Life almost never looks like what we expect. And when you’re in vocational ministry, you have to constantly expect the unexpected.
Duce and Missie Branch both serve on staff at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary. Duce, who happens to be an accomplished rapper, is a professor of preaching and Bible; Missie is the assistant dean of students to women and director of graduate life.
Duce and Missie joined Ben and Lynley to recount their journey as church planters years ago. Neither one of them thought they would plant a church, yet they found themselves hurled into the chaos of launching a ministry. And when they were in the early stages of the church, it took an emotional toll on them they didn’t see coming.
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Quotes from this episode:
“Fear, in its healthy form, creates a sense of reliance and faith. But in an unhealthy place it becomes rage. That mentality can hurt church planters.”
“I didn’t want to be a failure. I was trying not to look weak and fall apart. And when you’re the pastor’s wife, there’s no one you can tell.”
“I was doing this in my strength. I wasn’t laying our ministry at the Lord’s feet.”
“We have to get past the idea that pastors and their wives are above pain, hurt, and dysfunction.”
“I said ‘yes’ to anything and everything anyone asked me to do. I didn’t allow bandwidth for spending time with the Savior.”
“Prepare yourself that something is not going to work the way you’ve planned it. This helps prepare our attitudes and helps us learn from failure.”
Links:
Visit Duce on Instagram.
Visit Missie on Instagram.
Follow Duce on Twitter.
Follow Missie on Twitter.
Check out Duce’s music.
Show Credits:
Executive Producer: Joy Allmond
Produced and Edited by: Angie Elkins Media
Original Music by: Robert Elkins
Sound Engineering by: Dale Sandberg
Art Work by: Cameron Spooner