What do you think?
Rate this book
Sacred Privilege: Your Life and Ministry as a Pastor's Wife
Life as a pastor's wife offers meaningful opportunities to play a significant part in God's work, to witness and participate in the beauty of changed lives. Yet it also carries the potential for deep wounds and great conflict that can drain the joy out of service. Is it worth it? Oh, yes, says Kay Warren, wife of Pastor Rick Warren and cofounder of Saddleback Church. It is more than worth the risk--it's a sacred privilege.
Drawing on more than forty years in ministry in every possible size church, Kay provides encouraging principles and life lessons, along with intimate personal stories, that will give readers the confidence needed to lead and live well. Pastor's wives learn to
- accept who they are
- adapt to change
- help their children survive and thrive
- protect their private lives
- deal with criticism
- live with integrity
- develop an eternal perspective
Whether she is excited, struggling, or feeling broken and tired, every pastor's wife will find hope and encouragement for their calling in Kay's warm and wise words.
Drawing on more than forty years in ministry in every possible size church, Kay provides encouraging principles and life lessons, along with intimate personal stories, that will give readers the confidence needed to lead and live well. Pastor's wives learn to
- accept who they are
- adapt to change
- help their children survive and thrive
- protect their private lives
- deal with criticism
- live with integrity
- develop an eternal perspective
Whether she is excited, struggling, or feeling broken and tired, every pastor's wife will find hope and encouragement for their calling in Kay's warm and wise words.
266 pages, Paperback
Published May 1, 2018
70 people are currently reading
438 people want to read
About the author
Kay Warren
75 books12 followersKAY WARREN cofounded Saddleback Church with her husband Rick Warren in Lake Forest, California. She is a passionate Bible teacher and respected advocate for those infected and affected by HIV and AIDS, as well as orphaned and vulnerable children. She founded Saddleback’s HIV/AIDS Initiative. Kay is the author of Choose Joy: Because Happiness Isn’t Enough, Say Yes to God and coauthor of Foundations, the popular systematic theology course used by churches worldwide. She has three children and five grandchildren.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 46 reviews
March 7, 2018
This is a must read for every pastor's wife! I listened to the audio version, and it was great to hear Kay read her own story. That made it even more meaningful. From her years of experience she shared from her heart and offered much practical wisdom and godly encouragement. Highly recommended.
July 1, 2017
If you are a pastor’s wife and are looking for a book to guide you in your unique role and minister to your unique needs, I can think of no one better to counsel you than Kay Warren – wife of nationally renowned pastor Rick Warren and co-founder with him of Saddleback Church, and the author of Sacred Privilege: Your Life And Ministry As A Pastor’s Wife.
Filled with a lifetime of wisdom that comes with growing up as a pastor’s daughter and being married to one of the most influential pastors in America for more than 40 years, she shares – with authenticity, transparency and grace – issues such as accepting who you are – the challenges of raising a family in the church environment – how to take care of yourself – how to protect your privacy when you live in a fishbowl – dealing with criticism – and finishing well.
Even if you’re not a pastor’s wife, you will find Sacred Privilege insightful and invaluable, as Kay has written this book in such a way that there’s a chapter that will most likely speak to your heart.
For instance, the chapter Valuing Seasons And Moments calls us to adjust our ministry schedules based on the seasons of our lives and the priorities that God is placing upon our heart.
I recommend this book for anyone who is involved in ministry (especially women who are married to pastors!)
This review was first published at The Book Nook at Create With Joy – a monthly gathering for Book Lovers. Stop by to visit us at Create With Joy.
Disclosure: I received a copy of this book from the publisher for review purposes. However, the opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.
Filled with a lifetime of wisdom that comes with growing up as a pastor’s daughter and being married to one of the most influential pastors in America for more than 40 years, she shares – with authenticity, transparency and grace – issues such as accepting who you are – the challenges of raising a family in the church environment – how to take care of yourself – how to protect your privacy when you live in a fishbowl – dealing with criticism – and finishing well.
