When we refer to “Village Missionaries,” we are talking about both the husband and wife. This is because the two are a team. The way our Village Missionary wives complement their husbands makes the two stronger in ministry and more effective in reaching their communities.

Proverbs 31:10 says, “Who can find a virtuous wife? For her worth is far above rubies.” Verse 20 continues, “She extends her hand to the poor. Yes, she reaches out to the needy.”

I know that verse sure resonates with me. When Carole and I were Village Missionaries in Red Feather Lakes, Carole had such a heart for the needy. She developed a VBS program in our church, because there were unchurched kids who needed to hear the Gospel. She led Bible studies to help women grow in their faith, and she even visited those in the hospital with me. She did all of this while also being a homemaker!

Verses 27-28 say, “She watches over the ways of her household, and does not eat the bread of idleness. Her children rise up and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her.”

A Stronger Ministry

with Brian Wechsler, Executive DirectorA View From the Country

On top of many other ministries, Village Missions wives are also raising children and taking care of the home. This is no small task! We have seen so many of these children go on to do wonderful things, including becoming Village Missionaries. What a testament to their mothers!

In this issue, you will read about three women who each used her unique background and gifts to serve in her community. You will learn how God is using women across the United States to radically shape small towns and rural communities with the Gospel of Christ. While their husbands are preaching from the pulpit on Sunday mornings, these women are bringing the love and hope of Christ to individuals they alone can reach.

Some teach music, work at hospitals, lead women’s Bible studies or host sewing parties. Others mentor, visit the elderly, or adopt. Were it not for these women, many souls that need a woman’s influence might slip through the cracks. They are reaching individuals who may never step

foot in a church but are forever changed by the kindness of a Village Missionary woman.

Standing with the country church,

Brian WechslerExecutive Director, Village Missions

Kathy Pinkham always wanted to be a missionary wife. Xiomara Gard and Mandy Blessard did not. Each woman came from a different past. Each had different goals. And, like Village Missionary men, each woman would have a unique way of ministering to her community.

Kathy grew up a pastor’s kid, was saved at a very young age, and thoroughly enjoyed growing up in ministry. As a junior high student, Kathy was assigned an essay describing what she wanted her future to look like. She stated that she wanted to go to Bible school, marry a pastor, have several children, and serve alongside her husband.

A few years later, Kathy met her husband Tony at Bible college. After graduating, the two joined Village Missions and began having kids. Kathy began volunteering with music and children’s ministries, as well as connecting with the women in the church. Kathy also now

serves with needy kids at the high school each school day, as well as substituting other classes.

“Ministry is so easy to do when Jesus is the One who

leads you in it each day. You just have to allow Him to speak to you in His still, small voice and just go.”

One of Kathy’s greatest ministries has been her impact on wives in Village Missions. She has ministered to many intern wives, helping them grow in Christ and challenging them to be used by God in ministry.

Kathy also serves current VM wives by maintaining a Facebook page dedicated to encouraging each other. She continues being involved in many areas of the church, both with her husband and individually.

“The complement Kathy has been in ministry to me is just incalculable… She is intensely given to people and a huge blessing to me.” – Tony Pinkham

“My role in Village Missions is to be a help-meet to my husband and a blessing to his ministry. It is being partners to both preach and teach the Word of God into the lives of the church body, but also loving the people through real, thoughtful ways of encouragement.”

Everyday ministries include leading music and Bible studies, planning wedding and baby showers, visitation, and volunteering in the community.

Ironically, one of Kathy’s favorite memories in ministry came after a major surgery, when she was at home and unable to minister in her usual ways. A lady in the church blessed Kathy by hiring a woman named Linda to clean Kathy’s house once a week. A friendship

blossomed quickly between the two.

“When I shared the Gospel with her, she was willing and eager to have the Savior in her life! We prayed right there in my living room.”

Kathy went on to disciple her, and while Linda has since moved, she continues to walk with the Lord.

While specific ministries have changed as the years pass, Kathy continues to find herself privileged to live the life she always dreamed.

Xiomara’s high school dreams were not of missions. As recent immigrants from El Salvador, Xiomara’s family told her to focus on the important things—going to college, getting a successful job and staying away from boys.

“I was never going to marry a pastor, never was going to be a missionary and never was going to have babies young.”

Xiomara’s goals were interrupted by a 16-year-old boy named Josh Gard, who shared the bus with her on the way to high school sporting events. As a new believer, Xiomara had many spiritual questions, and Josh was eager to either answer the questions or find the answers. The two married after high school, attended Bible college, went into Village Missions, and started a family.

