Include Your Spouse in Your Ministry.

My wife is super involved in what I do in youth ministry, and always has been in various ways, depending on our season of ministry.   We just celebrated 23 years of marriage and 24 years of doing ministry together.  I am blessed that she is as called to youth ministry as I am.  She loves what I do and is with me as a teammate and partner.  She is not always the “upfront” or “in the office” person, even though she is willing and has filled those roles over the years.

No matter your spouse’s role, commitment, or even calling.  They still deserve to be invited and included in your ministry.  A few years ago, I was on The D6 Podcast being interviewed about my wife and my family’s role in my ministry, since then we have continued to share our thoughts about this continued conversation we have been, having with people.

Here are just a couple of quick ways, I would suggest to “Include Your Spouse in Your Ministry”…

• Communicate with them about what you are doing and what is coming up. It will save your marriage and ministry

• Invite them to come to planning meetings, events, and regular youth ministry nights. They don’t have to always come or ever come but at least they know they are invited and welcome.

• Ask them for their thoughts, perspectives, and ideas.  They may have a fresh set of eyes, and ears and thinking they you don’t!

•  Include them in lessons or talks when it comes to marriage, dating, and purity. It will add value and earn you a “right to be heard” with your students while also affirming your spouse.

• Have a leader meeting or training at your home. With the seasons of life sometimes a spouse can’t show up to youth ministry but is a simple way to bring some of the youth ministries to them.

• Take your leaders and their significant other out to lunch/dinner, bring your spouse.  Food, fellowship,…Win always!

•  Talk about your spouse (and brag about your spouse) as part of your teaching. Do it in an appropriate, honoring, and respectful way (PLEASE Skip the “my spouse is hot” comments)

•  When you buy something for your leaders (youth group logo t-shirt, mug, bag..) get one extra for your spouse. They can wear it/use it at their jobs or elsewhere and talk about you/brag about you in return..see #4.

• Have them give their testimony as part of a lesson, retreat, or event. I do this quite often, as well as allow her to teach and lead in big group and small group settings.

• Honor Their Calling! If it is music allow them to help with the music if it is cooking ask them to help cook on a retreat, If it is working with younger kids have them help you lead the VBS on your missions trip…if they are called youth ministry, MAKE THEM A YOUTH LEADER/SMALL GROUP LEADER!