Even if you’re not a pastor’s wife, you will find Sacred Privilege insightful and invaluable, as Kay has written this book in such a way that there’s a chapter that will most likely speak to your heart.
For instance, the chapter Valuing Seasons And Moments calls us to adjust our ministry schedules based on the seasons of our lives and the priorities that God is placing upon our heart.
I recommend this book for anyone who is involved in ministry (especially women who are married to pastors!)
This review was first published at The Book Nook at Create With Joy – a monthly gathering for Book Lovers. Stop by to visit us at Create With Joy.
Disclosure: I received a copy of this book from the publisher for review purposes. However, the opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.
June 12, 2017
This is a fantastic resource for ministry wives! Kay is open and honest about her struggles and hard times and gives practical and very biblical answers for how to live our lives before God and His people. I highly recommend this to all ministry wives out there no matter your age but if you are just starting out read this immediately and it might make the path a bit smoother. I wish I had read something like this 28 years ago when we first started.
January 8, 2019
Every pastor’s wife could benefit from Kay Warren’s life-giving words. I hope to revisit this one again.
March 25, 2018
I absolutely loved this book and would recommend for any woman in ministry! There is so much good advice and just pure wisdom shared by Kay Warren, and she writes in a way that is so conversational and down-to-earth. She is vulnerable and shares her heart, and it shines through. I will most likely read this book again!
June 6, 2017
Women in Ministry: What God Wants You to Know
We were greeted with warm handshakes and pleasantries, an outline of the morning service, and then a startling announcement: “We assumed that your wife would want to take the children.” In the early days of our marriage when my husband was the area director of a children’s ministry, I used to travel with him to his weekend engagements. However, in those days, I had a full-time job, no children yet, and no — I did not carry a Bible lesson around in my back pocket. (Given the same situation today? I’d probably go for it! Why not?)
Ministry wives are often subject to assumptions and misconceptions, and it is with this audience in mind that Kay Warren has written Sacred Privilege. However, her words are relevant to all women in ministry, with or without husbands. She writes from the perspective of a life-long “church girl,” the daughter of a pastor, wife to Rick Warren of Saddleback Church and Purpose Driven Life fame, and also as the mother to a pastor’s wife. The book is a distillation of wisdom gained from an entire life lived in the fish bowl of ministry — not from the viewpoint of “perfect wife,” but as messenger and strong survivor, as one who has taken strength from God for a very specific calling and now wants to pass that encouragement on to others who share that call.
If you are a woman in ministry, here’s what God wants you to know:
1. “You need to embrace your own story — all of it — for the glory of God and the good of His kingdom.” (31)
Kay’s story includes a brush with a porn addiction and a rocky start to her marriage. It includes a struggle with depression and the mental illness and ultimate suicide of her son. She assesses this terrain and concludes that the life she has lived is the exact price required for becoming who she is today.
2. “There is no greater heritage than for children to see that ministry is not just for dads but also for moms and brothers and sisters.” (50)
Sharing a ministry focus as a couple and also as a family protects everyone from resentment and eases the claustrophobia of the glass house that can plague ministry families. Kay defines “thriving” over the long haul as the ability to share a God-given dream and points to Ephesians 2:10 to affirm that God is the architect of that dream.
3. “Success in ministry is not about numerical results or recognition but about thriving, flourishing, and growing strong in one’s calling and in one’s character.” (58)
This does not mean that women in ministry will meet everyone’s expectations. On the flip side, it also does not mean that we will always be free to do the thing we love the most. When it comes to defining success in ministry, the most important voice in the room is God’s.
4. “You have a story that is worth telling.” (125)
Sharing God’s redemption process in your life is risky because your weaknesses come out of hiding. However, in the process, others are drawn into the Light, and true friendships can be formed that will endure for the long haul. Life in community — knowing others and being known — is so much safer and more comfortable than life on a pedestal.
