Serving Side by Side

  Breaking Free from Unrealistic Expectations as a Ministry Wife Happy New Year, dear sisters!    As we step into 2025, let’s embrace this fresh start by breaking free from the unrealistic expectations that may have weighed us down in the past. This is a time to refocus on God’s calling for our lives, prioritize our families, and find renewed joy in serving Him. Have you ever felt the weight of expectations pressing down on you and your children? In ministry, it’s easy to feel like you’re under a magnifying glass. People sometimes expect us to be everything to everyone, and our children to fit an unspoken mold of perfection. Yet, God never calls us to be anyone but who He created us to be. Our first ministry is our family:  Scripture reminds us of our priorities “But if anyone does not provide for his own, especially for those of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.” (1 Timothy 5:8) Our first ministry is our home—our spouse and...

Merry Christmas, Ministry Wives: Finding Joy in the Far Places Dear Sisters in Ministry, Merry Christmas to you, wherever you may be serving! For some, this season might look like bustling church events, multiple Christmas Eve services, and finding time to care for your own family in the midst of it all. But for others, it may feel vastly different—serving in a place far from home, where Christmas is not widely celebrated, and the traditions we often take for granted are unfamiliar or even absent. When my husband and I served in Japan, where many people still didn’t know the real meaning of Christmas, the season carried a unique beauty. We didn’t have a church on every corner like here in the United States, but we had something deeply meaningful—a powerful sense of togetherness among the believers. We would gather to celebrate, inviting friends who didn’t yet believe, sharing the love of Christ through warm meals, music, and fellowship. This simplicity and intentionality offered a pers...

Happy Thanksgiving week, dear sisters in Christ! Today, I just want to tell you how deeply thankful I am for each of you. I know there have been moments when you’ve felt invisible, forgotten, backstabbed, or judged—the kind of pain that serving others can uniquely bring. But please remember this: you are loved, you are His beloved. Scripture reminds us of this truth: "The LORD your God is among you, a warrior who saves. He will rejoice over you with gladness. He will be quiet in His love. He will delight in you with singing." (Zephaniah 3:17) Walking with the Lord is no ordinary journey. It touches every part of your life—your heart, your family, and your very being. It’s no wonder the pain cuts so deeply when challenges come. But here’s the beauty: serving Him also brings indescribable joy. Joy in following, in trusting, and in loving others for His glory. It’s the kind of joy that Jesus spoke of: "I have spoken these things to you so that my joy may be in you and your...

Transitioning from one church to another can feel like an emotional minefield, can’t it? In some cases, people we loved and thought would be in our lives forever seem to vanish. Suddenly, we’re unfriended on social media, ignored in messages, and spoken about in ways we’d never expected. It’s painful—almost like we’re strangers or, worse, like we’ve become enemies. But I believe God allows these transitions to draw us closer to Him, especially when we feel the hurt of separation. People’s reactions may reflect their own pain, confusion, or misunderstanding of our journey. And while it’s tempting to feel resentment or to try to explain ourselves to everyone, the truth is, God knows our hearts and our motives. He knows when we have done everything we could to leave graciously, to preserve peace, and to remain humble. Romans 12:18 reminds us, “If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all.” When people unfollow or disconnect, it may reveal that the relationship was mor...

  Hi there, I’m Andrea. If you’ve taken a moment to read my bio, you’ll see that I wear many hats—just like any other mom, wife, entrepreneur, and ministry wife. For the past 24 years, I’ve been living abroad, and for nearly 20 of those years, I’ve served alongside my husband in ministry. As I get older, I’ve noticed how life shapes us. The highs, the lows, the joys, the heartbreaks—they all mold our character and build resilience. Looking back, I see how much God has changed me. If you met me 20 years ago, or even 2 years ago, you’d be meeting a different version of myself. While I certainly don’t love every challenge life throws my way—suffering, illness, even betrayal—I can’t help but see how God has used those moments to transform me. I’m still learning, still growing. One of the hardest lessons I’ve had to learn is how to set boundaries in love. The “old me” would stretch and bend to please everyone, but I’ve realized the importance of drawing lines—saying “no” when necessary ...

Talking with a dear friend who has been a ministry wife for decades and excels in hospitality, she shared with me some drama unfolding in her church. It's the kind of drama that involves pouting and ultimatums, "my way or the highway" attitudes, that can be deeply hurtful, making her question everything she's done over the years. Ministry life is filled with joy, but it also bears a heavy weight. One mistake in a church member's eyes can overshadow all the good you've accomplished, challenging your character and integrity. People might say to separate church work from home life, but that's practically impossible, as ministry intertwines with your very being.      This situation reminds me of Rebekah, a model of hospitality and service. When Abraham's servant was seeking a wife for Isaac, Rebekah's kindness shone through as she offered water to him and his camels. In Genesis 24:19, "When she had finished giving him a drink, she said, 'I wil...