5 Lessons Learned as a Pastor's Spouse
1. Be You.
“It’s OK to be you. I truly thought I was going to have to change my whole way of life. People truly appreciate me being me and not trying to be somebody I’m not.”—Kathy Pepper
2. Be Humble.
“[I’ve learned] humility, and how to [be] OK in a supporting role.”—Jeremy Wong
3. There’s Joy in Giving.
Interview by Alexis A. Goring
Seventh-day Adventists sometimes tend to “do life” in their own bubble of sorts—speaking their own church language (GC, haystacks, AY), socializing with people who believe like they do and even shopping in special stores, says Sung Kwon, executive director of the North American Division Adventist Community Services, and a member of Chesapeake Conference’s Spencerville church in Silver Spring, Md.
In his book, Burst the Bubble, Kwon challenges Adventist readers to “burst the bubble” and engage the community in what he calls “life on life evangelism.”
Read more about his book in the interview below:
On November 6, 2018, the Executive Committee of the North American Division of the Seventh-day Adventist Church voted the following response to a General Conference vote taken at the 2018 GC Annual Council:
Editorial by Victor Zill
How often do you contemplate the blessings in your life? I firmly believe that focusing on the blessings God has given us—both individually and as a church—helps keep our priorities straight and our attitudes correctly tuned. Even if problems and tragedies run into us like a Mack Truck, with God on our side, there are plenty of things to celebrate.
Story by Bryant Smith
Story by Tiffany Doss
Members of the Southern Asian church in Silver Spring, Md., recently celebrated 30 years of God’s faithfulness. “Everyone joined to embrace the history and celebrate what lies ahead,” says Franklin David, pastor.
In the late 1950s, many Southern Asian Adventists migrated to areas in the Potomac Conference and held church services in their homes. In the 1980s, they approached conference administration with a request to establish a Southern Asian church. David established a company as a volunteer leader, and, within two years, the congregation grew to 250 members. Today the church is attended by more than 900.
Story by Valerie Morikone
After their baptism into the Seventh-day Adventist Church in May of 1999, Jim and Elaine Buchanan quickly began sharing the Word of God in their community. They enjoyed it so much that, two years later, they attended the Mission College of Evangelism (S.D.) for further Bible instructor training. After graduation, they became Bible workers in Florida, and, several years later, moved to Oregon to work as church trainers and outreach coordinators for the Mission College of Evangelism. It wasn’t until 2007 that they received a call to minister in the Mountain View Conference (MVC).
Story by LaTasha Hewitt
The Allegheny East Conference (AEC) recently launched its new 24-hour prayer line, a place where constituents can leave prayer requests and concerns. Henry J. Fordham, III, conference president, greets callers and invites them to leave an audio recording, detailing their prayer request. Upon receipt, the prayer team, consisting of AEC office staff, listen to the message and pray together for the specific request.
Callers also have the option to leave their name and number for someone to call them back to pray with them over the phone. Someone will respond to these requests within 24 hours. Individuals can also email their prayer requests to prayer@aecsda.com.
By Kimberly Luste Maran, with reporting by Mylon Medley / Photos by Pieter Damsteegt / NAD
After the afternoon reports from Christian Record Services, Inc., North American Division (NAD) media ministries, and Oakwood University at the NAD Year-End Meeting on Nov. 5, 2018, Daniel R. Jackson, NAD president, opened the floor for a discussion on finances.
We’re human!
“At one level, [people] realize that a pastor’s wife’s ministry in general is made up of real, actual human beings who have good days and bad days. ... Who have marriages that they struggle [with] at times, who have nances that go up and down. But at another level, people put us on a pedestal like you don’t really have any problems because you are a pastor’s wife.
“I like being able to pull back the curtain, which I really do. I wear my heart on my sleeve a lot of the time. I think it surprises people.”—Kathy Pepper
We’re busy too!