If you are a pastor or the spouse of a pastor, chances are high that you may be experiencing feelings of loneliness, stress, and discouragement. This likelihood increases, especially if you are engaged in Kingdom work as a church planter, grappling with the complexities of leading a new church, raising a family, evangelism and the pressure of creating a discipleship making culture. For those who are not pastors but regular churchgoers, it’s crucial to recognize that your pastor may not be okay.
According to a 2022 report from Barna, 56% of pastors have contemplated quitting full-time ministry in the past year. Various factors contribute to this, with the primary ones being job-related stress and isolation. At Expand NW, we know that engaging in Kingdom work can be disheartening, but it doesn’t have to stay that way. One of the best ways to alleviate the negative emotions associated with the stress of ministry leadership is to receive encouragement, prayer and care from a peer with lived experience as a pastor, church planter or pastor’s spouse.
Wrap Around Care for Pastor’s Families
Originally focusing primarily on providing encouragement for pastors, prompted by the need for wrap around care, we at, Expand NW introduced a pastoral spouse and family care initiative in 2023. This support effort is comprised of a dedicated four-person care team, all either having been church planters, pastors, or pastor’s spouses.
One way Expand NW has intentionally focused on pastoral encouragement is by providing wrap around care for the wives of church planters. This holistic care includes encouragement through relationships, cards, one-on-one meetings, and personalized retreats.
2023 Planter’s Wives Retreat
Summer Shore, Tammy Adams & Melissa Campbell
November 2023 marked the first ever Planter’s Wives Retreat led by Summer Shore and Melissa Campbell, team members of Expand’s Care Team.
The goals for the retreat were simple: provide rest and community and remind the women of their identity in Christ. Attended by seven church planter’s wives, this retreat was a time for being refreshed, renewed and encouraged.
Summer and Melissa, having both served as church planter’s wives, remember the lack of support they received when in ministry and are motivated to make things different. “There is a real need for care for planter’s wives…for this kind of care for women in ministry. We were grateful to support and care for them well in a transformative way,” said Summer. “We wanted to encourage them to keep going and remind them of truth,” added Melissa.
The retreat proved to be a beautiful and transformative time. The women who attended spoke of being filled up, encouraged, refreshed and renewed all highlights that point to the transformative impact of intentional and needed support.
Expand NW’s unwavering commitment to providing care for pastors and their families marks a hopeful step toward fostering a resilient and supported community in Kingdom work here in the Northwest and beyond.
