January 22, 2004
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Beyond Singlehood
I've felt disdain toward the thought of giving up singlehood for quite awhile now. I guess it's because it seems to me like when a woman gets married and starts having babies, she disappears from the ministry scene. It seems almost like marriage and missions are mutually exclusive. I loathe the thought.
But yesterday, God surprised me. Heidi, who just recently had a baby a few weeks ago, was in the office making photocopies for a Bible study. (She's on staff with Campus Crusade's Student Venture.) I was really surprised.
"You mean you're still meeting up with girls?"
She said, "Yeah."
"What are you going to do with the baby?"
She said, "Just take him with me."
"Wow, that's great! So good to hear. ...I guess...it just seems like whenever women get married and have babies..."
She finished, "it's just the end."
"Yeah," I agreed.
But it wasn't the end for her! I was so awed. Here is a woman with a mission. She's not using the baby as an excuse to get "comfortable." So it is possible! Giving up singlehood doesn't mean that you have to be so engrossed in your "relationship" that you ignore the world! Building a family doesn't mean you have to cease to minister outside of the family. Praise God. I'm excited.
Comments (7)
yup! cuz I definitely don't think they're mutually exclusive. I actually think having a family can be very strategic in ministring and evangelizing to people
here's to 1 cor 10:31ing everything...
thanks for last night, i love you
I agree. I don't plan to. Jeanine Mak (not sure about Stan) is a jr high advisor, although there is little precious Trinity. Stan also helps w/worship. Stelly has been teaching hs Sun. school. I'm not sure what the status is right now w/Emily so young.
i believe married women are free to minister to others outside of her husband/children, however, i also believe there is a priority-order in post-marriage ministries. after marriage, i believe my husband and children are to be my first, most important "ministries." every other ministry is valuable, but secondary.
http://www.nebraskajames.blogspot.com Praise the Lord! Thank you so much for dedicating your site to God's glory I know you are earnestly seeking His face. I will be reflecting, nay defining my vision for this year. thanks again. Oh yeah, I don't know you just visiting....
I think it's important for us women to continue to be in ministry after we are married and have kids, however, I think this path is way harder than what men(aka our husbands) can imagine. Women, in addition to serving in ministry, also have to take care of the kids, take care of the house and take care of their husbands. That includes housing cleaning, doing laundry, and cooking while the men usually have less responsility in that area. I propose that men should be more sensitive to their wives, serve them as much as they can to free up her time and energy to serve God.
Oh, in addition to my previous comment, I also think that how much a women can be involved in ministry really depends on how supportive the husband is, or if the husband is in full time ministry and need the wife to stay home(or work full time?) to 'take care of the rest'. In that case, I don't think the wife is using the baby as an excuse to get comfortable because her life is not easy, and it is ok that she is not in the ministry scene upfront because she is supporting her husband's ministry.
Ministry/mission and Marriage are not mutually exclusive because otherwise, why would God create something like marriage to hinder his work? It just doesn't make sense.
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