I'm Not the Minister's Wife… I'm the Minister!

By Martha Noebel
CBN Staff Writer

CBN.com -- I have the rare and wonderful privilege of not being the minister's wife, but I'm the minister. It is something I have longed to be and one that has taken me down a long, lonely road. But I have grown in God and feel so blessed to be taking this step forward in the Lord.

As a child growing up in church, I learned that when the doors of the sanctuary were opened, I would be there. There wasn't any question about it.

Sunday mornings, Sunday nights, Wednesday nights, nights and nights of revival services, it was my mother's job to see that all of us children were there. If we had homework, well, we would sit on the back row and finish it. It was never an excuse for missing church. And we didn't go home until the night was done, if you know what I mean. If we got tired, then we would lay down on the pew and go to sleep. Momma was not about to leave until she was ready. How I used to long to stay home on Sunday nights to watch the latest Walt Disney movie. I never saw a one.

This mandatory church attendance provided me with a rich heritage. It's funny now when I look back on my childhood that I can only see the blessings of being in the house of the Lord with all of God's people, worshipping and praising Him. As I grew older, I found myself weeping for the lost, prophesying in the meetings, leading prayer teams, teaching Sunday School and Vacation Bible School, and even preaching on Ladies' Day.

I remember the times when I would play church in my grandmother's garage. I would line up the chairs, put the songbooks in them, and preach to them and my cousin. I loved God's presence and developed a real appreciation for the things of God.

At 50 years old, I found myself walking into the moment in my life that I have longed to see. May 2, 2004 was the day I was ordained into the ministry. There have been many years of seeking the face of God for this opportunity. I felt called to the ministry and attended Bible School so I could learn more about the Word of God. I do not take this lightly, but rather appreciate that God has truly been faithful to me. He put this desire to minister in my heart and now it is coming to pass.

I want to encourage you. If God has put a special desire in your heart, and you don't seem to see anything happening, don't worry.