful women like us.
Each Monday (hopefully!) our posts will cover a wide variety of content:
• Relevant Resources – book reviews, helpful messages, useful links
• Meet the Pastor’s Wife—get to know other SGM pastors’ wives from Cherry Hill, New Jersey to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
• Life of the Pastor’s Wife – encouragement, lessons learned, and practical tips from regular writers and guest authors
• You ask – send us your questions and we’ll find a pastor’s wife (or pastor!) who has an answer
• We ask – we’ll pose a single question to several pastors’ wives and post the answers.
• Women’s Ministry Ideas – we’ll scour the churches for the most creative, effective ideas and pass them along to you
What else would you like to see? Send us your ideas, your questions, your comments! Kimm Harvey and Janis Shank have graciously agreed to help me in this endeavor, but we’d love to hear from you. We can’t reply (we know you understand) but we’ll read them all, and your requests will help shape our content.
Try as we might—there’s no way to thank you enough for the way you serve your husband, your family and the church. This little blog is just a start.
Thank you.
Carolyn Mahaney
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