DESIRE TO BE A TRUE FOLLOWER

Compiled by, Darlene G. Snyder

Diane Braden
O Fallon, MO 63366

I have been married to my husband Joseph for 26 years and we serve at the First Baptist Church of St. Peters, Missouri just outside of St. Louis. Our churches average attendance is around 230 – 250. We have enjoyed serving in ministry together for the past 20 years. We have three boys. Our oldest son Andrew (22) is married. He and his wife, Casey are currently at the Southern Baptist Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky. Our middle son Thomas (19) is out at the Masters College in Santa Clarita, California and our youngest son Grant (15) is in 10th grade being home schooled.
When my husband advises our sons in looking for a godly wife, he suggests that they find a girl who loves the Lord and loves His Church. My advice for women starting out in ministry would be first to make your desire to be a true follower of Jesus Christ, to know Him and to love His Church by consistently attending times of worship, teaching, fellowship and service. Make it your intention to be there on Sunday mornings, Sunday nights, weekday services – each time there is worship/teaching taking place. In this way, as your husband is growing in his studies and learning ministry, you too will grow and learn along with him and those the Lord puts under his teaching. You set the example by attending and coming with an open heart and mind to learn. I believe you will also find that to be the best way to get to know the congregation you serve. In this, you will be is a great support to your husband in his role as pastor, and will build lasting friendships too. My husband has pastored in just two churches. We were in our first church in Sedalia, Missouri for nine years and have been at our current ministry for the past eleven. In going back to our first church, we still have a strong cord of friendship with the believers there. I am ever grateful for them and for how they allowed me to grow and learn much along with my husband, about ministering in those early years.