Ministry Role Models

I don't know about you, but I am one of those people who wants to do everything. I am the one who puts my hands up at meeting, who gets excited about everything and wants to contribute to every ones projects. I'm often organising parties and social events. And when Tim says "Are you sure? You always get stressed when you organise things" I just dismiss his usually quite justified concerns.

And this was one of the reasons that I resonated so much with the story of M, my second model from mission of a ministry wife.

M is one of those really gorgeous people. I don't just mean personality wise. I mean she looks just beautiful, a knock out- it was the first thing I thought when i met her. One of those people who you met and assume she must be in her late twenties- only to find out she's got two teenagers!

M home schools her kids, which in and of itself is a phenomenal thing. Maybe in other societies where its more common its not such a big deal- but in Australia where many women go straight back to work after childbirth- or at the very least when the youngest kid goes to school- it just seems like a huge deal to commit yourself to 13 extra years of very hands on care. Not to mention the actually teaching involved. I think M got closer than anyone has before in selling homeschooling to me. Her two concerns which lead to this move were as follows. Firstly (and least importantly) she was a little concerned at the quality of schooling her kids would get and thought with private teaching from her they would be ahead (which they appear to be). But secondly when she thought about her kids and their lives and influences- she didn't like the idea that a non-Christian teacher may have more of an impact on her kids than she would. And with kids at school- by the time you threw in after school sports, homework and dinner- it left you with precious little time to read the Bible together. How much better, she thought, to have the Bible as an integral part of the way you teach? Many of these issues also come up in the Christian School/Non Christian school debate and I still have no idea about my ideas. But M, given her opinions was willing to put her boys and their faith first.

When she and her husband arrived at the church, she felt a fair bit of pressure because J (see last post) had been doing so much. And she simply couldn't. If she was going to keep homeschooling her boys- she couldn't be as involved in the ministry. She couldn't do everything she would have liked to do. She leads a young Mums Bible study, and helps out with music ministry- but she struggles with feeling like maybe she should be doing more.

Its a strange thing, isn't it. Its so easy to think that doing as much normal 'ministry' as you can is always the best thing. But at her stage of life and her situation- her priority was the learning and godliness of her boys- and she priorities that no matter what other people thought about it. That kind of perseverance really encourages me- who often is too busy trying to do everything to think about what is best! In some situations in all our lives we must step aside from ministry we love best to do ministry which might not be as exciting but at the time is the most important for God, his gospel, and the people he has intrusted into our care. How inspiring was it to get to know M and watch her play it out. Praise God.

love B