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Grace in Action

Pastor’s Wife Decides to Enroll at Grace to be Equipped in the Ministry

On regular days, you might come across Linda Mathis wearing shirts printed with different Bible verses in the local gym. Meanwhile, on Sundays, you will find Linda serving side by side in the ministry with her husband, a local church pastor. As a fitness leader, she is creative in finding unique ways to lead others to Christ. And as a pastor’s wife, she is eager to take on the responsibility that comes with her special calling to support her partner and be further equipped in the ministry—this made her enroll at Grace School of Theology.

Grace in Action

Pastor’s Wife Decides to Enroll at Grace to be Equipped in the Ministry

On regular days, you might come across Linda Mathis wearing shirts printed with different Bible verses in the local gym. Meanwhile, on Sundays, you will find Linda serving side by side in the ministry with her husband, a local church pastor. As a fitness leader, she is creative in finding unique ways to lead others to Christ. And as a pastor’s wife, she is eager to take on the responsibility that comes with her special calling to support her partner and be further equipped in the ministry—this made her enroll at Grace School of Theology.

Pastor’s Wife Decides to Enroll at Grace to be Equipped in the Ministry
I like the eight-week modules. All classes are like sitting in a classroom. I can personally be involved in class discussions and lectures; what helps me with affordability is that the cost of credit hours is less expensive than other seminaries, and the ability to set up a payment plan for each module.
Linda discovered Grace at a Women’s Conference in Dallas, Texas. It was during a time when she was actively searching for a seminary that would help her grow in the knowledge of God and minister effectively to the people she was serving with her husband.
“I wanted to know more about the Lord to help meet the needs of our congregation, but I first needed to know Him for myself.”
Linda chose Grace because it is more affordable than other seminaries and has an option to set up a payment plan for each module. Courses are also available online, and all lectures are accessible for replay via recording, allowing Linda to study remotely, even if she is in the mission field or busy with church activities.
“I like the eight-week modules. All classes are like sitting in a classroom. I can personally be involved in class discussions and lectures.”

Knowing that the Commission on Accrediting of the Association of Theological Schools accredits Grace, Linda is confident that it can help her in the ministries she is currently involved in as a pastor’s wife. These include leading the children and women in the church.

“I oversee [all] Bible Studies and activities; we want to make sure our kids are getting what they need to enable them to meet the challenges kids face today. My ministry Calling All Sisters Women Ministry focuses not only on the women in the Church but also the community.”

Not only does Grace equip Linda with ministry skills, but it also helped her to deal with expectations in the ministry and “not to get overwhelmed.” She cites one of her classes with Dr. Ken Wilson called Spiritual Life, wherein one of their readings gave her lots of helpful advice like how it is “OK to say No” sometimes to avoid burnout and set boundaries.

Moreover, the student discipleship group has been a great avenue to share challenges in the ministry. It gave Linda lots of support regarding her emotional and spiritual well-being. According to Linda, it “elevated and transformed” her as a person.

“Dr. Steve Norris, the [Director of Discipleship], is low-key, knowledgeable, and comforting to listen to. Dr. Norris directed us to look at Scripture and what it’s telling us in our personal life; a meditation on Scriptures brought out a new me. It’s one of the best moves Grace made, requiring students to enroll in it.”

Linda also cites Doctrinal Summary with Dr. Mark Cancel as a subject that greatly impacted her life. She remembers how Dr. Cancel encouraged and challenged the class to examine their doctrines based on the Scriptures, allowing her to “thoroughly reflect” on her beliefs.

As a graduate of Master of Arts in Biblical Studies with the Class of 2022, Linda plans on using what she learned to support her husband in his pastoral ministry and serve in discipleship, youth, children, and women ministries in their church. She believes that our calling as Christians is to share the love of Christ to others.

2 Timothy 1:8-9 NASB95
Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord or of me His prisoner, but join with me in suffering for the gospel according to the power of God, who has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was granted us in Christ Jesus from all eternity.

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