5. “No one will take care of you but you.” (139)
That sounds cynical, doesn’t it? And it’s not to say that God, your husband, and/or your loving church family are all out to exploit you and suck you dry, but there are some aspects of self-care that are completely in your court: eating, sleeping, and moving every day are your responsibility. My favorite of Kay’s aphorisms applies here:
“Control the controllable and leave the uncontrollable to God.”
Nourishing the inner life and stepping away from ministry for Sabbath rest may require some adjusting. Cultivating this flexibility is a discipline that is well worth it in the end.
6. “Accept the loss of privacy with God’s grace.” (180)
Gail MacDonald and Edith Schaeffer have blazed a gracious trail for ministry wives (and all women) with their writing, and Edith is eloquently accurate on this subject of boundaries:
“A family is a door that has hinges and a lock. The hinges should be well-oiled to swing the door open during certain times, but the lock should be firm enough to let people know that the family needs to be alone part of the time, just to be a family.” (183)
7. “Live with transparency and work hard to do what is right in the sight of God and others.” (194)
Because ministry is a “sacred privilege,” God-honoring integrity is key, particularly in the crucial areas of sex, money, and power. Kay and her husband maintain a “warnings” file with details about well-known pastors who have left the ministry because of moral failure — just to remind them of their own vulnerability.
8. Maintain an eternal perspective.
Practicing radical forgiveness will make the battle scars earned in church conflict more bearable — and will even speed healing! Franςois Fénelon offers wise counsel:
“Don’t be so upset when things are said about you. Let the world talk; just seek to do the will of God. You will never be able to entirely satisfy people and it isn’t worth the painful effort.” (215)
The shared dreams and plans, the sacrifices and the adjustments required of women in ministry can be viewed alongside Paul’s metaphor of the Christian life as a race. We run toward a finish line that is difficult to see, and the noise of the crowd — whether cheering or jeering — can be a distraction. Making it “our aim to please” God is the mindset that will foster self-acceptance, a thriving family, and the ability to live out God’s calling on our lives with integrity and joy.
//
This book was provided by Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group, in exchange for my review. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
We were greeted with warm handshakes and pleasantries, an outline of the morning service, and then a startling announcement: “We assumed that your wife would want to take the children.” In the early days of our marriage when my husband was the area director of a children’s ministry, I used to travel with him to his weekend engagements. However, in those days, I had a full-time job, no children yet, and no — I did not carry a Bible lesson around in my back pocket. (Given the same situation today? I’d probably go for it! Why not?)
Ministry wives are often subject to assumptions and misconceptions, and it is with this audience in mind that Kay Warren has written Sacred Privilege. However, her words are relevant to all women in ministry, with or without husbands. She writes from the perspective of a life-long “church girl,” the daughter of a pastor, wife to Rick Warren of Saddleback Church and Purpose Driven Life fame, and also as the mother to a pastor’s wife. The book is a distillation of wisdom gained from an entire life lived in the fish bowl of ministry — not from the viewpoint of “perfect wife,” but as messenger and strong survivor, as one who has taken strength from God for a very specific calling and now wants to pass that encouragement on to others who share that call.
If you are a woman in ministry, here’s what God wants you to know:
1. “You need to embrace your own story — all of it — for the glory of God and the good of His kingdom.” (31)
Kay’s story includes a brush with a porn addiction and a rocky start to her marriage. It includes a struggle with depression and the mental illness and ultimate suicide of her son. She assesses this terrain and concludes that the life she has lived is the exact price required for becoming who she is today.
2. “There is no greater heritage than for children to see that ministry is not just for dads but also for moms and brothers and sisters.” (50)
Sharing a ministry focus as a couple and also as a family protects everyone from resentment and eases the claustrophobia of the glass house that can plague ministry families. Kay defines “thriving” over the long haul as the ability to share a God-given dream and points to Ephesians 2:10 to affirm that God is the architect of that dream.
