National Shepherdess Conference

Jennifer Newton (yes--my lovely spouse!) invited me to accompany her to the North American Division Shepherdess Advisory hosted by Marti Schneider in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. Thanks to Southwest Airlines my travel expense was $10.00 round trip. Jennifer enjoyed meetings on Friday and Sabbath with the wives of conference and union presidents as together they discussed the ways to give ongoing support and encouragement to the spouses of our pastors and administrators.

I was kindly accepted into this special gathering for the Sabbath services which included an excellent presentation by Mrs. Lois King, the wife of the president of the Atlantic Union, on the subject of Christ-centered self-esteem.

In the coming year, Jennifer and Audrey Graham will be providing coordination for more Pacific Union-wide awareness, planning, and activities for our pastoral and administrative spouses. After all, these special people are the crucial key to the success that pastors experience in their churches. Pastoral ministry is truly a "team-ministry" with every couple no matter the specific ways in which it is exercised.