Livin' Called

This week I am experiencing my first "Call Day"  gatherings

 at the two seminaries that our church supports. 

 We married after that time in

 my husband's ministry so it is a new thing.

There is a lot of excitement,

 probably some trepidation 

and also some plan ole giddiness 

of watching God reveal the next phase of life....

When it is so new,

 you really don't have

 any idea of what you don't know...

and that is probably a good thing....

  So we will tell them a bit about where we serve 

and what God is doing......

                     There really isn't any kind of "protocol" for me

  that I have been made aware of,

 and I wanted to welcome the women and wives

 to our District.

 So I made them each one of the small canvases

 that were gifts at our Pastor's Wives retreat this year.......

And the same time I was making these,

 I ran across the following statistics

(and they are already three years old)

http://www.pastorburnout.com/pastor-burnout-statistics.html

According to the New York Times (August 1, 2010) (Not limited to Lutherans)

• 25% of pastors’ wives see their husband’s work schedule as a source of conflict.
• 33% [of pastors] say that being in ministry is an outright hazard to their family.
• 40% of pastors and 47% of spouses are suffering from burnout, frantic schedules, and/or unrealistic expectations.
• 45% of pastors’ wives say the greatest danger to them and their family is physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual burnout.
• 52% of pastors say they and their spouses believe that being in pastoral ministry is hazardous to their family’s well-being and health.
• 56% of pastors’ wives say that they have no close friends.
• 80% of pastors say they have insufficient time with their spouse.
• 80% [of pastors] believe that pastoral ministry affects their families negatively.
• 94% [of pastors] feel under pressure to have a perfect family.

So I wonder who at the seminary is talking to them about these real-life impacting numbers? 

I see that one of the main areas for me to center

 is praying for families

 and helping to bring some family life encouragement

 to all those Called to Serve in the Southeastern District.

  I see that my job of praying for the church workers

is my job...

and what does that begin to look like?

Praying for church workers,

Praying for a husband and wife,

 and those with children.

 Praying for the churches

 and towns they serve.

Here is the link to the Pinterest board where these prayers are collected:

http://pinterest.com/cdenninger/praying-for-the-southeastern-district/

And what might be the result of God blessing these prayers?

  Gathered together to pray in unison,

for those serving with a Divine Call into ministry,

the public office,

set apart with intention,

to do the work God has called them to do in each place.

Might you join me

 in praying for the Southeastern District

 and those who serve there?