If you’ve ever thought, I know I should talk about my faith more… but I don’t know how, you’re not alone.

In this episode of the Ministry Wives podcast, Amy sits down with speaker, former missionary, and Director of Relational Evangelism Melanie Ratcliffe to talk about the real reasons many followers of Jesus hesitate to share their faith. From fear of saying the wrong thing to feeling unprepared for spiritual conversations, many ministry wives quietly wrestle with the tension between wanting to share the gospel and not knowing where to begin.

Melanie offers practical encouragement for women who want to grow in confidence, authenticity, and intentionality when talking about Jesus in everyday life. Instead of relying on scripted approaches or pressure-filled methods, she shows how gospel conversations can flow naturally through relationships, hospitality, and genuine care for others.

If you’ve ever struggled with fear, awkwardness, or uncertainty when it comes to evangelism, this conversation will remind you that God is faithful to use ordinary moments—and ordinary people—to point others to His Son.

• Why so many Christians feel hesitant to talk about their faith
• Common fears that keep believers from sharing the gospel
• How ministry wives can approach evangelism with authenticity instead of pressure
• Simple ways to open the door for meaningful spiritual conversations
• And more!

Connect with Melanie
Instagram // Facebook

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Facebook // Instagram // Podcast

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Facebook // Instagram

What does it really mean to live set apart as a ministry wife? In this episode of the Ministry Wives Podcast, Amy Petersen sits down with wife, (grand)mom, author, and women’s minister Tasha Calvert to talk honestly about holiness, sanctification, and the pressure that so many ministry wives feel to “have it all together.” If you’re a pastor’s wife or ministry wife who has ever thought, I know I should be more holy… but I’m exhausted, struggling, or just trying to survive, then this conversation is for you.

Tasha shares her personal journey of moving from a checklist-driven view of holiness to a relationship-centered understanding of what it means to follow a holy God. Together, she and Amy explore the unique expectations placed on women in church leadership, the importance of biblical community, and why vulnerability isn’t weakness—but a pathway to real spiritual growth.

Instead of striving to look set apart, this episode invites you to surrender, rest in Christ, and pursue the personal holiness that’s rooted in grace alone.

• What it truly means for a ministry wife to live “set apart”
• Why holiness is about relationship with God—not performance
• How Scripture shapes your pursuit of personal holiness
• The vital role of biblical community in spiritual growth
• And more!

• Set Apart for More: The Transformative Power of Living Your Whole Life for a Holy God

Connect with Tasha
Instagram // Facebook // Website // Prestonwood Women’s Bible Study Resources

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Facebook // Instagram // Podcast

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Facebook // Instagram

If you’re a ministry wife, pastor’s wife, or woman in church leadership, you may feel like doubt is something you’re supposed to outgrow or at least keep quiet. In this episode of the Ministry Wives Podcast, host Amy Petersen sits down with author and Bible teacher Courtney Reissig for an honest conversation about faith and doubt in ministry. Together, they address the quiet tension many Christian women carry: I know I shouldn’t struggle with doubt… but I do.

This episode explores how to navigate spiritual doubt while serving in ministry, why doubt is not a disqualifier for leadership, and how Jesus meets our questions with both truth and compassion. If you’ve ever felt embarrassed by your struggles, wrestled with uncertainty in your faith, or wondered how to lead while still processing your own questions, this conversation offers steady reassurance: Jesus is not fragile in the face of your doubt. He is trustworthy, present, and nearer than you know.

