Wives Network

Who this is for

A network for the spouses of pastors and planters

Being a pastor's wife is a unique role, with its own pressures, complexities, and gospel possibilities. It's worth investing in directly.

Healthy marriages in ministry make a significant difference to the health of a church. Investing in spouses is one of the most overlooked levers for seeing healthy, evangelistic, multiplying churches across Australia.

The Reach Australia Wives Network provides gospel-centred teaching, practical training, and the support of women who understand what ministry life is like.

What we do

Gospel-centred training and support for wives in ministry

From intensive getaways to ongoing coaching, everything on offer is shaped around the realities of life in ministry.

Our network is made up of other pastors’ wives and church planters’ wives who understand the unique aspects of this role and have walked this path for many years.

Whether it's been a fruitful season or a hard one, we'd love to connect and hear more.

"When I first went on the Wives Network retreat, I honestly thought I’d be the odd one out, since I’m working and doing ministry in the public space. But it was brilliant. Being at the Wives Network retreat was like being surrounded by warrior-class women.

Pastors’ wives are the most tuned-in, thoughtful, incredible women you’ll ever meet. Even if they work or don’t work, if they’re educated at uni or didn’t finish high school, if they have kids or don’t have kids—there’s just a unique quality about a pastor’s wife.

Being surrounded by them for a whole three days was incredible.
The training and coaching really hit where we’re at. We’re exhausted, we’re scared, we’re worried we’re not doing enough, or that we’re doing too much. All the training helped us work through those emotional burdens—whether you’re a young pastor’s wife trying to figure it out, or an older pastor’s wife carrying hurt and unresolved things.

It’s always hard to get away, though. Our kids’ schools are far, we don’t have family support nearby, and I feel guilty leaving my spouse with everything. But it was worth it. The women I bonded with there are people I’d love to see again.

That’s the gift of the Wives Network. When you’re the “warrior class,” there’s usually only one of you in your church. You don’t get to see each other. Those days away gave me the chance to be with women like me, to rest, and to persevere again."

Amy Isham

St Kilda Presbyterian Balaclava Church, Melbourne

Established church or church plant?

Established churches

Church planting

For wives in established churches

Intensive retreat

3-Day Away

A chance to step out of the regular routine and into a space designed for meaningful reflection. These Gold Coast getaways bring together pastors' wives to work through values and self-awareness, and think carefully about what God is doing in and through them.

Intensive retreat

4-Day Away

A follow-on from the 3-Day Away, this Gold Coast retreat moves from reflection to equipping. Being convicted by the gospel opens up multiple opportunities to serve, this program gives wives practical tools for their unique role.

Online

Marriage and Ministry Nights

Ministry pressure puts real strain on marriages. The Marriage and Ministry Night is hosted online for pastors and their spouses to reflect together, learn from others in similar situations, and stay connected to a wider ministry community.

Online

Coaching

Knowing what to do is one thing. Having support to do it is another. Coaching is offered to wives who have completed one of our intensives, at no cost, for a minimum of two years. It's a regular space to reflect, stay accountable, and keep growing.

"There are as many types of ministry wives as there are women in ministry. The Wives Network gives permission to be whoever God has made you to be — and to do that thoughtfully, grounded in Scripture, and with others alongside you."

Sarah Allen

Laneway Church

This has helped me accept my unique role in being here to build Godʼs church, and to partner my husband and children in doing that.

Tiana Flint

Wagga Evangelical Church

I have had a lot of involvement in ministry wife conferences through college years and I have to say this program was particularly unique. I highly recommend going!

Janine Morrow

Christlife Presbyterian Church

I feel less alone after having shared experiences with other pastors' wives. I've realised how precious God's church is and I need to get in step with God.

Sharna Dewson

Dalby Presbyterian Church

The first time in years I've felt invested in. Forced reflection on life and ministry in a carefully and thoughtfully guided way and in a beautiful environment and great food, conducive for reflecting deeply. It's given me life and ministry skills for myself and those I serve.

Priya Morgan

St Mark's Anglican Church Sadleir

A fantastic opportunity to refocus your eyes on what matters most in life and the eternal significance of how we spend our lives for Jesus.

Charley Ballinger

Trinity South Christchurch

Find a way to come! The content was more valuable and helpful than I’d expected and the opportunity to connect with women who totally get the unique challenges was such a blessing.

Fara Allinson

Singleton Baptist Church

It was an amazing privilege to stay in such a beautiful part of the world, being fed from God's word and pushed in my thinking about my role in church as the pastor's wife. The self awareness activities were very helpful, and I have come home keen to implement what I've learned in some specific situations.

Rebecca Shead

St Barnabas' Fairfield

I didn’t experience a shift, but a sharpening. My perspective on work, the kingdom and this world were clarified as I had the space and time to wrestle with God’s word, my heart and my presuppositions.

Maddison Spring

Sovereign Grace Parramatta

It’s an amazing opportunity to pause and reflect and be challenged about how we spend our time, our gospel opportunities and to learn and reflect more on what inputs are most helpful for us to live well in light of the coming of Christ.

Suzie Thompson

Arundel Presbyterian Church

It’s really worth putting aside the time for excellent input, self reflection, and support of other wives in similar circumstances.

Alison Stuart

Karrinyup Anglican church

For church planter wives

Intensive retreat

Bootcamp

Bootcamp is for planting couples. Designed to lay healthy gospel foundations before the plant begins, bootcamp covers self-identity and awareness, and the practical and relational groundwork for what lies ahead. Some sessions are for couples; others bring planter wives together to share and learn from one another.

Online

Cohorts

Women are placed in a cohort with others at a similar stage, sharing experiences, learning together, and building gospel resilience. Cohorts meet online every second month over three years, with the camaraderie of women who understand the road.

Retreat

Refresh

A couples retreat focused on marriage. Refresh gives planting husbands and wives dedicated time to work through marriage content, have meaningful conversations, and invest in their relationship away from the demands of ministry.

Retreat

Renew and Release

Around three years post-launch, the early adrenaline has worn off and new challenges are emerging. This day is designed to meet couples in that moment: to renew connection, reflect on the journey, and release them with fresh energy and vision for the road ahead.

Online

Coaching

One-on-one monthly coaching is offered at no cost, for a minimum of two years. It's a space to work through challenges, decisions, and concerns, with a coach who listens, asks good questions, and helps move things forward.

Made possible by gospel partners

The Wives Network is only possible because of the generosity of people who believe in what we're doing.

Every intensive getaway, coaching session and resource is funded by gospel partners who give to see pastors' wives equipped and supported across Australia. If you'd like to partner with us, we'd love to hear from you.

Partner with us

FAQ

Got questions?

The best starting point is to get in touch using the contact form below. Someone from the team will help identify the right program and answer any questions.

Not at all. The Wives Network is for spouses of church planters, senior pastors and others in pastoral ministry, whatever the specific role, if ministry life shapes a woman's world, this network is for her.

No. There's no requirement for a formal ministry role. Many women who attend are navigating what it means to support their husbands while raising families and working.

Coaching is offered one-on-one and shaped around a participant's specific circumstances, goals and challenges. It's a regular space to reflect, process what's been learned, and have someone genuinely invested in how things are going. Coaching is offered at no cost for a minimum of two years.