Author: BMWN Committee

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Speakerbox.

Speakerbox is designed to provide Christian women who aim to preach and teach biblically with an opportunity to develop their practical skills.

Speaker box encourages preaching that is expository, evangelical or cross-cultural.  Three times a year, Speakerbox provides women the opportunity to give a talk with:

* Feedback from an experienced mentor on the speaker’s written draft
* An evening ‘event’ where the speaker is able to present to a small group of women

* Written audience feedback and specific feedback from the experienced mentor on the night.  Speakerbox is all about having the freedom to fail or fly, surrounded by women equally keen to grow in the love of God’s Word.  If you organise women’s, want to encourage women in their teaching skills, want to try preaching, or have some preaching experience, then you are highly valuable to the Speakerbox community.

Contact them for details or application forms:

Facebook: facebook.com/groups/speakerbox
Email: speakerboxbrisbane@gmail.com

Coffee Gatherings:

This term, instead of our regular formal, centralised seminars, we are organising smaller coffee nights/ mornings.

They will be hosted by women in the ministry wives community in various locations around Brisbane and the Gold Coast.

Our hope and prayer is that these times will facilitate more meaningful relationships in our ministry wives network.

You are welcome to attend more than one, and children will be welcome.

Register now!

Getting started in a support group.

Some things to get you thinking from Mary Milne, a ministry wife in Sydney:

Who to have in the support group –

It doesn’t matter.  The leader can choose 3 people she knows, then try to get others you don’t know.  As you add more people in, the only condition is that others in the group feel safe with the new addition.  It is better not to ask the person yet until the rest of the group “OK” it.  The new person in mind might have a negative history with someone in the group or they might work in the same parish which may make it tricky.

Because (God willing) there will be lots of other support groups, we should be able to cater for everyone eventually.  Try to have different age groups and experience (Don’t forget, nice retired MW ).

Who will lead/coordinate the group?

Maybe you or a few of you, it is good to have a few back up people.  Try to give everyone a go with leading the discussion/bible reading – however not everyone will be comfortable in doing this, and that’s OK.

How many should you have in the group?

The optimum number is around 7.

How often should you meet?

Once a month: good for building relationships, good for group dynamics.

It’s not too often that it’s unrealistic, it’s much better than once a term, better than sporadic meetings – for what we want to achieve.

How to get people involved?

After praying about it, I simply rang people.  Once I got a core group of three I then asked the three if they know of people they want to ask into the group.

Suggestions on how to get the support group gel

Have a girls’ night out

Have a BBQ with the all the families

Remember birthdays, celebrate special events

What to do in a support group

If you’re not in a ministry wives discussion group, maybe now is the time to start! Especially if you think you haven’t got time for one!!! Here’s a few thoughts to get you started:

  • Try to meet once a month or two
  • Try to meet up at a time and place where you are freed from the distraction of small children, phone calls etc
  • Have something concrete to discuss, but something that involves little or no preparation. You could start with one of the series from the In Tandem blog – see below for descriptions of some of their series. They are short and great discussion starters.
  • Allow time for praying for one another
  • Still not sure if it’s worth the effort? Why not read this short article Not Quickly Broken by Mary Hee about the why’s and how’s of being in a support group. A Christian psychiatrist also discusses the health benefits of being in a support group. Click here for the full article.
  • If you’d like to be networked with another women or a small group for support in ministry life, please contact us.

Some things to get you thinking from Mary Milne, a ministry wife in Sydney:

Structure for a Support Group Meeting

  • Have a simple lunch together or morning/afternoon tea – depending on what time of the day you meet.  Keep it simple, then it’s not too hard to maintain.
  • Bible reading – and have a brief discussion – Take turns reading the bible and discussing it (remember some might not be willing).
  • The purpose of this group is not a bible study, as we all belong to a bible study group elsewhere.  However we do want to remind each other that Christ is the centre of our discussion and friendship.
  • Pray about the passage – usually the person who has just read it.
  • Ask the group what praise points and issues they have brought to the group today.  You can go around and ask for a quick summary, so you can prioritise who goes first.  Or you can ask the group to rate their issue out of ten, and then you go from highest to lowest.  If people don’t bring an issue that’s ok, they will when they are ready.
  • (We have praise points and issues because of Philippians 4:6 to be thankful as we present our request to God)
  • After each person has shared, get someone to pray for that person before moving onto the next.

