As ministry wives take their front row seat to all the ministry needs around them, the ‘if onlys’ can weigh heavily. ‘If only we had more capacity as a family’, or ‘if only we had a more effective evangelistic outreach programme’, or ‘if only I could see what God was doing in this hard season’.
This is why women married to men in ministry gathered for the FIEC’s annual Ministry Wives Retreat in May: to be refreshed through Bible teaching, training, fellowship, and reflection.
Sarah Dargue, a ministry wife herself and co-host of the Bible study podcast ‘Two sisters and a cup of tea’, spoke into the theme of ‘if onlys’ as she taught from the book of Titus on what healthy church life truly looks like.
Held at The Hayes in Derbyshire, there was an opportunity to discuss what was taught in small groups, to pray together, and have time alone to reflect.
Elinor Magowan, one of FIEC’s Directors for Women’s Ministry, who organised and hosted the retreat, said: ‘This year was a delight: first-timers and younger ministry wives engaged with the Bible ministry alongside women who’ve been ministry wives for longer.
‘The open-hearted engagement and fellowship was so encouraging to see. Women left saying how they had been helped by these few days away and already are looking forward to next year.’
