Life in ministry often means carrying the weight of people’s stories, navigating unexpected challenges, and learning to love well even when it’s costly. If you’ve ever wrestled with how to lead with both strength and tenderness, this episode is for you.

In this episode of the Ministry Wives Podcast, host Amy Petersen sits down with DeenDeen Vedoya—church planter’s wife, mom of three, and women’s ministry leader in Edmonton, Canada. DeenDeen shares her personal journey of church planting, discipleship, and discovering what it means to lead with a heart shaped by Christ’s compassion.

Together, Amy and DeenDeen talk honestly about grief, generosity, and the daily choice to lead people with empathy. You’ll hear practical wisdom on cultivating curiosity, listening well, and letting God’s love flow through you in both ministry and family life.

Whether you’re walking through conflict, caring for others in their suffering, or simply longing to reflect Christ more in your leadership, this conversation will remind you that compassion isn’t weakness—it’s Spirit-filled strength.

• The importance of compassion-driven leadership in ministry and motherhood
• Practical ways to embrace curiosity, empathy, and generosity with others
• How to grieve ministry losses without losing hope
• Encouragement for releasing expectations and trusting in God’s provision
• And more!

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Life in ministry can feel like constant chaos—balancing church responsibilities, family needs, and the everyday mess of raising kids. If you’ve ever felt the tension between ministry demands and motherhood, you’re not alone.

In this episode of the Ministry Wives Podcast, host Amy Petersen sits down with Heather Oldham—ministry wife, mom of five, and church planter’s wife—to talk honestly about parenting kids in the whirlwind of ministry life. Heather shares her personal story of growing up in a pastor’s home, raising her own family in the church planting context, and learning to find calm in the chaos.

Together, Amy and Heather explore practical ways to model peace for your children, stay connected when correction is needed, and cultivate a home where ministry kids feel loved, secure, and part of the mission—not in competition with it.

Whether you’re in the trenches of raising littles, navigating the teen years, or simply craving encouragement in the messiness of ministry, this conversation will remind you: Calm isn’t the absence of chaos—it’s the presence of Christ’s peace.

• How to model emotional regulation in times of high stress
• Practical ways to engage your kids’ hearts through curiosity
• Tips for helping your children name and process their emotions biblically
• Ways to see discipleship happening in the everyday moments
• And more!

• “Raising Church-Planting Kids: Be Their Calm in the Chaos” by Heather Oldham

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Welcome back to Season 7 of the Ministry Wives Podcast! In this episode, host Amy Petersen sits down with Casey Kilgore, a ministry wife of more than 20 years and part of the Send Network team.

Casey opens up about the realities of navigating unexpected ministry shifts, from major transitions in her family’s calling to their bold step into full-time RV living. With honesty and wisdom, she shares what it looks like to trust God’s plan even when it feels uncertain—and how ministry wives can stay rooted in Christ through seasons of change.

Whether you’re walking through a new chapter in your own ministry journey or simply want encouragement as a ministry wife, this conversation will remind you that God is faithful and that you’re not alone.

• Why community support is essential for ministry families
• How trusting God’s plan means stepping into the unknown
• Practical ways to navigate your family’s next steps in ministry and discipleship
• The role of prayer in discerning God’s guidance
• Encouragement for church planting wives serving across the U.S.

• Resources for Church Planting Wives

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Welcome back to Season 7 of the Ministry Wives Podcast! In this episode, host Amy Petersen sits down with Bible teacher, actress, spoken-word artist, and ministry wife Blair Linne for an honest conversation on anxiety, mental health in ministry, and trusting God when self-effort falls short.

Blair shares her journey through crippling panic attacks—a struggle that inspired her book Made to Tremble—and how God used that season to teach her deeper dependence on Christ. Together, Amy and Blair discuss why Christian women in ministry must break the silence around anxiety, seek help without shame, and build supportive, gospel-centered community.

