Covenanter Witness Vol. 53 - Rparchives.org

ministers'The Minister's WifeIt is often true that the person to whom creditis due does not receive it. Truly this may be saidabout many of the wives of our ministers who sharein the labors of the Kingdom most faithfully. Theirhusbands are before the congregation constantly,while they keep in the background. Yet it is oftentrue that the wife is the one who gives the inspiration for a great service; often it is her wisdom andcounsel which work out the problems facing theChurch served by her husband.It falls to the wife of the minister to try to makeends meet on a meager salary, to keep nourishingfood for the family, to keep all of them neatly dressedat a minimum of expense. Most often no servant canbe afforded, and the housekeeping, washing and ironing must be worked in, among all her other duties.People drop into the manse at all hours of the dayand often want to look in all rooms to see what kindof a housekeeper their minister's wife is. They takeher valuable time which was already budgeted forsome necessary task. She may not hint that she hasanything else to do, and the visitor may herself hintthat she wishes she had nothing to do, like the minister's wife.If the minister does his full job his time is occupied in the study and in making calls. The minister's wife is expected to make calls with him. Wherethere are children they may be left with a baby sitterif one can be had, or left in the car. If a child issick she it is who must nurse it and have the responsibility of decisions while her husband visitsother sick and well persons of his congregation. Mostof the training of the children falls on her, for thechildren rarely see their father except at meals, andoften not then.There can be little schedule in the minister'shome. However much they may try there are interruptions at all times of the day. These the ministerdoes not count as interruptions but as opportunitiesof service. Often the phone rings during meals, forthe person calling hopes to catch the minister athome then. Or someone wants to have a long conversation with the minister or his wife, while the dinner gets cold, and the children wait or sometimesthey don't with dire results. Yet she must alwaysbe gracious and unhurried and make the personthink he is the most important person in the world.In the work of the Church she takes a full share,often more than her share. The call was not in hername, but the Pulpit Committee looked her over aswell as the prospective pastor, and rightly so; for apastor's wife can ruin her husband's service veryquickly by her own indiscreetness or failures. Shemust take the lead in the work of the women withoutseeming to do so, allowing others who wish the honor, but are somewhat short on the duties, to keepto the front. She often must fill the gaps in the program when someone else fails at the last minute toget to the meeting. She must soothe the feelings ofsome so easily ruffled. She must encourage the timidto take their part, and thus develop their abilitiesand leadership.If she has anymusical ability she must be readyto help in any way with the music. She must meetstrangers and make them want to come again, andremember their names then, and the next time they166come. She must watch her preacher husband andhelp him to guard against some things which wouldmar his service, tactfully suggesting things whichwould help his ministry. She is present at every service. Even if it is a men's meeting, she may be inthe kitchen helping with the meal or dishwashing.Her duties vary and are never ending. Truly she isa paragon.I know that all wives can not be all ofthis. This is an ideal. But it is remarkable how manyof them approach it. Such are a great asset to theChurch they serve, often with all too little appreciation, and a great help to their husbands, who alsoare often somewhat nearsighted as to what theirwives do. But every minister's wife should realizethat when she deliberately neglects these things sheis hurting rather than helping in the service whichthey both are trying to do. Congregations do not accept the idea very happily expressed in these words,husband.""You did not call me, but my In the eyesof the Church both are a team.But what I started out to say really is that weshould appreciate the minister's wife and all that shedoes in the Church. She does not demand it, but sheis due much of the praise for the good work in theChurch, praise which the minister may or may notreceive, praise whoch others often receive. Like herhusband, she did not do the service for the praise,but the Master sees and will richly reward. God blessourministers'wives.Associate Reformed PresbyterianGLIMPSES .... Cont'd, from page 162churches except that of Rome, and the missionaries weredriven out. For the time being the situation seemed to behopeless. But after about seven years the missionaries wereallowed to return They were amazed to find that thousands of new Christians had come out of paganism. Therewere 200 churches and 20,000 believers. Among the leadersof the church were farmers, district chiefs, ex-witch doctors,and one who had been a notorious criminal. The few Bibleswhich were in their midst were eagerly used, portions ofthe Bible were committed to memory and passed on toothers. One writer says : "The spiritual depth and maturityof these new Christians is marvelous. It is the Spirit's doing."These Christians have also been very liberal in their giving,much like the early Christian church.Deductions from Income TaxThe recent Congress was much more liberal withchurches when writing the new tax laws. The new lawallows 30 per cent deductions for charitable gifts. The lawallows an additional 10 per cent deduction provided themoney is given to "a church, a convention or assiciation ofchurches, or a regularly established educational institution,or a hospital." Those who pay for cemetery lots or funeralsto nonprofit associations may deduct the cost of dying.Clergymen who do not get living quarters or housing allowances from the church or church organizations employingthem may deduct what it costs them to provide their ownhousing. Ministers provided with housing need not pay taxeson it. Clergy and members of religious orders were givencoverage on a voluntary,self-employed basis. Congress alsovoted to have foreign missionaries and Christian Sciencepractitioners covered by government social security if theywant to be.COVENANTER WITNESS