How do you balance family and ministry?

Dear Friends,

How do you balance family and ministry?

I asked this question to a dear mentor in my early years of ministry and his answer shocked me. “You don’t,” he said.

“What do you mean?” I shot back. “Are you saying we should sacrifice our family in the course of service to God?”

“Of course not,” he answered gently. “But you only balance things that are in opposition to each other. On a balance, when one side goes up the other goes down. I believe God’s intent is not conflict, but mutual benefit. My ministry should be a blessing to my family, and my investment in family will actually extend the impact of my ministry. I don’t think God was confused when he called me to serve him AND gave me a family!”

His words have rung in my ears for many years. I’ve seen the impact when a healthy walk with God spills out into a healthy marriage, which flows over into a healthy family, and then cascades out into powerful ministry. If the inner circles are dry, ministry will be stunted and dry as well.

That is why we deeply care about the health of the marriages and families on the JV team. Last week we gathered all of our couples together in Krakow Poland for a week of intensive investment into their marriages. Along with deep times in God’s Word, every couple had hours of reflection and application. It was such a joy to watch them moving toward deeper intimacy and knowing the impact that will have on their children and ministry.

As you pray for your missionary this month, ask God to increase the flow of “living water” from their relationship with Him out into their marriages and families.

Thank you for your faithful investment in this team – and through them to thousands here in Eastern Europe!

Dave Patty
President, Josiah Venture