Enjoy fresh and relevant content from 'The Journal', a publication specifically for pastoral spouses, on the Ministry Spouses Podcast. This is a service of the General Conference Ministerial Spouses Association.
The Journal for Ministry Spouses
Can your church truly hear the silent cries of those drifting away? Discover how intentional care, reconciliation, and prayerful nurture can transform hearts and bring members home.
Can just one minute of love and attention make a difference? Learn simple, daily ways to build stronger bonds with your family and nurture joy, kindness, and connection.
Are you sitting too much? Discover why standing up and moving more can boost your health, mood, and focus — and how small changes make a big difference.
What simple acts of kindness could become your personal ministry? Discover how finding your niche can turn everyday moments into opportunities to share Jesus' love.
What if involving children and teens could bring joy, connection, and new growth to your church? Discover creative ways to engage young hearts in worship, prayer, and service.
How can teamwork between pastoral couples transform ministry? What if influence isn't about the pulpit, but quiet acts of service that inspire others?
This article shares lessons from Noah's story, focusing on kindness, teamwork, and God's care for both people and animals. It encourages activities like building a boat, designing a zoo, and reflecting on God's promises.
This author reflects on the fragility of life, inspired by a personal loss, and draws parallels with Paul the apostle's preparation for his eventual death. Paul's legacy teaches the importance of living a life of faith and perseverance, always fighting the good fight for Christ and eagerly awaiting His return.
Bullying is a serious issue that can occur in unexpected places like church, affecting children both physically and emotionally. To address this, adults must educate kids about bullying, encourage open communication, and model kindness to create a safe environment.
To protect children in our communities, it's essential to intervene when witnessing abuse, screen volunteers thoroughly, and ensure adequate supervision during all activities. By implementing safety measures like the "Two-Adult Rule" and maintaining visibility in all areas, we create safer environments for children in schools and churches.
This article discusses the importance of recognizing and addressing abuse in the church and provides guidance for pastoral spouses on how to support victims. It emphasizes compassion, understanding, and the need for proper resources and reporting.
This article explains how traumatic experiences, both past and suppressed, can affect a person's physical and emotional health, often through triggers that cause unexpected reactions. It emphasizes the importance of proper treatment, self-care strategies, and support to aid recovery from trauma.
Abuse can be hard to identify, especially for those raised in abusive environments. It's crucial to recognize signs of abuse and provide support by referring victims to professionals, offering compassion, and raising awareness through church initiatives like Adventist's enditnow® campaign.
This article discusses how to support someone who has experienced abuse, focusing on listening, offering healing messages, and empowering them to make their own choices for recovery. It highlights the importance of comfort, prayer, and helping them regain joy and healing through loving actions and faith.
This editorial addresses sexual, emotional, and spiritual abuse, highlighting their impact and the healing offered through God's word. It emphasizes that survivors should seek help, trust in God's healing, and know their worth.
Anxiety can feel overwhelming, but like David in Psalm 42, we can find strength and hope in God's promises. What antidote can transform our anxiety into peace and praise, even in the darkest times?
How can we uncover the treasures hidden within Jesus' parables? This article offers creative activities, thoughtful questions, and family discussions to deepen your understanding and appreciation of these timeless stories.
How can we find happiness in the face of life's challenges? The inspiring story of a 92-year-old woman who, despite her struggles, chooses gratitude and positivity each day reminds us that happiness is a decision we can make at any age.
As the pressures of ministry weigh heavily on pastors and their spouses, how can couples find balance and renewal amidst demanding schedules? This article emphasizes the importance of allowing space for rejuvenation, both individually and as a couple, to prevent burnout and strengthen their relationship.
How can we teach our children the true spirit of Christmas beyond gifts and parties? This article encourages families to reflect on the importance of giving gifts to Jesus through acts of kindness and gratitude, using a parable to illustrate how often we forget to honor Him during the holiday season.
Have you ever struggled to recognize someone's voice on the phone, and what does that reveal about your relationship? This article explores how our connection with God parallels voice recognition, emphasizing the importance of quieting the noise around us to truly hear and respond to His voice.
Reflecting on the journey of life, exploring how each developmental stage shapes our identities and purpose. How can understanding these metaphors enhance our spiritual walk and help us guide the next generation in their journeys?
Struggling with chaotic weekday mornings? Discover simple strategies for a smoother start, from evening preparations to self-care routines that prioritize your well-being and set a positive tone for the day ahead.
Ideas for creating personal spiritual retreats to deepen one's experience of God's love, such as praying, reflecting, and engaging in activities that remind us of His presence and care. How can we incorporate these practices to strengthen our relationship with God and share His love with others?
The importance of intentional rest for spiritual renewal, drawing on biblical examples like God's rest on the Sabbath and Jesus' moments of solitude. Are we taking time to pause and reconnect with God in our busy lives?
How does the Bible guide Christians in addressing modern views on sexuality with both love and truth? This article explores a biblical perspective on human sexuality, emphasizing compassion, grace, and the power of Christ to transform lives.
This is part 2 of Lorena's testimony. She shares her family's journey of faith, detailing how God's blessings and perfect timing helped them overcome financial struggles and doubts, ultimately leading her husband to a fulfilling ministry role.
Here are some fun and creative ways to celebrate how wonderful and precious our bodies are!
We all want the best for our children. We must teach them to stay pure for marriage and wisely choose their spouse. Here are some conversation starters to tackle such challenging topics.
Why do people tend to feel responsible for their abuse? How is shame and guilt experienced in the context of sexual trauma and in our biblical perspectives? What are some practical steps for survivors of sexual trauma?
Finding purpose and direction in our lives. Exploring the role of faith and personal growth in shaping one's identity and legacy.
Self-discovery and identity through the story of Joseph. How understanding our core values, experiences, and faith can help us navigate life's challenges with purpose and resilience.
It's not easy to talk about God's amazing gift of sexuality and the wonderful way in which God designed our bodies for intimacy. Here are some tips to make it easier to have these discussions.
What is marriage? What are the benefits and practical implications of marriage? What spiritual value does marriage hold?
This is part 1 of Lorena's testimony. Here, she shares how God provided for her family after she and her husband gave up 3 successful businesses for her husband to enroll in a theology program!
Engaging and fun kids' activities focused on caring for others in creative ways,
What could the role of a grandparent be, and what influence can grandparents have in the character development and eternal destiny of their grandchildren? Here are four ways to get started being an incredible grandparent.
Navigating the grief process with honesty towards oneself and others holds profound significance.
Everyone needs encouragement. How can we become people who affirm, uplift, and encourage those around us?
Salvation on offer to humanity came at a great cost. What did it take for Jesus to offer us salvation and restoration?
Evelyn shares how she discovered an effective, simple technique to create stories for her children.
What are some simple things I can do to help me navigate my trauma? What can I do to stay compassionate toward those who are struggling?
A heartwarming story of how the power of community, faith, prayer, and fasting transformed the life of a suffering woman.
Creative and fun ways for children and elderly people to bond and spend special time together.
Rae Lee shares her story of experiencing sudden hearing loss (SHL), and what she has learned from going through this hardship.
What are the unique experiences and challenges of pastoral spouses who are men?
Sugih testifies about the blessings experienced through journaling about the love story of God toward His children.
Ruth shares a strategy she uses to embrace gratitude and appreciate even the challenging moments in her life.
What is intergenerational worship? Why might we need to rethink our worship services? How did Jesus teach? How can we start intergenerational worship?
Understanding God as our compassionate creator. How can we show compassion to ourselves and others?
A beautiful story of how God orchestrated a divine appointment that led to lifelong transformation.