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A Lifeline for Ministry Wives & Their Families
 
  
OUR PASSION
To come alongside Christian ministry wives, as well as their families, churches, and ministries, in order to provide Biblical encouragement and support (as the armor-bearer did for Jonathan in I Samuel 14:7).
 
 

 

HeartLines Newsletter

Heart and Soul Connection

Summer 2008

 

In This Issue

Changes In Store for Me and for HASC

Prayer Updates and Requests

Have a Super and Safe Spring & Summer...

 

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Dear Ladies,

As you read this newsletter, I would ask you to hear my heart and to understand that after 38 years as a pastor's wife and 50 years as a Christian, I need to take the time to Sabbath with our God to get a fresh word from Him. No matter how long any of us have served Him, we all need the discipline of "soaking" in His presence through prayer, studying His Word, and preparing for "the next step." I desire to follow the example that Jesus gave us - spending time away with the Father to seek His face, His direction, and His will.

 

Changes In Store for Me and for HASC

This article has been prayed over and has been written very thoughtfully. My soul has been in a state of unrest for about six months. God is speaking to me about several issues in my life, and about Heart and Soul Connection.

 

Heart and Soul Connection WILL Continue

 

We have just completed four years as a non-profit, and we have experienced so many blessings from God during this time! We have seen countless numbers of you receive help, hope, and healing because God has provided for you through HASC. And HASC was able to resource ministry wives because God laid this ministry on the hearts of generous donors and friends. Their generosity has allowed us (1) to offer partial or full scholarships to the annual HASC conference; (2) to pay medical, dental, utility and car repair bills; (3) to provide mini-renewal weekends for ministers and their wives; (4) to give you counseling; (5) to maintain a website designed just for ministry wives; and (6) to cover all other miscellaneous needs and expenses.

 

I am sad to say that our financial resources are extremely low at this time. We have not yet been able to pay off the expenses of the last retreat. God has always provided, and He will continue to do so. We are praying for more ministry partners to come alongside us financially. We will continue to receive monetary contributions, and we will pay off our debts!

 

Because of a recent vote of our board of directors, I will not be traveling to our regional ministry wives supper fellowships nor be a part of activities that require financial reimbursement until there is sufficient money to pay the expenses of the ministry. We must get our finances in order to be good stewards of God's money.

 

This is a COMMA, Not a PERIOD

 

Because of these necessary changes, I will be seeking the Lord beginning now until September to find out what He wants to do through HASC in the next phase of this ministry. It will be a time of re-casting the vision for this ministry, and restructuring the way we will help ministry wives. I have been unable to keep up with the demands and opportunities of this ministry by myself, even with the occasional help of precious volunteers. We have not been able to hire an assistant in the four years we have been in existence. It really cannot be done by one person any longer.

 

Therefore this will also be a time for me to seek God's guidance for what He wants from me at this time in my life. I sense He has something NEW in His plan for my life as I relate to Him, to my husband and daughter, to my church, to my extended family, to my ministry, and to all others.

 

God Is Unmasking the Eyes of My Heart

 

In asking the Lord to search my heart, He has shown me that I have some unyielded areas in my life that I have used as excuses to "hide" and not "abide" in Him. God has revealed to me that I have been tempted to make ministry an idol and hiding place. I have repented and have taken those areas of my life to the cross to be reckoned dead, and have asked God for His exchanges to replace and to resurrect what has now been reckoned dead. I don't know exactly how that will look as He works this out in my life.

 

As I take the next four months as a "sabbatical," I will be cutting back on all regular activities and normal ministry opportunities to seek the Lover of My Soul. I will not be out of town for all of that time, but I will be mostly out of touch. God promised me years ago in Isaiah 43:19 that He would do a "new thing" in my life, and He is at work in my life - praise God! Growing in Christ truly is a journey and a process, not a one- time event.

 

I will not be as available to you as I have been in the past by email or phone. In an effort to answer your emails and phone calIs, it became obvious that this ministry could not be run by one person. It became too overwhelming for me. I have been told I am in the last stage of burnout, and that has negatively affected my health. I am taking this time "off with the Lord" under advisement. In learning to rest and abide in Him, I will seek God to guide me in what and how He wants to minister to you through me.

 

While I am "away with Him," listening for the Voice of Truth, please know that you can trust Him for your every need. I will be praying for you, and I ask you to pray for me. I also hope to do some writing during this time. Remember - this is only for a season!

 

I am confident that God is going to renew, refresh, and restore me and HASC in such an awesome way, and that only BETTER days are ahead! God is not through with me or Heart and Soul, therefore I am anxious to see what He will do as He begins to write this new chapter!

 

Prayer Updates and Requests

You will still be able to put your prayer requests on the website, and be assured, many will be praying for you. If you have a crisis or emergency, you can email me at the address below, and I will have someone contact you as soon as possible. I will screen all other regular phone calls and emails. I plan to periodically update the website. But I am retreating just for this short season.

 

 

I really do LOVE YOU ALL, and thank you for listening to my heart, Nancy
 

 

 
* Depression
* Marital Problems (divorce and separation)
* Church Conflict
* Sexual Misconduct (infidelity and addiction
   to pornography)
* Parent-child Conflicts
* Pastor-church Discord
* Vocational Crises
* Financial Pressure


Consequently, many ministry wives feel alone and isolated, and many say they have no close friend in whom to confide.


BOTTOM LINE:

ALL THE ABOVE STRUGGLES NEGATIVELY
AFFECT MINISTRY WIVES.

and...

Something Must Be Done!
We want to help resource these
precious women...
Will you help us?

 

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Looking for a
Reasonably-Priced Vacation Spot?
 
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We have listed low or no-cost vacation and retreat centers in many states for ministry families. We are in the process of adding more so keep checking back with us.

Click here to find a retreat center near you!
 

 

NetMinistry.com has been and is one of the best finds for me, a real novice when it comes to building and/or maintaining a website. What I love is the fact that I can update and create pages all by myself. If I get in a jam, I just make a toll-free call, and I get instant support from Net Ministry! If this amateur can do it, so can you!! Check it out now.

P.S. Check out NetMinistry's referral program and your website can be FREE!

Nancy Burgess, Director of Heart and Soul Connection
www.HeartandSoulConnection.com

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