(Temporarily Closed)

The work of Francis and Edith Schaeffer fuels the inspiration for Cybershelter and the Chalets. In this light, discussions on Chalet Manse concentrate on the commitment to answer honest questions honestly with the attitude of The Mark of the Christian.(*)

Chalet Manse desires to provide a forum for the wives of pastors to share their needs in a comfortable environment. Those whose husbands presently attend seminary in preparation for ministry, as well as spouses of deceased ministers and women who are encouragers to the wives of ministers are also invited to lurk or participate in discussions. We do not screen subscribers to ascertain whether they are pastor's wives or sympathetic to their needs.

The works of Edith Schaeffer which have been most influential in my life are: L'Abri, What is a Family?, A Way of Seeing, Affliction, Hidden Art, Lifelines, Forever Music, Common Sense Christian Living, and Tapestry.

In considering the direction of Chalet Manse, I set forth the following topics for discussion. I see these seeds of thought as only a beginning. I pray that the development of our visits to Chalet Manse will serve to:

Facing Difficult Issues

Although families of pastors face struggles similar to those of other families, these struggles embody different flavors, shades, and intensities in the pastor¹s home. The personality of an individual church presents each pastor's family with uniquely diverse challenges. Whether the church body is supportive or challenging, united or divisive, the family of the pastor holds the task of serving God unwaveringly. What issues have you faced and how do they compare or contrast with those faced by families who are not pastors?

Finding Creative Solutions

Acknowledging that we do encounter difficult situations, we look for realistic solutions which bring hope or peace to individuals and bring honor and glory to God. The Truth of the scripture speaks to all issues of life, thus we strive to learn godly principles and put them to work in our lives. Furthermore the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives assures us of the reality of God and gives us a deeper knowledge of God. As we relate our own victories and share present struggles, we reach out through cyberspace to lift up each other. The joy of seeing God work in seemingly impossible circumstances gives us deeper confidence in Him and enables us to pass the faith on to our children and propagate Christianity in our churches and communities and on to the world. What solutions have you discovered which may help or inspire others?

Boundaries For Maintaining the Family

What barriers have you found which help to maintain or serve to harm family cohesiveness? Ministry is never limited to Sunday or to the church building. As wives of pastors, we carry on all aspects of homemaking and child rearing in the midst of ministry responsibilities and opportunities. In addition we work to support our husband in times of decision for the ministry and conflict within the church. What roles do your friends and the friends of your children play in the work you do? What strategies have you found helpful in your work as a pastor's wife or mother?

Philosophy of Ministry

A well thought out philosophy of ministry guides the wife of a pastor as she seeks to join her husband in ministry. The truths of God for life are transferable to ministry. Chalet-M offers ideas for developing a philosophy of ministry by exploring questions such as:

Answering the Hard Questions

Many Christians never question the existence of God, but the task of ministering to those who do have these questions often falls to the family of the pastor. Francis and Edith Schaeffer determined to live their lives as a demonstration of the existence of God. Discovering how our lives can show forth the existence of God leads us into the avenues of answering hard questions. If individuals asking the hard questions are labeled as heretics or ignored by sweeping the questions under the rug, the church loses the opportunity to guide others into the Kingdom, all the while failing to exhibit the existence of God in our lives.

The Ten Commandants of the Pastor's Home

These are the unwritten rules of the pastor's home. They may be humorous or serious, but each one gives a peek into the life of those who live in the pastor's home.

Devotionals

Each Monday morning I will post a devotional to Chalet-M. Feel free to comment or to post devotional thoughts of your own.

The discussions on the list are not intended to be limited to the categories above. If these topics are not presently relevant to you, feel free to initiate other threads.

See you when the discussion list reopens :-)

Donna Newton
March 1, 2000

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