3. “Success in ministry is not about numerical results or recognition but about thriving, flourishing, and growing strong in one’s calling and in one’s character.” (58)
This does not mean that women in ministry will meet everyone’s expectations. On the flip side, it also does not mean that we will always be free to do the thing we love the most. When it comes to defining success in ministry, the most important voice in the room is God’s.
4. “You have a story that is worth telling.” (125)
Sharing God’s redemption process in your life is risky because your weaknesses come out of hiding. However, in the process, others are drawn into the Light, and true friendships can be formed that will endure for the long haul. Life in community — knowing others and being known — is so much safer and more comfortable than life on a pedestal.
5. “No one will take care of you but you.” (139)
That sounds cynical, doesn’t it? And it’s not to say that God, your husband, and/or your loving church family are all out to exploit you and suck you dry, but there are some aspects of self-care that are completely in your court: eating, sleeping, and moving every day are your responsibility. My favorite of Kay’s aphorisms applies here:
“Control the controllable and leave the uncontrollable to God.”
Nourishing the inner life and stepping away from ministry for Sabbath rest may require some adjusting. Cultivating this flexibility is a discipline that is well worth it in the end.
6. “Accept the loss of privacy with God’s grace.” (180)
Gail MacDonald and Edith Schaeffer have blazed a gracious trail for ministry wives (and all women) with their writing, and Edith is eloquently accurate on this subject of boundaries:
“A family is a door that has hinges and a lock. The hinges should be well-oiled to swing the door open during certain times, but the lock should be firm enough to let people know that the family needs to be alone part of the time, just to be a family.” (183)
7. “Live with transparency and work hard to do what is right in the sight of God and others.” (194)
Because ministry is a “sacred privilege,” God-honoring integrity is key, particularly in the crucial areas of sex, money, and power. Kay and her husband maintain a “warnings” file with details about well-known pastors who have left the ministry because of moral failure — just to remind them of their own vulnerability.
8. Maintain an eternal perspective.
Practicing radical forgiveness will make the battle scars earned in church conflict more bearable — and will even speed healing! Franςois Fénelon offers wise counsel:
“Don’t be so upset when things are said about you. Let the world talk; just seek to do the will of God. You will never be able to entirely satisfy people and it isn’t worth the painful effort.” (215)
The shared dreams and plans, the sacrifices and the adjustments required of women in ministry can be viewed alongside Paul’s metaphor of the Christian life as a race. We run toward a finish line that is difficult to see, and the noise of the crowd — whether cheering or jeering — can be a distraction. Making it “our aim to please” God is the mindset that will foster self-acceptance, a thriving family, and the ability to live out God’s calling on our lives with integrity and joy.
//
This book was provided by Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group, in exchange for my review. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
May 2, 2018
I have LOVED reading SACRED PRIVILEGE with an online group of Pastor's Wives. It made it that much more meaningful and powerful. I am a passionate, avid reader and I especially love talking about and sharing what I read. So the opportunity to read a book with others was a dream come true for me!! What a wonderful use of social media and what a wonderful book to use. It really made Kay's purpose of SACRED PRIVILEGE more effective than if I had read it alone.
Of course, the book is worth reading regardless of whether or not you are able to read it with a group of others. Kay Warren certainly has been a Pastor's Wife long enough to be able to provide wisdom for PW's at any stage. I have been a PW for almost 25 years, and I find that regardless of the number of years of experience, we are all lifelong learners and learn from best from one another.
I, for one, am certainly appreciative of the fact that Kay has chosen to share her wisdom with the rest of us.
Of course, the book is worth reading regardless of whether or not you are able to read it with a group of others. Kay Warren certainly has been a Pastor's Wife long enough to be able to provide wisdom for PW's at any stage. I have been a PW for almost 25 years, and I find that regardless of the number of years of experience, we are all lifelong learners and learn from best from one another.
I, for one, am certainly appreciative of the fact that Kay has chosen to share her wisdom with the rest of us.
