What’s it like when the man you married is already married to God? asks Pastors’ Wives, an often surprising yet always emotionally true first novel set in a world most of us know only from the outside. Lisa Takeuchi Cullen’s debut novel Pastors’ Wives follows three women whose lives converge and intertwine at a Southern evangelical megachurch. Ruthie follows her Wall Street husband from New York to Magnolia, a fictional suburb of Atlanta, when he hears a calling to serve at a megachurch called Greenleaf. Reeling from the death of her mother, Ruthie suffers a crisis of faith—in God, in her marriage, and in herself. Candace is Greenleaf’s “First Lady,” a force of nature who’ll stop at nothing to protect her church and her superstar husband. Ginger, married to Candace’s son, struggles to play dutiful wife and mother while burying her calamitous past. All their roads collide in one chaotic event that exposes their true selves. Inspired by Cullen’s reporting as a staff writer for Time magazine, Pastors’ Wives is a dramatic portrayal of the private lives of pastors’ wives, caught between the demands of faith, marriage, duty, and love.

"Revenge of the Pastors' Wives" By Monolesia Graves Williams Pastor Byron E. Williams, Sr., Co-Author Gail McGregor has been married to a pastor long enough to know all about the foibles and fantasies surrounding the unofficial title of "First Lady." The expectations of being a pastor's wife were too high; the rewards, too low. During her marriage to a pastor, she has experienced tears and tragedies, unfulfilled days and lonely nights, doctors' visits, tranquilizers and even a nervous breakdown. All the problems involved with being married to a "man of God" have driven her to wit's end. Having already sought out every avenue she knows to find understanding, genuine acceptance and love, she now devises her own form of coping--revenge. Having secured a few comrades, she embarks on a vengeful journey that leads to the most unlikely places... She soon discovers that although revenge is "a dish best served cold," true vengeance should be left in much larger Hands than her own. Thanks to contributing writer Blessing Williams, daughter of the authors Monolesia Williams, married to Pastor Byron Williams, has been a pastor's wife for fifteen years. She grew up in Brenham, Texas. Monolesia was pronounced Urban Spotlight International winner by the Gospel Music Association in August 2001 at Estes Park, Colorado. She received an associate's degree from Tulsa Community College and a BA degree in speech communications from Northeastern State University. She serves as music director for First UME Church of Newburgh New York. A native of Longview, Texas, Byron Williams has been in ministry over forty years. He has pastored thirty-five years. He received his BA in religion from East Texas Baptist University in Marshall, Texas, and an MTS from Phillips Seminary in Tulsa, Oklahoma. He serves as pastor of Baptist Temple Church of Newburgh, New York.

In a world that expects near perfection from people in ministry, it is hard to be honest about struggles of being a pastor's wife or a woman in ministry--let alone have a sense of humor about it! In their popular podcast, Pastors' Wives Tell All, Jessica Taylor, Stephanie Gilbert, and Jenna Allen create a safe place for pastors' wives and women in ministry to be their most authentic selves. Now they're bringing their wit and wisdom to women through the written word. Addressing topics such as how to smash stereotypes, deal with marital issues, make friends, and overcome parenting anxiety, they remind pastors' wives (and the people in their congregations) that God doesn't expect them to be superhuman. They show women how to · establish and maintain healthy boundaries · seek wise counsel · confess their sins and shortcomings aloud · shed the persona of perfection · and much more If you're a pastor's wife--by calling, by choice, or by circumstance--you'll find relief, renewal, and refreshment in the pages of this book.

Four pastors' wives. All desperate for something. Is it possible that their desperation will lead to hope? Mimi, Lisa, Jennifer, and Felicia all live in the fishbowl of Red River, Ohio. Everyone expects something from them. Gourmet casseroles. Perfect husbands. Well-behaved children. They expect even more of themselves. The constant demands and always-ringing phones are enough to drive any sane woman crazy. Add to all that the condescending Katherine Fleming Katt -- self-promoting pastor's wife of the town's largest church -- who loves to flaunt her superior position. In the midst of such chaos, will each woman find the one thing she longs for? When the unflappable Kitty Katt starts showing up at odd places, the four friends get suspicious. Is Kitty hiding something? What secrets lie behind her "perfect" exterior? But even more significant than unraveling Kitty Katt's secrets is finding answers for themselves.

This book presents a story of the experiences of being church of the pastors’ wives within the Baptist Convention of Malawi (BACOMA). Formed in 1970 out of the missionary endeavours of the North American-based Southern Baptist Convention (SBC), BACOMA is a voluntary national association of Baptist churches. Molly Longwe‘s book presents a concise picture of African Feminist Theology and to relates it to the lived experiences of pastors‘ wives in the Baptist Convention of Malawi.

Dr. Diane Langberg, a licensed psychologist, offers sympathetic and realistic answers to fourteen questions from pastors' wives, questions that are often asked. In answering the questions Dr. Langberg addresses not only the particular women who asked them, but also those who are looking in over the shoulders of these women. Some of the answers are simpler than others. All of the answers require acts of faith, renewed patience, and wisdom that must come from God. With these divine resources come healing and possible solutions. Counsel for Pastors' Wives is a good prescription for people who want to be helped and healed and for people who want to help the healing. It is not merely for pastor's wives, it is for concerned laypeople as well.

You are not paranoid! Women have been given special insight to recognize when something is not quite right. Sometimes we have to stand up and protect those whom we love in our relationships. Lasting relationships depend on divine help to be encouraging and provide depth. God is not only protecting relationships, but he also helps us to survive difficult circumstances.

Religion, Gender, and Wellbeing in Africa argues that, in many African societies, ideas and practices of wellbeing and gender relations continue to be informed and shaped by religious epistemologies. The contributors affirm that for many Africans, it is through religio-spiritual frameworks that daily experiences, interactions, and gender relations are understood and interpreted. However, for many African women, religions have functioned as a double-edged-sword. Although they have contributed to the struggle against issues such as colonialism, gender justice, climate justice, and human rights, they have also endorsed and perpetuated sexism, heterosexism, homophobia, and the denial of human rights for a wide variety of people on the margins. The chapters within this collection demonstrate that most religions and religious formations in Africa have not yet positioned themselves as forces for wellbeing, gender justice, and security for African women and children. The contributors challenge simplistic and superficial readings and interpretations of religio-spirituality in Africa and call for deeper engagements of the interplay between Africa’s religio-spiritual realities and the wellbeing of women, particularly around issues of gender justice, reproductive health, and human rights.