The verse, Joshua 24:15, ""as for me and my house we will serve the Lord,"" has been the desire and declaration of ministry couples for centuries. Yet the heartache of many ministers and their spouses is the realization that even though they have ministered to many and have been instruments to strengthen people's spiritual lives, the spiritual well-being of their own immediate family is not always where they would like it to be. Many sadly observe members of their own family who no longer attend church, having turned away from the faith. For many ministers and spouses, both those presently in ministry and those starting out, there is a great desire to find keys to prevent their family members from falling away from the faith. The heart of every pastoral couple is to function in their ministry and at the same time see their family flourish. In the light of the dearth of research regarding the ministry/family journey, this book investigates how ministers and their spouses perceive that their involvement in ministry affects their family lives. It further reveals the components that contribute toward the spiritual well-being of their family, while fulfilling their unique ministry responsibilities.