June 19, 2017
Sacred Privilege, by Kay Warren, is written mainly for pastor's wives. It gives encouragement, and tips for other wives in ministry. She goes into detail explaining how as a pastor's wife, you will lose your privacy, you will be criticized, there will be complaints and conflicts. With these she tells the reader to leave it to God. She explains not to get caught up in trying to please every body.
The author explains that you will not be in ministry very long before you realize you have said yes to God in a way that will challenge every part of you. The author explains you need to accept who you are and know that be open to change. She also explains that you need to take care of yourself and your needs. And if there are children involved in the family, you need to help them . Ministry couples raising children have the normal stress of raising children. But they also have the additional stress of know everyone in their congregation will be watching them as they raise their children as well as what their children do.
I found this to be a very interesting book to read. I am not a minister's wife, nor am I a minister's daughter. I do, however, have family members in the ministry field and this book helped me to see the stress and sacrifices that minister wives deal with. I appreciate how the author uses her life experiences to help other wives. I think this book should be recommended reading for spouses of those in training for ministry as well as for family and close friends.
I received this book from Revell Publishing. I have written an honest review.
The author explains that you will not be in ministry very long before you realize you have said yes to God in a way that will challenge every part of you. The author explains you need to accept who you are and know that be open to change. She also explains that you need to take care of yourself and your needs. And if there are children involved in the family, you need to help them . Ministry couples raising children have the normal stress of raising children. But they also have the additional stress of know everyone in their congregation will be watching them as they raise their children as well as what their children do.
I found this to be a very interesting book to read. I am not a minister's wife, nor am I a minister's daughter. I do, however, have family members in the ministry field and this book helped me to see the stress and sacrifices that minister wives deal with. I appreciate how the author uses her life experiences to help other wives. I think this book should be recommended reading for spouses of those in training for ministry as well as for family and close friends.
I received this book from Revell Publishing. I have written an honest review.
May 3, 2018
Drawing on more than forty years in ministry, Kay provides encouraging principles and life lessons, along with intimate personal stories, that will give you the confidence you need to lead and live well. You'll learn to
- accept who you are
- adapt to change
- help your children survive and thrive
- protect your private life
- deal with criticism
- live with integrity
- develop an eternal perspective
Whether you are excited, struggling, or feeling broken and tired, you will find hope and encouragement for your calling in Kay's warm and wise words.
Kay Warren has put together from her immense experience of 40 years as a pastor’s wife.
Every pastor’s wife will enjoy reading this book that Mrs. Warren has compiled and put her lifetime of experiences for all of us pastor’s wives to read.
I myself enjoyed this and I was able to get so much out of this book. I know that Mrs. Warren is the pastor’s wife of a very large church, but even if you are in the smallest of churches you can still use and apply a lot of the experience from Mrs. Warren.
When I first started reading the book, it seemed more like a biography, but as you read through her life and experience, you can learn so much that you can use in your own life and ministry.
I have read many books for and written by pastor’s wives and I have enjoyed and uses many of them. This is a great new book that many will like to read.
- accept who you are
- adapt to change
- help your children survive and thrive
- protect your private life
- deal with criticism
- live with integrity
- develop an eternal perspective
Whether you are excited, struggling, or feeling broken and tired, you will find hope and encouragement for your calling in Kay's warm and wise words.
Kay Warren has put together from her immense experience of 40 years as a pastor’s wife.
Every pastor’s wife will enjoy reading this book that Mrs. Warren has compiled and put her lifetime of experiences for all of us pastor’s wives to read.
I myself enjoyed this and I was able to get so much out of this book. I know that Mrs. Warren is the pastor’s wife of a very large church, but even if you are in the smallest of churches you can still use and apply a lot of the experience from Mrs. Warren.
When I first started reading the book, it seemed more like a biography, but as you read through her life and experience, you can learn so much that you can use in your own life and ministry.
I have read many books for and written by pastor’s wives and I have enjoyed and uses many of them. This is a great new book that many will like to read.