• Why doubt can feel especially threatening for women in ministry leadership
• How Jesus responds to spiritual doubt with both truth and tenderness
• How Scripture gives language to our honest prayers
• What wise, healthy vulnerability looks like for ministry wives
• Practical ways to support others wrestling with fear, suffering, and faith

• Someone to Believe In: Embracing the Savior Who Stays the Same When Everything Else Changes
• Teach Me To Feel: Worshiping Through the Psalms in Every Season of Life
• Seth and the Very Scary Storm

Connect with Courtney
Instagram // Substack

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Facebook // Instagram // Podcast

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Facebook // Instagram

We know we’re called to love our neighbors… but what happens when it feels awkward, inconvenient, or intimidating? In this episode of the Ministry Wives Podcast, host Amy Petersen sits down with Amy-Jo Girardier—mom, women’s minister, author, and ministry wife—for an honest conversation about the tension behind the words, “I know I should engage my neighbors, but…”

Together, they talk about the real barriers that keep ministry wives from stepping into meaningful relationships: busy schedules, fear of rejection, uncertainty about what to say, and the pressure to “do it right.” Amy-Jo shares practical encouragement for living out your faith in everyday spaces and reminds listeners that loving your neighbor doesn’t require a perfect strategy—just your availability and obedience.

Their conversation highlights a simple but powerful initiative Amy-Jo started: a neighborhood prayer box. What began as a small step of faith became a bridge for connection, opening doors to deeper conversations and creating opportunities to pray for and serve others in tangible ways. If you’ve ever felt stuck between conviction and hesitation when it comes to community engagement, this episode will help you see that faithfulness often looks like small, intentional acts of love right where God has placed you.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode with Amy-Jo Girardier:

• Why engaging our neighbors can feel intimidating (even when we know we “should”)
• Common barriers that keep ministry wives from building local relationships
• How everyday faithfulness can open doors for gospel conversations
• Why loving your neighbor begins with presence, not perfection
• And more!

Connect with Amy-Jo
Instagram // Lifeway Bible Studies
*For info and pictures of her neighborhood prayer box, search #prayerboxgatewayvillage on Instagram.

Connect with Amy
Facebook // Instagram // Podcast

Connect with NAMB
Facebook // Instagram

For many ministry wives, time in the Word can quietly shift from a life-giving invitation into a heavy obligation. In the first episode of season eight, host Amy Petersen welcomes Kelly Needham—Bible teacher, author, and fellow ministry wife—for an honest conversation about Bible study, identity, and the pressure of our spiritual “shoulds.”

Kelly shares from her own faith journey and introduces her Bible study, See for Yourself: How to Study Your Bible with Confidence and Joy. Together, Amy and Kelly talk about how shame, comparison, and performance often creep into our relationship with Scripture—and how the gospel gently calls us back to grace.

If you’ve ever felt stuck, inconsistent, or discouraged when it comes to spending time in the Word, this episode will remind you that God’s delight in you is not earned by your quiet time. The Bible was never meant to be a checklist—it’s an invitation to know Jesus, no matter your season of life.

• Why the Bible was never meant to be a spiritual “should”
• How shame and comparison impact our approach to Scripture
• Why identity in Christ matters more than spiritual productivity
• How to approach Bible study with curiosity, flexibility, and grace
• And more!

• See for Yourself: How to Study Your Bible with Confidence and Joy by Kelly Needham
• Friend-ish: Reclaiming Real Friendship in a Culture of Confusion
• Purposefooled: Why Chasing Your Dreams, Finding Your Calling, and Reaching for Greatness Will Never Be Enough
• Clearly Podcast
• JimmyAndKelly.com

Connect with Kelly
Instagram // Website // Teach Equip

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Facebook // Instagram // Podcast

Connect with NAMB
Facebook // Instagram

Ministry life often pulls us in many directions—serving others, leading faithfully, and juggling family responsibilities. But what about our own walk with Jesus? How do we keep our devotional life fresh and alive when ministry itself can leave us weary?

In this episode of the Ministry Wives Podcast, host Amy Petersen sits down with Gayle Rogers Foster—daughter of the late Adrian Rogers and author of In His Footsteps: A 90-Day Devotional to Enjoy Jesus Daily. Gayle shares her personal story of growing up in a ministry family, navigating seasons of busyness, and learning the joy of abiding with Christ.

