This week’s Youth Ministry Tip is dedicated to all of those ministry spouses out there. My wife is a huge part of my life and my ministry- and one of the big reasons that I am of any success. I want to proclaim a great big THANK YOU to her. Here are four ways that Sandy helps me be a better minister:

She is my biggest fan and fiercest critic
No one gives me more encouragement than Sandy. She is quick to tell me that I’ve done good and she is always there to cheer me along. On the flip side, she can be brutally honest. She minces no words when she tells me I could have approached something better. She doesn’t beat around the bush when I’ve messed up either. So whether it is praise or criticism, she is honest with me and that helps me stand firm or to move forward and get better.

She is my sounding board
I often feel sorry for Sandy when she is sitting in one of my classes or participating in something I’m leading because she has had to hear about the content, the teaching, the stories, and the jokes over the course of the last week. I run ideas by her. I ask her if the transitions make sense. I gauge her reaction to a story. She is very familiar with something before I deliver it to the public… and yet… she never seems to mind. Thanks for the input babe!

She participates and leads in my ministry
There is an old joke that says that churches will often get a “two-for-one” deal when hiring youth ministers. That is most definitely the case with Sandy. Sandy participates in classes, bible studies, camps, mission trips, you name it. She cooks meals on Sunday nights, bakes brownies for Wednesdays, and opens our home for Bible studies and movie nights. She prays with girls, encourages the guys, and hangs out with them both. She is not a passive participant in the youth ministry. She is a leader.

She takes care of our home and family
THE MOST IMPORTANT WAY SANDY HELPS MY MINISTRY IS BY TAKING CARE OF OUR FAMILY. No joke. Sandy does everything within her power to take care of Hewson and I. She is selfless and she is tireless in her efforts to create a quiet, loving, peaceful home. Everything gets clean, everything gets put away, everything gets taken care of. If this were the only thing Sandy did for me it would be more than enough to satisfy. Instead she takes care of our home and much, much more. Nobody does it better than Sandy. She is the greatest wife, mother, and partner in the world. I can’t thank her enough.

Thank you for every single thing that you do for us Sandy. Hewson loves you. The teens and their families love you. I love you. You are the greatest!

Now, who deserves the credit for your success in life? Give them a call. Send them a text. Tell them how much you appreciate them.