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Speaker spurs ministers’ wives to prioritize JOY
Dianna L. Cagle, BR Production Editor
November 10, 2015
5 MIN READ TIME

Speaker spurs ministers’ wives to prioritize JOY

Speaker spurs ministers’ wives to prioritize JOY
Dianna L. Cagle, BR Production Editor
November 10, 2015

Putting Jesus first, others second and yourself last places everything in proper order, said Janet Sauls.

“You last does not mean that you have to be a doormat and that you have to be taken advantage of,” said Sauls, who was the speaker for the North Carolina Baptist Ministers Wives (NCBMW) annual meeting Nov. 2. “You have to take care of you. No one is going to do that for you.”

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BR photo by Dianna L. Cagle

Officers for 2015-2016 include Amy Harmon, seated from left, president elect 2016-2017; Ginnie Varnam, president; and Renea Henderson, 2016 retreat chair; and standing, from left: Betty Smith, publicity chairperson and eastern representative; Harriett Lovett, secretary/treasurer; Peggy Mooney, vice president; Diane Smith, central #1 representative; Dakota Spurling, western #2 representative; and Cheryl Reeves, western #1 representative.

Meeting at Koury Convention Center in Greensboro, around 90 ladies came for fellowship and worship. Renea Henderson led the music.

Sauls, a member of Shiloh Baptist Church in Garner, along with her husband Rodger, are marriage enrichment facilitators with 2 Becomes 1 Ministries. While not a pastor’s wife, Sauls’ father was a minister.

“The role of a pastor’s wife is different for every one of you ladies,” Sauls said. “It can be awesome but it can be less than awesome over time.”

The people in our lives can being happiness but that true J-O-Y – Jesus first, others second and you last – “is what comes through Jesus,” she said. “He’s the only One who can give us … true joy. He’s always faithful.”

Sauls touched on the loneliness of ministry, urging the ladies to make Jesus a priority.

She said that personal relationship with Christ should come first. Husbands should be next in line and then children, if there are any. Church should be next.

“I honestly believe that Satan is trying to attack … pastors and their wives more than anybody else,” she said. “Satan really tries to destroy our families.”

No matter the challenges you face, Sauls said, “you are the child of the King. He equips you to do what you really need to be doing.”

Women should focus on the mental, physical, emotional and spiritual.

“We are real people,” Sauls said. “Pray when you are lonely; pray when you feel depressed; pray when doubt sets in your heart and your faith feels weak. You need to get in your prayer closet.”

She urged them to have individual prayer time, but also to make time to pray with their spouse and children.

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BR photo by Dianna L. Cagle

Janet Sauls, of 2 Become 1 Ministries in Clayton, spoke about the struggles of ministers’ wives and encouraged the ladies to keep their priorities in order.

Business

Harriett Lovett, secretary/treasurer, of NCBMW, shared notes from the July retreat. She said there were more new attendees this year (7) than last year (2). There were 47 at the July retreat; she encouraged more women to be a part next summer.

The group had $291.35 in scholarship money available for retreats before the meeting. An offering during the Nov. 2 meeting raised $323.84 to add to that amount. Before the meeting the group had a balance of $9,617.01.

Henderson, who is serving as the 2016 retreat chair, shared the dates for next year’s retreat: July 11-13. The theme, “Repurposed,” is based on 2 Corinthians 12:9-10 and will be held at Caraway Conference Center near Asheboro.

Officers

Outgoing president, Lisa Miller announced the officers for the coming year:

President: Ginnie Varnam; vice president: Peggy Mooney; president elect 2016-17: Amy Harmon; secretary/treasurer: Harriet Lovett; publicity chairperson: Betty Smith; 2016 retreat chair: Renea Henderson; 2016 retreat assist: Vickie Parker; Julie Pierce and Carole Barnhardt. Regional representatives are: Betty Smith, eastern; Diane Smith, central #1; Gina Powell, central #2; Cheryl Reeves, western #1; and Dakota Spurling, western #2.

One winner at each table was given the centerpiece highlighting the fruits of the spirit. There were also two Bibles given away. The Biblical Recorder gave a Bible to the woman who had been married the longest. Lila Murdock has been married to Paul, the interim pastor at Grandview Baptist Church in Waynesville, for 57 years.

Another Bible was given to Ginnie Varnam, whose husband, Devon, is senior pastor of Tar Heel Baptist Church in Tar Heel. Varnam was the youngest wife in attendance. LifeWay Christian Resources made the Bible available to the Biblical Recorder for giveaways during the Baptist State Convention’s (BSC) annual meeting. There were more prizes given away at the booth in the exhibit hall.

Next year’s annual meeting will be held in Greensboro on the morning of Nov. 14, 2016, which is the first day of the BSC’s annual meeting. Dorothy Patterson, professor of theology at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, is the scheduled speaker. She is the wife of Paige Patterson, who serves as SWBTS president. Funds from the BSC Embrace Women’s Ministries and Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary will help defray the cost of the event.

For more photos visit the BR photo gallery.