In the beginning, one of the hardest things about church planting was not having anyone to talk to regularly about things that were going on with me as a church planting wife. Maybe I did not take full advantage of all that I was offered during that time.  However, I know my husband was coached on a weekly basis, for an hour a week, for several years, by someone who had been there and done that.  I also know that, unfortunately, there was not enough money in the budget to pay someone to do that for me.

Often as women, we are expected to slide into the role of church planting wife with some training and our husbands, but little in the way of mentoring support.  I know church planting can be a hard and lonely road to travel emotionally, especially when you don’t have someone who understands to process with.

It took me about 2 -2  1/2 years to build close enough friendships where I felt I could vent openly with one woman from our church.  During that time, I had a few friends out of state and a sister who helped me process, but none of them were church planting wives.  Let’s face it, when you are planting a church and most of the people coming are non-Christians or new Christians, you can’t very well complain about them, or church or your husband without wreaking some serious damage!  Having someone you can connect with on a ministry level (NOT YOUR HUSBAND!) can be so important during those first years.

I needed someone I could talk to about how depressed my husband seemed on Sunday afternoons, or about how frustrating not having any money for ministry can be.  I needed someone other than my husband, because not only was he hearing a lot of it already, I did not want to place an extra burden on him.

I am in no way suggesting that we substitute a human to meet needs that only God can.  Truthfully, some of my closest communing with God happened during those times.  However, I do believe that having someone who can mentor you  and vice versa is a biblical way to deal with some of the issues we as church planting wives encounter, especially during the first 2 or 3 years.

This need for mentoring is another reason I started this website.  I wanted other women going through the same issues to be able to come together as only women can and collectively and compassionately give one another advice, encouragement and empathy.

If you have found a great way to be mentored or to have that need met in your life, or if you are currently mentoring someone, please comment and let us know what you have discovered!  Can’t wait to hear all your stories!

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