FAMILY IN MINISTRY PAPER ASSIGNMENT
Celeasha Wilson
CLED325: Critical Issues in Ministry Leadership (B02)
Bradley McKerley
September 8,2025
Introduction
I’m a single woman who has never married. The desire to be married is alive and active.
Until God has joined me with my kingdom spouse it’s important for me to serve the Lord in my
singleness sharing the gospel story while making disciples out of men. In the meantime, I will
develop in the areas of becoming a devout Godly wife that I am called to become.
“But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord” -Joshua 24:15, KJV
When I reflect on my yesteryears, I can’t help but laugh sometimes. Before I ever
became a mother, I knew two things for certain. The first thing I knew was that I never wanted
to become a mother and secondly, I never wanted to become a wife. Ironically, I loved attending
church with both my paternal and maternal grandparents, but I never made the connection to
being married from attending church. Yes, countless of times I would often hear the pastor of
the church state that a husband shall love their wife as Christ loved the church. Age and
maturity could have been the reasons why that statement didn’t make any sense. Besides, I was
a young child attending church with my grandparents. A child’s biggest concern then was
placing my dime in the offering basket, attending Sunday school, and walking a few houses
down to the candy house with the remainder of the money I didn’t use for Sunday school. Little
did I know, biblical principles for Holy living were indoctrinated within at an early age. The seed
was planted. As I matured in my thinking and understanding, it only made sense that my
mission statement would be the foundation for my standard of living for my family.
Defense and Support
Living life as a single woman doesn’t discredit me from being utilized by God. In fact, I
am who God can use even more. My life as a single woman is totally dedicated to God’s purpose
for my life. When you are single there is no immediate need to attend to your husband or
children. The most important question a single woman can ask God is, "What will you have me
to do in my season of singleness?”
How I intend to leverage my singleness in ministry is making sure I’m fully devoting my
time to doing God’s work. Since I don’t have the responsibilities as a wife, I have more time to
seek God in my quiet time for divine instructions. I’ve always wanted to partake in mission trips
and so this would be a great time to serve in the kingdom abroad. Teaching the younger women
the importance of remaining pure and waiting on God to present them to their husbands is a
desire I have since I did things contrary to divine order. God expectations for single individuals to
serve the church demonstrating holiness while committed to a lifestyle of prayer and helping
those in the communities you live.
Scripture tells us, "The aged women likewise, that they be in behavior as becometh
holiness, not false accusers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things; That they must
teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children, To be
discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God
be not blasphemed.” (Titus 2:3-5 KJV).
Just as apostle Paul mentioned in 1Corinthians chapter 7, being married isn’t necessarily
a bad thing, it’s just that being a single person can give experiences that are an advantage to
serving the kingdom that grasps your attention to be wholehearted focused on the Lord.
Singleness is a season to whereas all your time and energy can be used to glorify God in
ways that being married cannot. When you are committed to your personal growth in Christ it
can shape you into being more vital and fruitful for the kingdom. So, singles shouldn’t be seen
as a death sentence, but a breath of fresh air seen through the lenses of clearer eyesight. read
In our text, “Liberating Ministry from the Success Syndrome,” the author's mention, Love
and Service and stated apart from God you will have no success. It gave four examples liberating
love is considered success.
1. “It places our lives and ministries beyond the fallible, oppressive judgement of the qualifiers.
2. It liberates us from the destructive tendency to compare ourselves with others.
3. It frees and motivates us to live our life’s highest priority, because if we really do believe that
loving God is the most important thing in life, then everything our conversation, our
schedules, our ambitions will progressively reflect his love.
4. It is freeing to the whole church, regardless of status.” (Hughes and Hughes 2008).
As I stated previously how I never had the desire to become a mother or married, the events in
my life happened opposite of the biblical norm. I became a mother before becoming a wife.
Having been groomed up in the church from a young girl well into adulthood I no longer had the
mindset of a child, and I did do away with immature things and ways of thinking. “But as for me
and my house, we will serve the Lord,” (Joshua 24:15 KJV), became a standard for my home and
served as a motto to my children. This statement gets straight to the point and has no gray area.
When serving the Lord there are things that automatically cancelled. In our culture we are held
to the standard that it takes a village to raise a child. My village team is committed to living
holiness.
Goals and Family Plans
1. Understanding who God is in our lives and understanding what he expects from us as his
children.
2. Commit to sacred time for prayer, devotion, praise, and worshipping.
3. Attend weekly church services, bible studies, and Sunday school.
4. Volunteer at the local shelters passing out food and clothing items
5. Saturday mornings seek to win souls for the kingdom through evangelism.
6. Attend mentoring sessions at the church on Saturdays that are geared towards
strengthening families.
My schedule for the week would pretty much look like this:
1. Sunday attends corporate worship service with like believers at church. After church
engage with others in fellowship. Midafternoon meet with family for Sunday dinner.
Before bed I complete my weekly planner.
2. Monday, head to work, after work meet with the W.O.W group to discuss upcoming
mission assignments, and receive my hospitality duties for visiting the sick and shut in.
At the end of the meeting offer my testimony and listen to other members' testimonies.
3. Tuesday, after work I will attend the Teen mentorship program.
4. Wednesday is bible study day at church. This is 7 o’clock in the evening. After bible study
fellowship with the attendees.
5. Thursday is when I will volunteer at the Soup kitchen after work at 5 to help feed those
who are in need.
6. Friday, after work I will attend my training session at the gym and rest for the remaining
evening.
7. Saturday, I observe the Sabbath. At 12 noon I will meet up with the evangelism team
going from door to door introducing my God to those who may not know him and
inviting them to accept Jesus Christ as their personal savior.
Conclusion
As Rev. Matt Wilkins stated in the video Ministry and Marriage, “Ministry is hard work.” (Wilkins
2025). Yes, God comes first above all but don’t allow the work you do for ministry come before
your family. Family is a very important component to God’s plan in the earth. Prioritizing what's
important is critical. Neglecting on either end could be detrimental. “Every Christian parent
needs
to develop a way to pray for his or her children.” (Fernando 2016).
Bibliography
Fernando, Ajith. 2016. The Family Life of a Christian Leader. Wheaton: Crossway.
Holman Bible Staff. 2017. HOLY BIBLE: Kjv Deluxe Gift Bible, Pink Leather touch.
R Kent Hughes, and Barbara Hughes. 2008. Liberating Ministry from the Success Syndrome.
Wheaton, Ill.: Crossway Books.
Wilkins, Matt. Ministry and Marriage. Liberty University, September 8, 2025. 13:49.
https://libertyuniversity.instructure.com/courses/955659/pages/watch-ministry-and-marriage?
module_item_id=91058172