Explanation of:   “issues brought to the support group”

  • It is up to the group member to bring an issue to discuss each month.
  • Any incident that happened that you want to get off your chest.
  • Something you are anxious or worried about.
  • Answered prayers.
  • Praise points
  • An aspect of your life you are working on, and need prayer for.
  • A discovery you have made about yourself.
  • You might be seeking advice on a particular issue.
  •  Anything at all to do with your life as a MW and mother.

Why have support groups for MW?

Some things to get you thinking from Mary Milne, a ministry wife in Sydney:

 Some facts about Ministry Wives (MW): (from pastor burn out.com)

  • “Walking wounded” – ie suffering from psychological symptoms but still functioning on the surface.  Many have anxiety and depression, one study said 88% lifetime incidence.  (Arch Hart 1990)
  • Prevalence of depression in the normal general population is 32% life time incidence!!! – the prevalence of depression is so much higher in ministry wives!! Continue reading Why have support groups for MW?

Sobering USA ministry statistics

Mark Driscoll – “Death by Ministry”

  • 1500 pastors leave ministry every month
  • 50% of pastors are so discouraged that they would leave the ministry if they could.
  • The problem is that they don’t feel they have a skill set that will land them a job that can feed their family.
  • 80% of bible college students will leave the ministry in 5 years.
  • Ministry gets difficult quickly
  • 50% of pastors’ marriage will end in divorce.
  • 40% of pastors polled admitted to an adulterous affair after entering the ministry.
  • Sexual sin is a primary reason why ministers’ families are falling apart and why pastors leave the ministry.
  • 84% of pastors’ spouses feel unqualified and discouraged in their role.
  • 80% of pastors’ wives wish their husband would choose another profession.
  • 70% of pastors constantly fight depression.
  • It’s hard not to get depressed when dealing with people.  People will ultimately disappoint you.

Our topics and recordings

Each topic is designed to have relevance for yourself and people you are ministering to. We also have plenty of time to meet with and encourage one another, in what can sometimes be a lonely role. If you know someone who may not be receiving these emails, please let us know or feel free to forward this email on. Our sessions are recorded and available online, though you’ll need an account on our site. Please email us if you have trouble accessing it: brisbaneministrywivesnetwork@gmail.com

Getting Started in a ministry group

If you’re not in a ministry wives discussion group, maybe now is the time to start! Especially if you think you haven’t got time for one!!! Here’s a few thoughts to get you started:

  • Try to meet once a month or two
  • Try to meet up at a time and place where you are freed from the distraction of small children, phone calls etc
  • Have something concrete to discuss, but something that involves little or no preparation. You could start with one of the series from the In Tandem blog – see below for descriptions of some of their series. They are short and great discussion starters.
  • Allow time for praying for one another
  • Still not sure if it’s worth the effort? Why not read this short article Not Quickly Broken by Mary Hee about the why’s and how’s of being in a support group. A Christian psychiatrist also discusses the health benefits of being in a support group. Click here for the full article.
  • If you’d like to be networked with another women or a small group for support in ministry life, please contact us.

Going the Distance

How to Stay Fit for a Lifetime of Ministry by Peter Brain
Wendy from the In Tandem team has written a 17 part series, summarising and discussing each chapter of Peter Brain’s book, and concluding with some personal thinking or discussion questions. From Wendy: “This book is a must-read for anyone in full-time ministry, but it also has great value for any ministry-minded person…… Brain has done an excellent job of thinking through both the privileges and the challenges of full-time ministry and how we can respond to them biblically and wisely so that we can continue on for many years serving the Lord.”

Wendy says she first read this book as part of an email book club with her year of college wives, where they shared their comments and thoughts via group emails. Perhaps you might like to do that or you might like to read them for yourself or discuss them with another ministry wife or with your husband or in a small group. Click here for the link to this series.

The Legend of the Super-woman

Rachel from the In Tandem team explores the legend of the super-woman in her particular incarnation as the super-ministry-wife. What do we make of her? How do we respond to her when we meet her? Should we aspire to be like her? Does she really even exist? Click here for her posts. You might like to read them for yourself or discuss them with another ministry wife or in a small group.

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