Linda Lee

Linda Lee is a Ministry Care volunteer who works with spouses of ministry leaders and their family members to help them stay healthy – spiritually, emotionally and physically.  Linda supported her husband John while in ministry for 24 years, serving in Illinois, Indiana and Missouri.  John decided to go into the ministry after he and Linda had been married and had their first child.  He enrolled in Bible College and, after seven years of undergraduate and graduate school (and three more children), received his Bachelor of Arts and Master of Divinity degrees.  Linda and John grew spiritually in their early years of ministry while having four children and discovering how God provided for their needs.

As a pastor’s wife, Linda felt as if she were living in a “fish bowl” and, at times, struggled with hurt and depression because of others’ criticism of her husband or herself.  She often felt alone, inadequate and intimated by other ministers’ wives who she felt were more gifted to carry out public ministry.  She found her strength in the Lord, starting ladies Bible Studies in two of the churches where they served, providing food for those in need, caring for other people’s children, opening her home to preachers and missionaries, and working behind the scenes as opportunities arose to use the gifts that she felt the Lord had given her.

Linda found support from close friends, some of whom were ministers’ wives, her sisters (one of whom is a minister’s wife), and always from her husband in dealing with the daily challenges of ministry.  Like many other pastors’ wives her faithfulness and diligence in God’s work, caring for her children and her husband has brought about opportunities to care for others.

In 1986 Linda survived breast cancer while working at her regular full-time job and her ministry in the church.  Her husband’s total loving support and her family and friends’ care for her were the resources needed to live through the personal issues and the huge ministry challenges they were facing at the time.  It was also during that same year Linda and John celebrated their 25th wedding anniversary and oldest son’s big church wedding.  As she reflects back to that time in her life, she wonders how she ever survived.  But, she knows that it was God who was there, providing her with whatever she needed to get her through those difficult times.

Her faith in God has been increased tremendously because of His provision during the hard times.  She knows that God can always be counted on to provide the strength and the courage we need for whatever struggles and disappointments we may face if we put our trust in Him.