Giving Back

As you know, there are many expectations of a minister's wife, but none more important than she have a growing relationship with the Lord, a powerful prayer life and an erudite knowledge of the Scriptures.

These expectations were very hard for me when David and I started our ministry in 1982 as I was a fairly new Christian. I had not been raised in the church or in a Christian family so I did not have any example to follow and a weak foundation. However, in 1987, the Lord gave a great gift to me towards my journey of faith, through Doris Shellabarger.

Doris and Dave joined our new church start in Flower Mound and immediately opened their home and lives to our young family. Over the next seven years, Doris and I had a weekly prayer time and Bible study at her breakfast table and she taught me how to be an intercessor for my husband and children. Some mornings we had to actually sit in her laundry room praying over the loud, off-kilterred dryer which soothed my colicky baby. Doris gave of her time to listen, to encourage and to teach me how to cook, sew, keep my house and be a good steward. Through our 28 year friendship, she has become an adopted mother to me and a grandmother to my four daughters.

Over our 32 years in ministry and our six pastorates, I have continued to seek out prayer warriors to mentor me, to hold me accountable and keep me challenged in my personal Bible studies. Most women are my age or older, but a few have been younger. Most relationships have continued through the years via phone calls, visits and Skype. My current mentor is a fellow Alsatian from France who leads our Bible studies and cooking lessons in French!

Finally, just as God has placed these influential women in my life to help me grow spiritually, I believe he has asked me to give back to young mothers and women in the ministry. I felt this calling after moving to El Paso as there are hundreds of young military families stationed here at Ft. Bliss. I am now meeting with Desi, Katie, Kathryn, Kalie and Jordan on a bi-weekly basis for one-on-one inductive Bible Study, prayer time and occasional babysitting (one of the great benefits for me!).

I want to help these young women create a strong, Godly foundation for themselves and their family. Of course, in return, I am continually humbled blessed by their insight and friendships. As military families move about every two years, we are discovering virtual discipleship through Skype and Facetime!

Titus 2:3-5 states, "Older women likewise are to be reverent in behavior … they are to teach what is good, and so train the young women to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled, pure, working at home, kind, and submissive to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be reviled." ( ESV)

As a minister's wife, don't be afraid to open your heart to those God put in your lives to bless you and look for opportunities to be a blessing to others.

Robyn Lowrie, wife of David Lowrie, senior pastor of First Baptist Church El Paso, has served in the ministry alongside her husband since 1982. She is also a teacher, having educated students from elementary school to college throughout her career. They are the proud parents of four daughters, Kalie, Lorin, Jamie and Madison; one son-in-law, Philip, and a precious grandson, George Walker Scott. When she isn't serving in the church, visiting her family, or teaching, Robyn is an avid French scholar and loves to spend time strolling the streets of Paris, France. You can read more from Robyn on her blog, here.