August 31, 2021
A lot of good content that is practical and Biblical. I appreciate her candid approach and vulnerability, especially in regards to suffering. She was encouraging, direct, and spoke from a deep well of wisdom and love.
I rated it only 3 stars because I believed she missed a prime opportunity to address valid reasons for stepping back from ministry and church leadership (willingly - not due to disqualification), as well guidance with abusive church cultures. This could have been included in the section dealing with forgiveness and ministry wounds (I was truly sad when it wasn't referenced!). With the book's emphasis on finishing strong, you can see how a ministry wife could easily misunderstand that to mean staying in the game, whatever the cost. The author may not have experienced an abusive church culture personally, which may be why she did not address it. However, with the rate of suicide in pastors, along with the growing number of pastoral families in crisis, this would be a helpful addition (or clarification) if there were to be an updated edition published in the future.
I would absolutely recommend this book, but with the above caveat.
I rated it only 3 stars because I believed she missed a prime opportunity to address valid reasons for stepping back from ministry and church leadership (willingly - not due to disqualification), as well guidance with abusive church cultures. This could have been included in the section dealing with forgiveness and ministry wounds (I was truly sad when it wasn't referenced!). With the book's emphasis on finishing strong, you can see how a ministry wife could easily misunderstand that to mean staying in the game, whatever the cost. The author may not have experienced an abusive church culture personally, which may be why she did not address it. However, with the rate of suicide in pastors, along with the growing number of pastoral families in crisis, this would be a helpful addition (or clarification) if there were to be an updated edition published in the future.
I would absolutely recommend this book, but with the above caveat.
May 21, 2017
First my review of this book comes with a bias. I have friends who are pastor's wives and I also assist a pastor on a daily basis. I have had the honor and have seen how God uses the wife of a pastor. These women are courageous, gracious and are the most unselfish people I have ever met in my life. Their husbands are responding to a call on their lives to lay down everything and in turn their wives are doing the same. I love how Kay is authentic in her ability to share her experiences as a pastor's wife, mom and daughter. Her role in ministry is so important too. There are so many people that this book brought to my mind as I read it. I just know so many would find this book to be helpful in ministry and in their lives, especially pastor's wives. If you're not a pastor's wive, you can still learn from this book. It gives you a real look into the life of ministry and it will allow you to look at your pastor's family different. This is a great tool for your church. I give this book 4.5/ 5 stars. A favorable review was not required.
April 2, 2019
Kay Warren does a great job encouraging pastors' wives to embrace this role and serve God with integrity and endurance. I highlighted so much, and read alongside many other pastors' wives in an online book study. It challenged me in many ways and encouraged me in many more.
It wasn't an easy read for me though. The chapters were long and so much was covered in each chapter. HOWEVER, that is simply because there IS so much to cover in order to make it work. Ministry can't be short tidy chapters all the time. So no stars lost here. I just pushed past my comfort zone when it comes to those short and tidy chapters, embraced the challenge and pressed on. haha. And it was great. I loved her transparency, her boldness, and her cut to our hearts. This role of wife of the pastor is sacred, and such a privilege. Thanks, Kay Warren! I loved it!
It wasn't an easy read for me though. The chapters were long and so much was covered in each chapter. HOWEVER, that is simply because there IS so much to cover in order to make it work. Ministry can't be short tidy chapters all the time. So no stars lost here. I just pushed past my comfort zone when it comes to those short and tidy chapters, embraced the challenge and pressed on. haha. And it was great. I loved her transparency, her boldness, and her cut to our hearts. This role of wife of the pastor is sacred, and such a privilege. Thanks, Kay Warren! I loved it!
July 11, 2017
Sacred Privilege by Kay Warren is the best modern book I have read so far on the practicals of being a committed Christian, let alone a pastor's wife. I would recommend it to anyone wanting to grow, and though it's written by a woman to women who are pastors' wives, the principles work for everyone! All who want to be Jesus pleasers will learn a lot and be challenged to make their walk match their talk in ways that are real--no formulas here! This is real life Christianity.
