May 12, 1999
Ministers' wives weave tapestry of lessons
___By Ken Camp
___Texas Baptist Communications
___CEDAR HILL--Countless encouraging words from friends and words of wisdom from mentors are woven into ministers' wives' personalities like threads in a tapestry, speakers told participants at the Texas Baptist Ministers' Wives' Retreat.
___"Timeless Tapestry" was the theme of the 10th annual retreat, held April 23-24 at Mount Lebanon Baptist Encampment. The retreat is sponsored by the Baptist General Convention of Texas and Woman's Missionary Union of Texas.
___Bobbie Pinson recalled her own experiences serving alongside her husband, BGCT Executive Director Bill Pinson, in his roles as a pastor, seminary professor, seminary president and denominational executive.
___When her fiance surrendered to the ministry, Pinson said, she initially resisted, feeling unworthy to be a preacher's wife. But when she felt her "tapestry unraveling," a wise older woman offered her counsel. And that started a pattern that repeated itself throughout the four decades that followed, she said.
___From other ministers' wives, Pinson said she learned "to be me, but the best me possible."
___In appreciation for her role in helping to start and shape the annual retreat and for the encouragement she has offered, the Texas Baptist Ministers' Wives' Fellowship presented Pinson a friendship quilt and memory book.
___Several past presidents of the Ministers' Wives' Fellowship, which was formed in 1972 in Corpus Christi, shared their own reflections at the retreat.
___Alice Lowrie of Lubbock, who served as president in 1983, recalled the important lessons she learned in her early years as a pastor's wife. One of the most valuable, she said, was developing "a gentle spirit before God."
___Mary Jo Maples of Arlington, president in 1986, cited specific women who served as her mentors. Passing along the lessons she learned from them, Maples advised the ministers' wives: "Be yourself. Love everyone in the church, but don't be afraid to have friends."
___Earl Ann Bumpus of Mineral Wells, president in 1994, remembered the wives of campus ministers, missionaries and church staff members who were "models of service" to her.
___Deborah McCammon of Mesquite, 1995 president, told the group she had an unusual perspective on ministry because "I was a PK (preacher's kid) before I was a PW (preacher's wife). And I told my mother, 'I will never marry a preacher. I'm tired of being poor and eating bologna and pinto beans all the time.'"
___But God has changed her perspective, she said: "I love being a minister's wife, but it hasn't always been easy. There have been knots and tangles in the tapestry."
___Cindy Gaskins, former Texas WMU liaison with the Ministers' Wives' Fellowship, sent a video greeting to the retreat from Hong Kong, where she and her family serve International Baptist Church.
___Growing up as a "missionary kid" in Africa, Gaskins said, she learned the importance of being connected to people far away whom she knew were prayer warriors for her family.
___She encouraged the Texas ministers' wives to set aside one day each month to pray for each other.
___Following up on the suggestion, outgoing president Marcie Hatfield of Lewisville challenged the ministers' wives to set aside the 10th day of each month as a time to intercede for one another.
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