MTM Testimonial by Wife of a Pastor

When a pastor leaves his church, his wife "loses" her church membership, her church family, her "pastor," a significant part of her social network, her Bible study group, her volunteer work in the church, and frequently, her church-related job.

"What happened?" is the question that haunts both of them.

Each one sees different pieces of the devastating puzzle, and each one grasps for different straws of meaning. Ultimately, there is no meaning, no perspective, and no answer that alleviates the searing pain of their many broken relationships. Still, the haunting question keeps popping up like a bullet ricocheting around empty caverns of a grieving mind. The fruitless search for answers usually provokes more questions than answers, more disagreement than harmony, and more pain than comfort.

Eventually, the pastor and wife stop asking, "What happened?" and begin to worry about another pressing question: "What's happening to us?" Grief makes even basic communication a real challenge. Both spouses feel increasingly isolated and lonely. Life goes on, but it goes on clumsily, with a gnawing hollowness that muddles the mind and numbs the heart.

Enter MTM. Thanks to the empathetic, skilled facilitation of Charles, the insightful analysis of Ross, the practical, life-affirming teachings of Pat, pastors and spouses learn to ask new questions and to make new meaning from their experiences. MTM's intense weeklong format encourages a personal search for truth and grace. Each spouse is challenged to embrace new thoughts, new habits, and new concepts of ministry. Each spouse is given an opportunity to tell his/her "story" in the context of MTM's loving, accepting, and confidential partnership. The support, insight and prayer ministry of fellow clergy is a powerful catalyst for experiencing God's wisdom and His healing touch.

I left MTM with peace about the present and with hope for the future.

Thanks so very much MTM!
Carolyn Charnin