The Missionary Wife’s Role in the Ministry – By Austin Gardner

“The aged women likewise, that they be in behaviour as becometh holiness, not false accusers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things; That they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children, To be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed.” Titus 2:3-5

A. Remember that the people where you will be serving will see you as their pastor’s wife!

  1. Great Responsibility as the pastor’s wife.
    • You are responsible for the growth of the ladies in your church and ministry
      • Teach them the spiritual lessons that they should learn
      • Teach them how to live at home
      • Teach them how to treat their husband and children
      • Teach them how to serve others
    • You need to help the ladies so as to protect your husband and his testimony.
      • Genesis 20:16. “And unto Sarah he said, Behold, I have given thy brother a thousand pieces of silver: behold, he is to thee a covering of the eyes, unto all that are with thee, and with all other: thus she was reproved.”
      • You are his veil or covering; his separation from other women.
      • Keep an open relationship with your husband. No secrets, no locked doors
      • Protect your family life and testimony
  2. Everyone will be watching you and looking up to you.
    • They will learn how to treat their husband from the way you treat your husband
    • They will learn how to treat their children and how to raise their children from the way you do.
    • They will learn how to dress from the way you dress
    • They will learn how to dress their children from the way you do things
  3. Be transparent
    • Do not make them think that you are something that you are not
    • Be open about how you deal with your problems
    • Learn how much to say and when to say it
    • Even though you are transparent you do not want to lower yourself to their level to gain their friendship, let them come up to your level
  4. Your transparency will cause them to speak more openly with you of their problems

Continue reading “The Missionary Wife’s Role in the Ministry – By Austin Gardner”

How to choose a missionary! – By Austin Gardner

  1. Ask him about his preparation or what makes him feel that he can do what God has called him to.  Has he been prepared?  Has he studied?  Is he looking into language schools?  What are his prerequisites for the language
schools that he plans on going to?  Why did he choose that one.  Be sure that he is going to language school and if not do not support him.
  2. Missionaries do not need to be taken on by pity or by need.  Many time the pastor and people in the church feel pity for a person and when they do this, this causes the church to want to help.  Help by giving a one time offering maybe, but a missionary should not be taken on by need they ought to be taken on by their fruit.  Look for a man who will produce or has produced in what God has called him to do.  Some pastors might say, I just know that no one else will support him so I just wanted to help him.
  3. How much research have they done on their country.  Before a missionary comes to the church check out the general statistics of the country and ask him about them while he is there.  He ought not know everything but the general questions.  If he hasn’t studied his country enough then he probably isn’t the kind of missionary that you want.
  4. What is his work ethic?  Missions is over spiritualized many times.  Just because a person has been called by God to a place does not mean that he ought not be working. The answer I have not had to call any pastors
and I think that is what God wants me to do is very spiritual but very rarely works.  They will then proceed to tell you how it has been a long time and not much money coming in.  If a man has a full schedule for a year or so then it might be alright but if not they need Continue reading “How to choose a missionary! – By Austin Gardner”

Eleven Essentials for the Missionary

Hudson Taylor’s Missionary Equipment

  1. A life yielded to God and controlled by His Spirit
  2. A restful trust in God for the supply of all needs
  3. A sympathetic spirit
  4. A willingness to take a lowly place
  5. Tact in dealing with men
  6. Adaptability toward circumstances
  7. Be real in service
  8. Steadfastness in discouragement
  9. Love for communion with God and for the study of His Word
  10. Some experience and blessing in the Lord’s work at home
  11. A healthy body and vigorous mind