If you are not a leader's wife, you will learn some areas in which leaders' wives need prayer, and if you are a ministry wife, you will learn some helps and helpful ways of thinking and living that will enable you to finish your race of life with joy.
If you are not a leader's wife, you will learn some areas in which leaders' wives need prayer, and if you are a ministry wife, you will learn some helps and helpful ways of thinking and living that will enable you to finish your race of life with joy.
May 16, 2017
Sacred Privilege
By KAY WARREN
FOREWORD BY RICK WARREN
YOUR LIFE AND MINISTRY AS A PASTOR'S WIFE
This book was very unique and inspire me in many way and compelling to read with extremely of high sacrificial as a wife of pastor. She was sharing us of the meaningful of the opportunity to play and to be a part of God's work and that is the reward are worth the effort all the pain and loss of privacy including of invaluable advice for living with the pressure of a public position. I highly recommend to everyone must to read this book. " I received this book free from Revell Reads Blog program for review "
By KAY WARREN
FOREWORD BY RICK WARREN
YOUR LIFE AND MINISTRY AS A PASTOR'S WIFE
This book was very unique and inspire me in many way and compelling to read with extremely of high sacrificial as a wife of pastor. She was sharing us of the meaningful of the opportunity to play and to be a part of God's work and that is the reward are worth the effort all the pain and loss of privacy including of invaluable advice for living with the pressure of a public position. I highly recommend to everyone must to read this book. " I received this book free from Revell Reads Blog program for review "
July 16, 2017
I'm a "reluctant" pastors wife .... as in never in a million years did I see my self in this role nor did I jump with joy when I saw our lives turning this direction. We had been very close friends with many pastors and their wives for years and had also been actively involved in behind-the-scenes of churches. There was a lot of "great" we got to experience but a whole lot of "yuck" too. Why open our lives up for that? Kay's book helped me see the Sacred Privilege of our day to day life and how important to stay focused on pleasing God and not others. The chapters dealing with criticism and eternal purpose were great helps for me.
May 25, 2017
Sacred Privilege: Your Life and Ministry as a Pastor's Wife speaks the freedom to lead your family your way. To learn how to come alongside your husband as you begin to share the dream of a pastoring at a church. And to help care for yourself and your family while still living the dream.
I'm glad I'm reading this book while Eric is in seminary. In fact, it's something I think anyone involved in ministry would benefit from. Warren reminds us how to build our friendship boundaries. How to keep perspective when others think you are parenting incorrectly. (side note: I totally don't believe there is a perfect way to parent. We all get something wrong somewhere along the way!) How to build those boundaries, share what is pertinent without doing damage to yourself, your family and immediate relationships.
Whether I always keep it in mind or remember it, I have been given a sacred privilege. Whether or not Eric ever becomes a pastor, I know I will be a better wife because of reading this book. It's helped me to consider how I approach things through the blog as a whole.
I received a copy of this book from Revell books. This review is my own, honest opinion.
I'm glad I'm reading this book while Eric is in seminary. In fact, it's something I think anyone involved in ministry would benefit from. Warren reminds us how to build our friendship boundaries. How to keep perspective when others think you are parenting incorrectly. (side note: I totally don't believe there is a perfect way to parent. We all get something wrong somewhere along the way!) How to build those boundaries, share what is pertinent without doing damage to yourself, your family and immediate relationships.
Whether I always keep it in mind or remember it, I have been given a sacred privilege. Whether or not Eric ever becomes a pastor, I know I will be a better wife because of reading this book. It's helped me to consider how I approach things through the blog as a whole.
I received a copy of this book from Revell books. This review is my own, honest opinion.
