Leading and Loving It

Tiffany, Lisa, Jessica, Lori, and Brandi

Leading and Loving It is a community that connects, encourages, and supports pastors’ wives and women in ministry.

I think the “typical Pastor’s Wife” is dead. You know, that woman who had it all together, never seemed to struggle, played the piano, attended every event, and met everyone’s expectations … although she could have had some help with her wardrobe.

I’ve heard, read and said “I’m not the typical pastor’s wife” so many times, I’ve started to wonder if she really ever existed at all … or if she really only existed in people’s minds and expectations.

We spend mass amounts of time, energy, emotion, and effort comparing ourselves to a myth. And the problem is … I fall short. My attention turns to my shortcomings and failings instead of staying focused on God and who He created me to be.

But the truth is, God knew exactly what He was doing … exactly who He was calling. He knows my shortcomings and my struggles, and He has extended His call to leadership and ministry anyway.

Maybe “typical” isn’t what I thought … maybe there is a new typical. Maybe I’m typical. The more I talk to Pastors’ Wives and Women in Ministry, the more I realize how alike we are.

Regardless of: Age. Location. Denomination. Church Style. Church Size. I’ve noticed that we all seem to have the same questions. The same struggles. The same difficulties.

I’m going to embrace the knowledge that maybe I am typical … a woman wanting to know Jesus, support my husband, love my children, care for our church, wrestle with my own shortcomings, grow in love and grace, keep my head up during the tough times, acknowledge that I won’t be all things to all people, be available to fellow-strugglers, and embrace who God made me to be.

I am not prefect. But I may well be typical … and that is fine by me.
By: Lori Wilhite

Meet the team:

Lori Wilhite serves alongside her husband Jud who is the Senior Pastor at Central in Las Vegas. They love getting to be part of God changing Sin City into Grace City. She is the founder of Leading and Loving It.

They have two kids Emma and Ethan. They also have the world’s cutest bulldog, Roxy. She’s slightly Jane Austen obsessed and should buy stock in Starbucks since Chai-tea Lattes are a necessity.

Connect with Lori by email at leadingandlovingit[at]me[dot]com and on Twitter and Facebook.

Brandi Wilson has been a pastor’s wife for 15 years.  She’s married to Pete who’s the Senior Pastor at Cross Point Church in Nashville, Tennessee.  Cross Point was planted in the fall of 2002 and is a multi-site church. She is the co-leader of Leading and Loving It.

Pete and Brandi have three boys- Jett, Gage, and Brewer.  When Brandi isn’t wrangling boys she enjoys reading, hiking, social-networking, and spending time with friends.

Connect with Brandi by email at brandi[at]leadingandlovingit[dot]com and on Twitter and Facebook.

Herbert and Tiffany Cooper started Peoples Church in Oklahoma City in 2002.

They have four kids: Cale, Cade, Caris, and Case. Tiffany loves eating out on date nights with her hubby, cuddling the kids, quality time with girlfriends, alone time, shopping, mindless TV watching 24, Chick-fil-a lunches, Starbucks, her phone and her laptop.

Tiffany leads our Virtual Community Groups. If you have any questions concerning VCGs or if you’re interested in leading one, you can connect with Tiffany by email at Tiffany[at]leadingandlovingit[dot]com and on Twitter and Facebook.

David and Lisa Hughes have been at Church by the Glades in South Florida, where David serves as Senior Pastor, since 1998.

Lisa has three kids Charlie, Victoria and Zane. She loves South Florida, coffee, social networking and connecting with other Pastors’ Wives.

Lisa leads our L&L It Local Events. If you have any questions concerning Local Events or if you’re interested in leading one, you can connect with Lisa by email at lisa[at]leadingandlovingit[dot[com] and on Twitter and Facebook.

Bil and Jessica Cornelius planted Bay Area Fellowship in 1998 in Corpus Christi, TX. They also mentor Church Planters and their wives.

They have three kids: Mason, Cole, and Sophie. Jessica enjoys spending time with family, decorating, traveling, reading about leadership in ministry, talking with her friends, and finding ways to encourage people.

Jessica leads the Connection piece of Leading and Loving It. If you are a blogger, organization, or church that would like to link with L&L It, you can connect with Jessica on Twitter and Facebook.