With wisdom, honesty, and humor, Gayle encourages ministry wives to embrace margin, surrender what we cling to, and resist the temptation to simply “power through.” She reminds us that keeping our devotional lives vibrant isn’t about doing more—it’s about living with open hands, listening to the Spirit, and making space for God’s voice in the everyday.

• Why ministry wives can struggle with spending time with God while serving Him
• How Gayle’s upbringing shaped her faith and the lessons she’s carried into adulthood
• The story behind her devotional In His Footsteps and how God called her to write it
• How to release what you’re holding onto and walk in daily surrender
• Practical ways to keep your quiet time fresh in every season of life

Whether you feel spiritually “stuck” or simply need encouragement to keep going, this conversation will refresh your soul and remind you that God meets us in the quiet places.

• In His Footsteps: A 90-Day Devotional to Enjoy Jesus Daily (Featuring Daily Words of Wisdom from Adrian Rogers) by Gayle Rogers Foster
• Love Worth Finding
• Opportunity Leadership by Roger Parrott

Connect with Gayle
Facebook // Instagram // Website

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Facebook // Instagram

Joy doesn’t always feel easy—it often feels vulnerable, even risky. In this episode of the Ministry Wives Podcast, Amy Petersen sits down with author and therapist Nicole Zasowski to talk about her new Bible study Daring Joy: What Six Women in the Bible Teach Us About the Power of Celebration When It Feels Risky, Complicated, and Even Impossible.

Nicole shares how her own seasons of loss, transition, and disappointment led her to a deeper understanding of joy—not as a reward for when life goes well, but as a practice we can step into, even in life’s hardest seasons.

• Why joy can seem like one of our most vulnerable emotions
• The difference between gratitude and thanksgiving (and why speaking it aloud doubles your joy!)
• Simple practices that retrain your brain toward joy
• What six women of Scripture—Eve, Sarah, Miriam, Mary, Elizabeth, and Mary Magdalene—teach us about daring joy in the middle of uncertainty
• And more!

• Daring Joy: What Six Women in the Bible Teach Us About the Power of Celebration When It Feels Risky, Complicated, and Even Impossible by Nicole Zasowski
• What If It’s Wonderful?: Release Your Fears, Choose Joy, and Find the Courage to Celebrate by Nicole Zasowski
• From Lost to Found: Giving Up What You Think You Want for What Will Set You Free by Nicole Zasowski

Connect with Nicole
Instagram // Website

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Facebook // Instagram // Podcast

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Facebook // Instagram

Suffering is something every believer will face—but what do we do when it feels relentless, unfair, or overwhelming? In this powerful episode of the Ministry Wives Podcast, host Amy Petersen sits down with author and speaker Vaneetha Risner to talk about walking with Jesus through seasons of deep pain.

Vaneetha’s story is marked by challenges: childhood polio, the heartbreaking loss of her infant son, a painful divorce, and the ongoing struggles of post-polio syndrome. Yet, through every valley, she has discovered the nearness of Christ—not through quick fixes or easy answers, but through honest lament and raw dependence on God.

Together, Amy and Vaneetha explore common misconceptions about suffering, the beauty of biblical lament, and how to come alongside others who are hurting with both truth and tenderness. If you’ve ever felt like your faith faltered under the weight of pain—or if you’ve walked with someone in the midst of grief—this conversation will remind you that your hope is not in an outcome, but in a Savior who draws near.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode with Vaneetha Risner:

• Why there is no “quota” for suffering—and how to reframe hardship as a means of drawing closer to Christ
• The false belief that obedience keeps us from pain, and what Scripture really teaches about suffering
• How lament gives language to our grief and creates deeper intimacy with God
• Practical ways to walk with others in their pain without minimizing or sermonizing
• Why our ultimate hope is not found in changed circumstances, but in Jesus Himself

Resources & Links Mentioned:

• Watching for the Morning: 90 Devotionals for When Hope is Hard to Find by Vaneetha Risner

Connect with Vaneetha
Facebook // Instagram // Website

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Facebook // Instagram // Podcast

Connect with NAMB
Facebook // Instagram