Miami, Florida…[Libna Stevens/IAD]
The unsung hero of many a pastoral ministry is the pastor's wife, the one who compliments and supports the work of her husband with passion, loyalty and dedication. Shepherdess Ministries recently conducted a special workshop for these women who play such an important role in the Seventh-day Adventist Church across the Inter-American Division (IAD) territory.
The workshop was designed to provide training, spiritual growth and networking for two days, and was held at IAD's Miami headquarters Aug. 28-29.
“I find that there are so many challenges that they [pastor's wives] face everyday and they need help,” said Gloria Trotman, Women's Ministries director and coordinator for Shepherdess International in the IAD. “That's one of the reasons we had this training session. We invited a clinical psychologist and theologian to speak and give them insight and the motivation to go back and help.”
Dr. Graham Stacey, Ph.D., Clinical Psychologist and Theology professor at Avondale College in Australia, was the main speaker on a variety of topics such as how to keep professional boundaries, how to listen and counsel the hurting, how to deal with a crisis and how to spend time with the family, among others.
“Families are important,” Dr. Stacey said. “Make sure your families get to be families.” He observed that it is so easy to become preoccupied with work and caring for others that it may inadvertently lead to neglect of the family.
“Sometimes we have to say no to responsibilities in order to preserve those important relationships, family, individual growth and well being,” he said.
For the 25 women in attendance representing the thousands of pastor’s wives throughout Inter-America, the workshop gave them more insight into how to be a pillar in the pastoral ministry.
“I am very pleased and excited with this workshop,” said Ricura Lassonnier. Lassonnier, who was recently appointed as Shepherdess coordinator for the church in French Antilles Guiana region, said this workshop “gave me the chance to meet a lot of women leading in this ministry and gave me that extra drive to lead better.”
Belgica Natera, a pastor’s wife for over 27 years and coordinator of Sheperdess in the Puerto Rico Union, said that she was grateful for the workshop.
“I am so grateful that we are receiving this type of workshop and that we can pass on this information to the pastoral wives because years ago we didn’t get any type of orientation, a pastor’s wife was perceived as we could do everything and we had to learn on our own and grow little by little,” Natera said.
Passing on vital training and helping the entering generation of pastor’s wives was the most talked about topic during a two-hour discussion forum.
Belkis Acevedo, Shepherdess coordinator for the church in the Dominican Republic, shared with the group what is being done in her country to create a supporting network and prepare the pastor’s wives-to-be on their role.
“We hold a special retreat every for the girlfriends of the pastors and prepare them to serve alongside their spouses to benefit the church and the membership. This year after the retreat, two young ladies broke off their engagements when they realized what being a pastor’s wife entailed,” said Acevedo. “This retreat has turned into a great blessing for those who attend and gives them a better understanding of how important their contribution is to the mission of the church.”
“This type of program,” said Xinia Vallejos, Shepherdess coordinator in the southern region of Costa Rica, “is very important and should help to new young women coming into the ministry, on what their role and what they will face. I didn’t have that when I married my husband; when he began his ministry, I didn’t know much,” she added.
Training new pastor’s wives is not only the concern among shepherdess coordinators, but providing a safety network to the more than 7,000 pastor’s wives across the territory who have been caring for their families and church memberships for decades, said Trotman.
Trotman, who travels throughout Inter-America every year giving seminars and workshops for shepherdess coordinators, said that offering certification to the pastor’s wives throughout the territory is among the strategic plans of Shepherdess ministries. This certification program is offered in coordination with Shepherdess International from the Adventist World Church Headquarters in Maryland, United States.
Shepherdess coordinator Carolina Ortiz of Colombia has been committed to providing certification for women across the country who need tools to better serve their roles as pastor’s wives. On December 2006, 198 women completed certification from the Shepherdess International certification program in three of Colombia’s church regions.
“You are impacting the future of the church by working for these women,” said Sharon Cress, Shepherdess International Coordinator for the Adventist World Church, as she encouraged the shepherdess leaders to continue their efforts in supporting pastor’s wives.
“If the minister is to be successful he needs successful relationship with his spouse, and that is what we are there for to support the pastor’s spouses,” said Trotman.
Shepherdess International was formed by the Adventist World Church 20 years ago to provide a system of support and nourishment for pastor's wives in their unique role in the ministry and the family.
