Flowers for the Pastor's Wife

S2 E01: Citizens of Heaven with Wendy McCready

In this episode, Director Wendy McCready kicks off the second season of Flowers for the Pastor's Wife podcast with the theme of Citizens of Heaven. She explores the balance between cultural identity and heavenly citizenship, sharing insights from her experiences living in Canada and the U.S. She discusses how cultural differences can shape our understanding of Christ’s kingdom and offers practical steps to navigate these sensitivities. Wendy emphasizes that our true identity lies in Christ, beyond nationality or tradition. Join us as we talk about how to embrace diversity within the church and reflect Christ’s love more authentically. This episode is perfect for anyone seeking to deepen their understanding of the church’s global unity. Timestamps: 00:00 - Introduction: Exploring citizenship in heaven amidstcultural differences 02:15 - Wendy’s journey: Living between the U.S. and Canada and the impact on her faith 04:30 - Welcoming others: How genuine interest helps overcome feelings of being an outsider 07:37 - The importance of not disparaging others based on nationality or culture 09:11 - How living abroad challenged Wendy to find her identity solely in Christ 11:08 - Recognizing and overcoming ethnocentrism as Americans 12:45 - Cultural differences in expressing feelings and sharing personal information 14:10 - The balance of cultural expression and biblical witness 17:27 - Biblical perspective: Our true identity is in Christ, not innationality or external practices 20:16 - Unity in the body of Christ across cultures and nations 23:33 - Practical ways to broaden perspective without moving abroad 25:11 - Building genuine relationships through intentional learning and hospitality 27:16 - Receiving others’ cultural expressions without judgment 29:07 - The importance of immersing oneself in diverse cultures through missions, travel, and reading 30:20 - Ways to gain cross-cultural awareness locally when travel isn’t feasible 32:19 - The value of biographies and stories from saints around the world 33:46 - Final encouragement: embracing a global mindset as citizens of heaven Resources & Links: * “Citizens of Heaven” by Wendy McCready [https://www.flowersforthepastorswife.com/citizens-of-heaven/] * The Hiding Place - A Graphic Novel [https://bakerpublishinggroup.com/products/9780800762544_the-hiding-place] Closing: Remember, our primary identity is in Christ, and embracingthe diversity within the global church enriches our walk with Him. Share your story of learning what it means to be a citizen of heaven in a diverse world.

Ep:10 Meet Kristen Humiston (former PW and current therapist)

In this episode, Kristen Humiston shares her journey frombeing a pastor's wife to a therapist and ministry coach. She discusses the trauma of forced termination from ministry, the importance of seeking help, and the challenges faced by ministry families. Kristen emphasizes the need for safesupport systems, building skills and savings, and understanding the church as a system. She also highlights the joys and struggles of her current work in therapy, particularly with pastors' wives, and offers practical advice forthose navigating difficult transitions, experiencing trauma, or advice for supporting women in those times. Kristen also shares several helpful resources available to women and ministry families seeking help. Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Kristen and Her Ministry Journey 05:29 The Trauma of Forced Termination in Ministry 09:15 Advice for Navigating Difficult Transitions 12:05 Building Identity and Financial Stability in Ministry 16:11 Understanding Church Dynamics and Personal Healing 18:56 Kristen's Current Role as a Therapist and Coach 21:16 Finding Joy in Helping Others Heal 23:47 Recognizing When to Seek Help 29:26 Taking the First Step Towards Healing 31:37 Resources 33:33 Supporting Others in Their Struggles 36:36 Conclusion Resources mentioned in today's episode: Pastors' Hope Network [https://pastorshopenetwork.org/] - Help for pastors and their families who have experienced forced termination. Ministry Transitions [https://ministrytransitions.com/] - Help for ministries or ministry families transitioning. Not mentioned: Care Givers Forum [https://www.caregiversforum.org/directory] - A directory for all things ministry workers support resources.Kristen's personal resources: Contact [https://www.kristenjoycoaching.com/contact-me] - The online form you can use to email Kristen directly for help. Focused Care Retreats [https://www.courageoushealingtherapy.com/] - Kristen's ministry for ministry workers looking to address trauma healing needs.

Ep:9 What's In Your Portfolio?

Listen to "What's In Your Portfolio?" Sue Hoijer's article that explores what faithful service looks like. Join us as Sue writes about the inspiring story of her grandmother whose quiet acts of kindness and faith impacted countless lives for Christ.

Ep:8 Serving with the Finish Line in Mind

Listen to "Serving with the Finish Line in Mind," Sarah Johnson's article on serving through hardship.

Ep:7 I Have Called You Friends

Listen to "I Have Called You Friends," Wendy McCready's article on friendship in ministry.