“I found it challenging being a young mom raising children in a remote, rural location—many days alone with a busy

spouse. This became a blessing, however, by forcing me to initiate contact with other moms in the community. We also developed strong family connections and traditions that otherwise I would have taken for granted had we not intentionally used this challenging time for good.”

Outside of parenting, Xiomara’s “niche” did not start in church ministry. Instead, her ministry came through her camera lens. Initially starting Imago Dei Photography to help offset the financial burden at the turn of the economy, Xiomara’s skill with the camera bloomed into a fantastic way of getting involved in the community.

“I get to know many couples and families that we would otherwise never meet at church. It’s something that I pray continually will bring glory to Christ and that through my interactions we are able to proclaim the Gospel often.”

Xiomara is also involved in areas of need at church, but sees her primary roles as a helper to Josh and a mother

to their two children. Xiomara said that nurturing and equipping her children to grow in their faith frees Josh to lead the church and concentrate on studies and preparations.

“She keeps our family functioning. I always appreciate her wisdom with people. I bounce ideas off of her, and she has insights that I would totally miss. We’re also starting to have younger women who look up to her and want her advice.” – Josh Gard

Being a Village Missionary certainly wasn’t Xiomara’s plan, but it was God’s, and He is choosing to use her for His glory in ways she could have never imagined.

Growing up, Mandy thought that pastors and their wives must be on a higher level than others and she did not want to be one. After getting married, her husband Rusty felt the call into full- time ministry, but for ten years the two fought

against the calling. Instead, Rusty continued his work in retail and Mandy worked as a Dental Assistant.

“I must admit that I was wasn’t very supportive of the idea of ministry,

even though I realized that it was of God for Rusty to pursue this calling, but neither Rusty nor I felt that we were ready for such a calling.”

After moving to Maryland, the two joined a wonderful church family and began volunteering in youth ministry. Finally, Rusty decided to begin Bible college. However, during this time, Mandy faced many trials.

“I was so absorbed with things of this world, which did not bring about happiness of any kind and only left me feeling hopeless. I was hopeless to the point that in the spring of 1998, I felt that there was no longer any reason to live. God very plainly spoke to me at that time and reminded me that He had never left my side and that He had great plans for me and my family. In the years to come, God never ceased to amaze us by providing for our every need financially, physically, mentally, and more importantly, spiritually.”

Two years later, Mandy and Rusty would join Village Missions, where Mandy could continue in the medical profession, working as an EMT and then an RN. She could have never imagined that God would use her struggles of the past to help men and women struggling to find hope in their futures.

As a nurse, Mandy has had many opportunities to care for patients who are scared, lonely and feeling hopeless. She has been an example of Christ, shining a light patients may not see at any other time in their lives. Mandy seizes opportunities to pray for patients when appropriate. One couple that is involved in her church came as a result of her work at the hospital.

While caring for a man in the hospital, Mandy learned that he and his wife were fairly new to the area and looking for a church. Mandy offered to provide transportation for the two and they have attended regularly ever since.

“They have been a blessing to our church and have found their place in ministry.”

Because of her kindness, Mandy was able to provide this couple not only with a church family, but with an avenue to serve the Lord as well.

On top of her work and ministry at the hospital, Mandy also volunteers in church activities and is active through local school sports. She also finds great joy in being a second mother to her kids’ friends.

“I have learned personally throughout the years to make sure that my focus is on Jesus, to daily learn about Him through daily devotions and time spent in His Word, that prayer is a powerful tool and to surround yourself with other women with a like-mindedness for ministry and support. [I am] to be a good example for others to see, and to remember that everyone is at a different level with their walk with the Lord and that I am to love them where they are at.”

God is using Village Missionaries to spread the Gospel message across rural North America. Like Kathy,

Xiomara and Mandy, these women are showing the love of Christ through the way they raise their children, adopt and care for foster children,

visit the elderly, lead Bible studies,

encourage their husbands, bake, pray earnestly, lead music, and so many other ways.

Each of these women came from a different past and now serve in different ways, but the results are the same. Some dreamed of ministry and instantly loved it. Others followed their husbands calling and discovered their ministry through early struggles. Some serve front and center, while others stay in the background. All of these women are shining a light in places where many are not willing to go, and because of them, these communities will never be the same.

“A wife of noble character who can find? She is worth far more than rubies...She sets about her work vigorously...She opens her

hands to the poor and extends her hands to the needy...She is clothed

with strength and dignity...she speaks with wisdom, and faithful

instruction is on her tongue.”Proverbs 31

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