Pastors' spouses' peer groups are generally made up of four to eight pastors' spouses who meet together for one year of study, encouragement, and support.
The Pastors’ Wives Support Group consists of six pastors’ spouses in Michigan who gather together for support, encouragement, prayer and laughter. In their first year together, group members experienced the joy and fellowship in getting together, building friendships, and sharing similar experiences in their lives and ministry. One group member reflected, “It has been a unique opportunity to meet with women in the same position but not in the same place. It has given us a safe place to share disappointments, struggles, and joys.”
The six Ontario spouses who make up the PSST (Pastor Spouses Sharing Together) group share a desire to touch each other’s lives with care and support. Through regular gatherings, the group has learned “how much we need each other’s love and support; refreshment, hugs and laughter; acceptance and prayers, listening ear and helpful advice. We learned that we can make time for fun and meaningful relationships.” Members of the group hope to encourage other pastors’ spouses in their classis to participate in a group.
The Classis Southeast Pastors’ Spouses’ Renewal Group is made up of fourteen pastors’ spouses who meet together to encourage and connect with one another in safe environment. While many of the spouses are geographically isolated, they have a common goal to connect in a large group setting while at the same time promoting the formation of small groups in their own areas. After one of their gatherings, one group member said, “The group has been an encouragement and has been such a positive experience. It can be lonely and strenuous being a pastors’ wife, so us being together is such a blessing and it is definitely filling a need.”
