Comments on: The role of the family in ministering to those around us http://www.keeperofthehome.org/2008/01/the-role-of-the-family-in-ministering-to-those-around-us.html Naturally inspired living for the Christian homemaker Fri, 10 Feb 2012 02:34:36 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Sarahhttp://www.keeperofthehome.org/2008/01/the-role-of-the-family-in-ministering-to-those-around-us.html/comment-page-1#comment-26300 Sarah Thu, 29 Jan 2009 18:18:06 +0000 http://www.keeperofthehome.org/2008/01/the-role-of-the-family-in-ministering-to-those-around-us.html#comment-26300 Wow, this is really good. I live and minister in an inner city neighborhood and I've really struggled with how to continue the things I know God has called me to in the community when we have our first baby this summer. We waited to have kids for a while for a number of reasons, one of which was that I had the idea that my work and ministry would be done when we had kids. I've slowly been seeing that while it will be transformed, it will not be over, and that as a parent I will be able to work more effectively with some of the kids in my neighborhood as well as their families. There are other things at church and with the non-profit I work with currently that I will no longer be able to do, but there are lots of other good things that we can do as a family. Wow, this is really good. I live and minister in an inner city neighborhood and I've really struggled with how to continue the things I know God has called me to in the community when we have our first baby this summer. We waited to have kids for a while for a number of reasons, one of which was that I had the idea that my work and ministry would be done when we had kids. I've slowly been seeing that while it will be transformed, it will not be over, and that as a parent I will be able to work more effectively with some of the kids in my neighborhood as well as their families. There are other things at church and with the non-profit I work with currently that I will no longer be able to do, but there are lots of other good things that we can do as a family.

]]> By: Kimberlyhttp://www.keeperofthehome.org/2008/01/the-role-of-the-family-in-ministering-to-those-around-us.html/comment-page-1#comment-26298 Kimberly Wed, 23 Jan 2008 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.keeperofthehome.org/2008/01/the-role-of-the-family-in-ministering-to-those-around-us.html#comment-26298 Thanks so much for this post. As a minister's wife and mother to a little one, it can be a hard balance in ministry. Churches often expect minister's wives to be just as involved in the ministries of the church as her spouse. When my husband first started in ministry, we had no children and I plugged in everywhere they asked. I had a hard time saying no. Once my son came along, it was expected that I continue with those ministries. It was very difficult and I could see the strain it was putting on our family. As we soon begin ministry at a different church, I am putting my family as my first priority. I know that it is the right choice and I pray that this church will understand our responsibility to our son and any other children that follow. Our home should be our first place of worship and ministry. Thanks so much for this post. As a minister's wife and mother to a little one, it can be a hard balance in ministry. Churches often expect minister's wives to be just as involved in the ministries of the church as her spouse. When my husband first started in ministry, we had no children and I plugged in everywhere they asked. I had a hard time saying no. Once my son came along, it was expected that I continue with those ministries. It was very difficult and I could see the strain it was putting on our family. As we soon begin ministry at a different church, I am putting my family as my first priority. I know that it is the right choice and I pray that this church will understand our responsibility to our son and any other children that follow. Our home should be our first place of worship and ministry.

]]> By: Maryhttp://www.keeperofthehome.org/2008/01/the-role-of-the-family-in-ministering-to-those-around-us.html/comment-page-1#comment-26299 Mary Wed, 23 Jan 2008 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.keeperofthehome.org/2008/01/the-role-of-the-family-in-ministering-to-those-around-us.html#comment-26299 Very encouraging (and challenging) to those of us who stay at home and desire to minister to others. Very encouraging (and challenging) to those of us who stay at home and desire to minister to others.

]]> By: Charlsie Swadleyhttp://www.keeperofthehome.org/2008/01/the-role-of-the-family-in-ministering-to-those-around-us.html/comment-page-1#comment-26295 Charlsie Swadley Tue, 22 Jan 2008 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.keeperofthehome.org/2008/01/the-role-of-the-family-in-ministering-to-those-around-us.html#comment-26295 I am so saddened by this missionaries attitude towards family involvement in missions. My family and I are missionaries and our children absolutely love going to tell people about Jesus. Thank you for helping others see that boarding school in not the only option! We homeschool and really enjoy it! I am so saddened by this missionaries attitude towards family involvement in missions. My family and I are missionaries and our children absolutely love going to tell people about Jesus. Thank you for helping others see that boarding school in not the only option! We homeschool and really enjoy it!

]]> By: Ashlynhttp://www.keeperofthehome.org/2008/01/the-role-of-the-family-in-ministering-to-those-around-us.html/comment-page-1#comment-26296 Ashlyn Tue, 22 Jan 2008 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.keeperofthehome.org/2008/01/the-role-of-the-family-in-ministering-to-those-around-us.html#comment-26296 What you said is so true! Thanks so much for writing a post on this. Another sad aspect to all of this is that many missionary wives/pastor's wives are pressured by the churches to be more active in the ministry than they possibly should be. I've heard people criticize missionary wives who spend most of their time with their kids, rather than doing Bible studies, going on visitation, etc. We, as the missionaries' supporters, need to be an encouragement to them when the wives decide to spend the majority of their time at home with their kids, and not pressure them to meet a particular mold or requirement that would keep them out of the home. What you said is so true! Thanks so much for writing a post on this.

Another sad aspect to all of this is that many missionary wives/pastor's wives are pressured by the churches to be more active in the ministry than they possibly should be. I've heard people criticize missionary wives who spend most of their time with their kids, rather than doing Bible studies, going on visitation, etc. We, as the missionaries' supporters, need to be an encouragement to them when the wives decide to spend the majority of their time at home with their kids, and not pressure them to meet a particular mold or requirement that would keep them out of the home.

]]> By: Mrs. Mhttp://www.keeperofthehome.org/2008/01/the-role-of-the-family-in-ministering-to-those-around-us.html/comment-page-1#comment-26297 Mrs. M Tue, 22 Jan 2008 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.keeperofthehome.org/2008/01/the-role-of-the-family-in-ministering-to-those-around-us.html#comment-26297 Great post. I too, read Lindsay's post. I remember being told as a single on the mission field that those days would be over once I had a few kids. It seemed strange to me to think I had stop mission work becasue I had kids, just take them with you, teach them at home etc. To me it was much harder to consider raising them in suburbia then overseas. It is a sad state when the church wants to farm out our kids to "do" ministry. On the other hand, as a homebody who is very content being at home alone, I need to be very purposeful not to forget to open my home and reach out from within my family. I just now made the connection between your blog and Lindsays....my brain is a little slow....need sleep:o) Great post. I too, read Lindsay's post. I remember being told as a single on the mission field that those days would be over once I had a few kids. It seemed strange to me to think I had stop mission work becasue I had kids, just take them with you, teach them at home etc. To me it was much harder to consider raising them in suburbia then overseas. It is a sad state when the church wants to farm out our kids to "do" ministry.
On the other hand, as a homebody who is very content being at home alone, I need to be very purposeful not to forget to open my home and reach out from within my family.
I just now made the connection between your blog and Lindsays....my brain is a little slow....need sleep:o)

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