Ministry Women's Fellowship (MWF)
" …that they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children "
Purpose of the MWF
The PRTS Ministry Women’s Fellowship (MWF) is made up of the wives of the faculty who seek to serve the wives of the PRTS students, as well as female students, by “encouraging and equipping Christian ministry women to be godly women of strength, honor, wisdom, and love.”
PRTS exists to train men to preach and teach in Christ’s church and, in light of this, each man’s wife fills an important role of support and love. We believe that her most important relationship in life is with Jesus Christ, then with her husband and children, then with her church community, and then with the community at large. Although there are seasons in life where a wife has limited time and needs to prioritize, her season of seminary life is an ideal time to prepare for ministry life at her husband’s side.
Female students are also part of MWF. As they prepare to serve the church in a non-preaching role, we will prayerfully nurture them in their relationship with Jesus Christ, as the foundation for developing their gifts.
MWF is designed to equip the future pastor’s wife and church worker for her calling by offering biblically based and practical courses. Seminary faculty, faculty wives, and guest speakers teach these classes from a confessional Reformed perspective, mirroring PRTS’s doctrinal stance. We give special focus to nurturing fellowship between seminary women. Together, these aspects of MWF encourage women to deepen their piety and devotion to the Lord and cultivate a servant heart and mindset.
With God’s blessing, we aim to make the years at seminary an enjoyable and profitable time, as students, spouses, and faculty alike learn from each other.
Current Schedule of Meetings
Theme: The Pastor’s Wife in the Home and the Community
MWF Spring 2024 Schedule of Meetings:
- January 23: Panel Discussion “Life as a Seminary Student Family,” Abigail Buck, Larissa Quaresma, Rachel Sant’Anna, Nayeli Vasquez, Moderator: Elizabeth Kiambati
- February 6: “Developing My Gifts,” Kara Dedert
- February 20: “Safeguards in a Ministry Marriage,” Donna Kelderman
- March 5: “Jesus’ Dealings with Mary and Martha,” Dr. David Kranendonk
- March 19: “The Influence of the Pro-life Church in the Community” Mary VerWys
- April 16: Social Gathering, at Sandra Barrett’s house
Welcome from MWF
Welcome to Grand Rapids! We are thankful that the Lord has made it possible for you to be part of the PRTS community for a time, and we look forward to getting to know you.
PRTS is committed to providing students with the advice and support that they might need throughout their time here. But there are lots of times, especially if you are married to a student, when you might need answers to questions after office hours, or there may be questions that you feel silly asking the seminary staff.
This handbook tries to answer those questions. The handbook for enrolled seminary students answers questions about academic policies and procedures; this handbook is more concerned with helping you get groceries, find a playground for your children, or mail a card to your mother. In compiling this handbook, we have tried to construct a little Grand Rapids survival guide. It is our hope that having this tool in your home will make your adjustment to seminary life a little easier, a little more enjoyable, and a little less confusing.
If you have any comments or suggestions for future editions of this handbook, please reach out to us. Please feel free to ask any question not answered in this handbook.
In Christ,
The Ministry Women’s Fellowship Team
Further Resources
A driver’s license and a Social Security number are two benefits for which non-immigrant students and exchange visitors may need to apply. SEVP has released a webinar and a DMV fact sheet to make the application process easier to understand.
The MWF recommend reading list is available here.
Reach out to us with any questions about the MWF.