I remember those when we started very Baptist Church. We have two little boys
for the last 11 years
We've had four daughters born to us
while in ministry
plus two dogs
One guard dog and one useless dog
During those 11 years
We've gone through four pregnancies
And when I say we I mean my wife has
I've just I've just I've just been the silent partner
During those 11 years we've gone through four pregnancies four newborns six children two dogs
And during those 11 years, my wife has put on ladies tea. My wife has put on ladies Christmas parties
She's put on baby showers. She's put on Bible show
Bridal showers, she's put on homeschool field trips
She's put on homeschool activities while going to church Sunday morning Sunday night Wednesday night while being faithful to soul winning every week
While taking phone calls from ladies in the church while doing counseling for ladies in the church while dealing with all the trials and tribulations
That have came into ministry. You say why am I telling you this?
I'm telling you this to help you understand that serving God requires tenacity
It requires somebody it requires a man it requires a woman who says I'm gonna work harder
I'm gonna labor more abundantly than they all
Sometimes and I and I don't say this in in in I hope you understand my spirit
I don't say this in a rude way
But sometimes I see some of the young moms in our church and I'll see a mom with one kid
Struggling to make it on time to to to a church service and I'm thinking myself you realize
You realize you have a pastor's wife
You can't make it to an event
That your pastor's wife put on while while she was pregnant or while she had a newborn and while she's homeschooling five other kids
And while she's dealing with all these things and I'm just I'm just telling you it's tenacity
And again, it's not just my wife and it's not just me
Pastor Thompson has worked
Hard while starting just came ready to go go back and be working and having a big season of work here soon
And Miss Sherry's had has her kids and and grandkids and in her life
Our personal life to deal with while dealing with the ministry and again, it's not anything
New or unique to us Pastor Anderson and faith forward Baptist Church
Worked a full-time job with a very busy wife with many children homeschooling all those things while starting faith forward Baptist Church pastor
Birdsons worked a full-time job pastor Jones worked a full-time job pastor pazarski works a full-time job
I'm not telling you anything that's unique about us. I'm just telling you that if you want to serve God
You may have to be able to say I labored more abundantly than they all