Friendship in Ministry (an interview with Clancey Garcia)

Author: North American Mission Board
Published: Mon 17 Apr 2023
Episode Link: https://www.namb.net/podcasts/ministry-wives-podcast/friendship-in-ministry-an-interview-with-clancey-garcia/

The challenges of navigating friendship as a ministry wife can make us want to shrink back from forming these life-giving relationships. Clancey Garcia joins me today to talk about how we can identify and develop friendships with other women in the church, intentionally grow them, and manage the hurts that can arise from friendship in a broken world.

EPISODE GUIDE

When seeking to make friends in the church, listen to the Holy Spirit and watch for good character and good conversation.

Pursuing friendship requires intentionality and vulnerability.

Friendship can come with hurt, but instead of closing yourself off, look for what God is trying to teach you.

BEST QUOTES

“When trying to make new friends, I look for consistency of character and good conversation. What were we talking about when we were together? Was it glorifying God? If I continue to see good character and good conversation, I push for more time with that person.”

-Clancey Garcia

“It sounds a little impersonal, but honestly the best way for me to love my friends is to get them on our calendar. I always kind of felt funny about that, that I would have to reach out in advance to spend time with a friend. But I’m learning that is just what we have to do as moms of little kids and ministry wives. If it’s not on the calendar, it’s not gonna happen.”

-Clancey Garcia

“Anytime we’re hurt, it opens up a lot more than we even thought was there. It shows us parts of our heart, how we contributed to the situation, how we need to grow. Sometimes it’s not even that we’ve done something wrong and need to repent, but God is maybe showing us something and we need to make an adjustment in the way we handle things or the way we navigate friendship and other relationships.”

-Christine Hoover