Gloria Furman - The Pastors Wife: Strengthened by Grace for a Life of Love

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This book is a breath of fresh air, not because its personal (which it is), or because its practical (which it is), but because it is profoundly biblical. We found Glorias Scripture-saturated counsel to be eminently realistic and deeply encouraging. Her wit and wisdom will be good for the pastor and good for the pastors wife, which is good news for those in ministry and good news for the church.

Kevin and Trisha DeYoung, Senior Pastor, University Reformed Church, East Lansing, Michigan. Kevin and Trisha have been married for twelve years and have six children.

Pastors wives are deep in the trenches of gospel work. We need biblical truths that meet us there and help us joyfully persevere. Gloria Furman has given us a rich, gospel-saturated resource, drawing our eyes away from any prescribed role and setting them on the one who really does the work.

Christine Hoover, author, The Church Planting Wife and From Good to Grace

Make no mistake: your role as a pastors wife is essential. Gloria reminds us all to first and foremost drink deeply from the living water of Jesus as we endeavor to humbly fulfill our calling to love our husbands and the body of Christ to whom we have been called.

Jennifer Carter, wife of Matt Carter, Pastor of Preaching, Austin Stone Community Church, Austin, Texas

Gloria Furman has given the church a much-needed gift by addressing a group that is often neglectedthe wives of pastors. With the power of the gospel, the clarity of Scripture, and personal insight, Gloria helps pastors wives to first draw near to Jesus as their greatest need and satisfaction, then to love and support their husbands, and finally to find a healthy place in the local church.

Joe and Jen Thorn, author, Experiencing the Trinity and Note to Self; Lead Pastor, Redeemer Fellowship, St. Charles, Illinois; and his wife, Jen, blogger, jenthorn.com

This book reminded me that when Im weary, Christs strength sustains me; when Im tempted to cave in to expectations, Im free to love and please Christ above all. Whether youre a pastors wife or a military wife or a door sweepers wife, this book will encourage you to plumb the riches of Gods grace to you in Christ.

Kristie Anyabwile, wife of Thabiti Anyabwile, Assistant Pastor for Church Planting, Capitol Hill Baptist Church, Washington, DC; mom of three; discipler of women

Ministers wives lead unique lives with a unique set of challenges. Gloria does a beautiful job of reminding us that our identity is in Christ and his redemptive blood, not in the way we serve or how much we do for Christ. I felt encouraged and spurred on in my walk with the Lord to look upward to Christ and not at my outward circumstances. This is a very helpful book for ministers wives anywhere at any stage of life.

Heather Platt, wife of David Platt, President, International Mission Board; author, Radical

The pastors wife bears unusual responsibility. Though the Bible is completely silent about her role, churches tend to load her with unfair and unrealistic expectation. Gloria Furman brings both sense and hope, showing from the Bible what God does and does not expect from her. And because she looks constantly to the Bible, this is a book that transcends both time and culture. I happily commend this book to pastors, their wives, and their churches.

Tim Challies, author, The Next Story; blogger, Challies.com

Gloria Furman gives practical and godly advice to those who are already serving as pastors wives as well as those who are just starting out. Many pastors wives feel the pressure to be someone they are not, wanting to be liked by everyone, or struggling with the juggle of family life and service. Gloria draws us to Scripture and back to our first love. The Pastors Wife will help you avoid pitfalls and inspire you to stay close to Jesus and to find your strength in him. It reminded me of all I value about being a pastors wife.

Carrie Vibert, wife of Simon Vibert, Vice Principal and Director, The School of Preaching at Wycliffe Hall, Oxford

Other Crossway books by Gloria Furman

Glimpses of Grace: Treasuring the Gospel in Your Home (2013)

Treasuring Christ When Your Hands Are Full: Gospel Meditations for Busy Moms (2014)

The Pastors Wife: Strengthened by Grace for a Life of Love

Copyright 2015 by Gloria C. Furman

Published by Crossway

1300 Crescent Street

Wheaton, Illinois 60187

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, or otherwise, without the prior permission of the publisher, except as provided for by USA copyright law.

Cover design: Crystal Courtney

First printing 2015

Printed in the United States of America

Scripture quotations are from the ESV Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version), copyright 2001 by Crossway. 2011 Text Edition. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Trade paperback ISBN: 978-1-4335-4383-8

ePub ISBN: 978-1-4335-4386-9

PDF ISBN: 978-1-4335-4384-5

Mobipocket ISBN: 978-1-4335-4385-2

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Furman, Gloria, 1980

The pastors wife : strengthened by grace for a life of love / Gloria Furman.

1 online resource

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Description based on print version record and CIP data provided by publisher; resource not viewed.

ISBN 978-1-4335-4384-5 (pdf) ISBN 978-1-4335-4385-2 (mobi) ISBN 978-1-4335-4386-9 (epub) ISBN 978-1-4335-4383-8 (tp)

1. Spouses of clergy. 2. WivesReligious life. I. Title.

BV4395

253'.22dc23 2015004792

Crossway is a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

You need to know that I am writing a book to ministry wives not from a position of having been there, done that after decades of faithful service. Im not standing at the end of the road looking back. I am, rather, in the middle of it all. My husband and I were married three weeks after he started seminary, and we have been in full-time ministry together ever since. That was about thirteen years ago. So this is not a memoir in which I offer you my personal wisdom. That is my dis-claimer. My claimer, then, is what I do have and hope to share with you. Namely, I feel an acute sensibility of our need for Gods grace to press on in ministry and a conviction that nothing but the blood of Jesus is all our hope and peace.