Fatigued Ministry Wives Get Princess Treatment

Heart & Soul Connection is holding a regional ministry wives conference for the Southern Louisiana area beginning today free of charge.

By Lillian Kwon, Christian Post Reporter Thursday, May 18, 2006

"Compassion fatigue" is a common phrase heard among American relief workers and donors since the Katrina disaster shook up the nation like no other. America's attention has been drawn to the countless debris clean-ups, gutting of houses, and counseling that volunteers have done non-stop. Yet one pastor's wife is applying those repeated two words to the wives who stand behind the messy scene.

"They're just exhausted," said Nancy H. Burgess, founder and director of Heart & Soul Connection, referring to the ministers' wives in the hurricane-affected areas. "So many of their husbands are doing so much work with relief efforts. They are absolutely gone all the time and their families are being left alone. They don't see their husbands."

Heart & Soul Connection is a non-profit organization founded two years ago to encourage and provide resources to ministry wives, who are often ignored. At the request of a missionary in New Orleans, the non-profit is holding a regional ministry wives conference for the Southern Louisiana area beginning today free of charge.

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Burgess has taken a team of 16 female speakers including Women of Faith's Anita Renfroe, author of The Purse-Driven Life, counselors and women who have been uplifted through the organization to lead workshops around the theme "Keeping a Princess Heart in a Not so Fairy Tale World."

"They (ministry wives) were drawn to this theme because they certainly are not in a fairy tale world anymore," said Burgess.

The Heart & Soul team took a first hand look at the devastation Wednesday night before the conference opening. Upon viewing the damages, Burgess is ready to replenish the fatigued wives.

"They just give, give, give. We want to fill their tanks again," she commented.

The New Orleans conference is the third of its kind and invitations have already been accepted to host the event in Florida and Texas. After launching the conference in Atlanta, Heart & Soul Connection is now taking its encouragement across the states, which is what Burgess had hoped for at the start of her ministry.

According to Burgess, ministry wives who are in depression number high and while the husbands – whether a pastor, youth worker or worship leader – have a plethora of resources and events geared toward them, little is offered to the wives on an "on-going basis."

"These women need a place where they can reach out and get help," said Burgess.

Heart & Soul Connection holds Supper Fellowships and ministry wives conferences throughout the year and offers resources including monthly e-mails and links to helpful websites.

For more information, visit www.heartandsoulconnection.com.