Page 92 - BMIN191 Beginnning Internship

92 Beginning Ministerial Internship: Student Manual

Intimacy is that sense of closeness in relationship that runs deeper than any
individual activity. Often simply being together brings health to a marriage,
even if the task required is less than ideal. The effort of taking time for one
another can bring remarkable healing to a weary marriage. A minister should
seek ways to communicate love effectively. Because their time together is
often interrupted, the quality of the time they do have is essential.

21 How would your spouse A minister’s spouse can usually accept the demanding life of ministry
describe the intimacy of your provided he or she is cared for emotionally and romantically. Remember, a life
life together? of nothing but minimum output at home makes the marriage grow cold. The
minister must intentionally build intimacy with his or her spouse so that marriage
can be refreshing for them both. Such intimacy also provides an excellent
example for those who look to the minister’s marriage as an example.
Summary

22 Which of the four key Life in the ministry can be difficult. Add the work of making a marriage
issues in a marriage has effective and fulfilling, and you have an even larger challenge. But marriage is
the greatest impact on your one of God’s gifts to His creation, and one can find ways to make marriage and
marriage? ministry work hand-in-hand.
(NOTE: If you are unmarried,
answer the above according The ministry does pose potential hazards for a marriage. The demands of a
to the item you expect will minister’s time, attention, and emotional energy often leave little of these same items
have the greatest impact.) for the spouse. The expectations and spotlight the spouse must also endure can often
make married life in the ministry less than attractive. A minister must understand and
identify these hazards, particularly as they begin to impact the marriage.
Ministers must take the lead in protecting their marriage from these hazards.
Prioritizing time and reserving emotional energy can keep their spouses from
feeling abandoned. Setting boundaries for other people can block the unnecessary
intrusions into personal life that frequently come with ministry.
A minister must keep in focus that ministry effectiveness will ultimately
follow the effectiveness of his or her marriage—or a pledged relationship, for
those who enter ministry as yet unmarried. If the spiritual leader is unable to
nurture this most essential human relationship, that minister will ultimately be
unable to nurture the spiritual needs of the congregation. The marriage must
remain a priority due both to one’s pledge to a spouse and for the personal
strength and well-being that it brings to the minister and the family members.

The Minister as Parent

LESSON “Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the
4.3 training and instruction of the Lord” (Ephesians 6:4).

Every father who serves in the ministry has most likely felt come concern
when it comes to this verse because he knows that life in the ministry does bring
many unique difficulties to his children, including his occasional agitation. The
minister’s children face a very different life from that of other children. Their
challenges are unique and seldom understood by their friends or other church
leaders. The minister must be proactive in providing for the emotional health of
his or her children. There can be no avoiding this issue.