I also thank God for my husband’s role in the beginning. Even though he wanted his wife, it was challenging as he had to share his wife with many saints from many nations and remember we do not yet have Pastors Husbands Retreat or Ministry as we have Pastors Wives Retreat or Ministry (laughs).
# When you had to travel for ministry how did you prepare your family especially the young children? were they always in support of your calling?
Well, this was tough for us as a family when the kids were younger but because I raised my children with transparency, I always told them (as they know my Calling) where I was headed next and that I need them to understand that I cannot afford to be Jonah in my family ship. Still not easy but they have always released me rather than have their mother become a Jonah on the family ship (laughs).
# As a married woman how did you navigate around the role of wife (and biblical submission) in the home, and the visionary in the ministry? Did you encounter challenges or overlaps at times and how did you prevail over these?
This is where the conflict was. I will not say it was rosy. For me it was not about wife and Biblical submission at home because I never had issues with the concept from the beginning. My world had always been “my husband and I”. The challenges I faced were on frontline issues in ministry. Having to deal with issues of husband and I outside the home is a costly issue and I realize this is because our husbands do not have a clue what it means to be married to what I will call “A Dedicated Handmaiden of the Lord” who happens to be the wife.
They still want to be the voice you listen to above the Presbytery of the Church. “After all she’s still my wife why can she not listen to what I say? Why would the voice of others override mine?”
My dear married sisters please listen, the things of the Spirit are governed by the Spirit not by your emotions and culture.
Outside the home it is Christ’s Order of Set Man or Woman and the Leadership that are ordained by the Set man or woman. According to the Bible. Please establish that now. Do not force your husband over the church when you know his struggles. You have no authority over your husband but over the church that you lead. Let your husband be your head at home, but in ministry you lead as the Lord directs.