September 11, 2018
This is a wonderful book. I've never read a book for pastor's wives before because they all seem a bit cheesy, but Kay gets this spot on. She writes with honesty, integrity and passion and I'm so grateful she has chosen to share her story in this way. As the wife of a pioneer, her stories of the early days when they were starting Saddleback was really helpful. I think this is the only book a church leader's wife needs.
January 22, 2020
I would recommend this book to any woman in ministry, specifically those who are in the running as a pastor’s wife! As someone who is learning in this new journey, I appreciated Kay Warren’s honesty, the lessons she shared through tragedy and pain, and her genuine heart which is so evidence throughout this whole book. I’m reminded again that God can use me just as I am and I also learned so many practical things within ministry as well. So thankful for this one!
April 29, 2021
Fantastic! I cannot recommend this book highly enough. Although I am not a pastor‘s wife, my husband is in the process of elder candidacy at our church. I found many parts directly applied to our life in lay ministry. I listened to the audiobook and it was an outright pleasure to listen to Mrs. Warren narrate the book herself. She is clearly passionate about being a Titus woman and teaching younger women who might be influenced by her.
September 30, 2022
A few years ago, I gained the new role of pastor’s wife, and had no idea what to expect, outside of loving on our student’s and their families! So I decided to read this book in addition to getting a mentor who was also a pastor’s wife! This book was so helpful, especially in the arena of unspoken expectations that the church might have for leadership. If you are serving in ministry, I would highly recommend this book!
February 16, 2019
What a great book for women in ministry of any type! I am so glad I decided to give this book a chance, even though I'm not exactly a full pastors wife at this point, but that's looking like my future and I love it and I hate it. So this helped qualm some fears, share some concerns and advice, and get me excited about my possible future.
January 15, 2021
Excelente e inspirador
Excelente libro para toda esposa de pastor. Me conmueve la transparencia y vulnerabilidad que la Pastora Kay proyecta en este libro a la vez que su fe, firmeza en el Señor¡! Invaluables consejos! Preciosos testimonios de vida que glorifican a nuestro Señor Jesús!
Excelente libro para toda esposa de pastor. Me conmueve la transparencia y vulnerabilidad que la Pastora Kay proyecta en este libro a la vez que su fe, firmeza en el Señor¡! Invaluables consejos! Preciosos testimonios de vida que glorifican a nuestro Señor Jesús!
Read
May 29, 2021Relatable - Authentic and Helpful
I loved how real and authentic this book is. Kay Warren does a really great job laying out the struggles and joys that a pastor’s wife will encounter. I love that she didn’t hide or sugar coat the hard times, but that she shares her own struggles and shares her humanness. Something that is very relatable.
I loved how real and authentic this book is. Kay Warren does a really great job laying out the struggles and joys that a pastor’s wife will encounter. I love that she didn’t hide or sugar coat the hard times, but that she shares her own struggles and shares her humanness. Something that is very relatable.
July 19, 2021
This book made me love Jesus more. It gave me eyes to see differently the title that I have been given and called to uphold of being a wife to a pastor. There was rawness in Kay Warren’s story of what comes out of ministry and how to continue the race of this treacherous journey we call ministry. Thank you for being so kind and ever so encouraging.
December 15, 2017
This is in some ways a very gritty. She does not sugar coat the truth nor does she warn women away from a life as a minister's wife but she tells how to cope with a sometimes high profile job where everyone thinks they know how you should handle everything.
June 16, 2017
loved it! honesty, wisdom, humor, and real! respect the warren family and how they point others to the Gospel!
July 28, 2017
Very relatable for you who have been in the ministry
I'm not in fulltime capacity, but if you are serving God in church for awhile, you might want to read this!
I'm not in fulltime capacity, but if you are serving God in church for awhile, you might want to read this!
August 19, 2017
So much wisdom here. Kay Warren is the real deal!
October 5, 2017
So good!!! I wish every women in ministry or just any Christian women had the chance to read this book!
October 9, 2017
An authentic and engaging view into the life of a church planter/pastor wife. She is honest in areas that many find difficult and is interesting to read.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 46 reviews