Janet Thompson’s concern for mentoring and equiping women as mentors is evident in all that she does. That is why I am pleased that New Hope has published several of her Face to Face Bible studies for women. I asked her to tell us a little about why she wrote the most recent one, Face-to-Face with Priscilla and Aquila: Balancing Life and Ministry.
From Janet’s heart:
I’m always troubled when a Christian’s schedule becomes overcrowded with obligations and activities. Ministry work and service are often the first things they choose to cut back on. A new job or promotion or life change can prompt feelings of no longer having sufficient time or energy to serve at church or in ministry. In an effort to balance life and ministry, the scales may be tipped to the secular side instead of tipped to the spiritual side. It’s a subtle shift that is usually made for practical reasons, but God is calling His people to trust that He will provide if only they will remain faithful to staying about His work.
Priscilla and Aquila managed to keep ministry as their number one priority while running a tentmaking business, mentoring other Christians, moving numerous times, and opening their home for Paul to stay and the church to meet. This inspiring couple understood the importance of Christians participating in spreading the good news and serving together in ministry and life. Their story is not often told unless mentioned in conjunction with being good friends of Paul and mentoring the biblical scholar Apollos, but there is so much for couples and anyone serving in a ministry to learn from this gifted and dedicated husband and wife.
Today when couples do serve in the church, they often don’t serve together, but the marriage relationship is richly blessed when a couple surrenders their life to be used by God in a way that allows them to share that experience together. My prayer is that Face-to-Face with Priscilla and Aquila: Balancing Life and Ministry will inspire more couples to serve together as a team in their home and in their church.