• How anxiety shows up—even in the lives of ministry wives
• Ways to move from self-reliance to real dependence on God
• Practical steps for inviting safe, Christ-centered community into the struggle
• Why counseling and medication can be wise tools, not signs of weakness
• Scriptures that bring calm and clarity in moments of fear

• Made to Tremble: How Anxiety Became the Best Thing That Ever Happened to My Faith by Blair Linne
• The Attributes of God album by Shai Linne

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Welcome back to Season 7 of the Ministry Wives Podcast! We’re launching this new season with bestselling author and Bible teacher Jen Wilkin, who joins host Amy Petersen for a powerful conversation on godly wisdom, biblical discernment, and the ministry wife life. Together, they unpack common misconceptions about the Book of Proverbs, explore the differences between God’s promises and principles, and offer encouragement to women serving faithfully in ministry.

• Practical strategies for navigating expectations as a pastor’s wife or ministry leader
• The role of sanctification as you grow in true wisdom
• Why listening to older believers’ perspectives is essential for spiritual maturity
• How to choose your “Grandma name” (and laugh along the way)
• Fresh insights into Proverbs, promises, and principles for daily life

• The Way of Wisdom Bible Study by Jen Wilkin, Ruth Chou Simons, Kelly Minter, Adrienne Camp, Elizabeth Woodson, and Courtney Doctor
• Register for In the Word with Jen Wilkin – Sept 26–27, 2025 (Brentwood, TN)

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Welcome back to the third and final episode of our summer mini-series on 2 Corinthians! Join Christine Hoover as she invites her friend—pastor’s wife, mom, writer, and speaker—Kristen Wetherell to join her on the Ministry Wives Podcast. Together, they dive deeply into what reliance on the Lord looks like through the lens of chronic pain, motherhood, and the everyday realities of life as a ministry wife. From the pressure of others’ expectations to the importance of community and vulnerability, discover how God desires to be more than enough strength in your weakness as you recognize your limitations, embrace the people of God, and revel in His grace upon grace.

• More than Enough by Christine Hoover
• From Good to Grace by Christine Hoover
• Gentle and Lowly by Dane Ortlund
• Check out Kristen’s books
• Subscribe to Kristen’s newsletter

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Welcome back to episode two of our three-part series on 2 Corinthians! Join our summertime host and founder of the podcast, Christine Hoover, as she meets up with Kristi Billingsley to explore the steadfastness of God—even amidst our toughest seasons of sorrow and loss.

Tune in as Kristi shares her personal journey of grieving the loss of her young son Caden. Discover the life-giving power of unwavering faith, intentional community, and the hope-filled expectation of an eternity spent with the Lord. Learn what it means for believers to navigate the complexities of loss while drawing strength from the promises of Scripture for all who place faith in Jesus Christ.

If you find yourself in a season of immense suffering, grief, or loss, we pray that you would be encouraged by the steadfastness of God and by the power of His divine strength in our weakness. May you experience the comfort of His peace that surpasses all understanding.

• More than Enough by Christine Hoover
• One Day Closer

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Welcome to our special summer mini-series with Christine Hoover on the Ministry Wives Podcast! We’re so excited to launch this three-part season with Christine as she dusts off her microphone and unpacks what it means to rely on God’s strength in our weakness. Join us on the podcast as we get to spend a little time chatting with wife, mom, speaker, and author Whitney Capps!

Tune in as Whitney shares her journey through life, family, and ministry while navigating the challenges of her cancer diagnosis—all through the lens of gospel hope and the strength she has received through trusting the Lord in each and every season.

If you find yourself feeling overwhelmed, discouraged, or like your faith isn’t where you wish it were in the midst of your current circumstances, tune in to discover the power of God’s strength in our weakness, how He is truly more than enough in our suffering.

• More than Enough by Christine Hoover
• Simple Seminary
• Theology & Other Fun Stuff Podcast
• We Over Me: Bible Study by Whitney Capps
• Sick of Me by Whitney Capps
• Request for Whitney to Speak!

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