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Our work is to minister to ministers, clergy spouses, widows and orphans, to empower, equip, encourage and educate. 

Lydia Ministries International is a 501 (3)(c) non-profit organization. 100% of your gift goes to the work of the ministry. We do not take a salary from the ministry.

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Ministering to the Maasai Tribe in Kenya 2008

The Mission of Lydia Ministries International

The mission of Lydia Ministries International is to encourage, empower and equip pastors and their families as they serve God.



Susan Ferrell
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Susan Ferrell has a heart for churches, pastors and their families. Susan has served in the ministry for over 20 years. Her late husband, Rev. Gary Ferrell, served as an ordained minister in the United Methodist Church for over thirty-five years. Out of Susan's love for the church and it's ministry, and out of the seeds of experiences that she and Gary were privleged to have known, Susan now consults with churches establishing an intentional ministry within the church to nurture, care for and minister to their pastoral leadership, to take care of our pastors and their families. To restore pastors who have become broken and to offer means of healing the pastor and church relationship. It is our mission to minister to ministers and their families.

Pastors Leaving the Ministry!

Studies Report:

Over 1600 ministers leave the ministry each MONTH.

90% of the participants surveyed knew of a pastor who had been forced out. These are pastors who are leaving the ministry, some never return to any form of ministry.

35% of the pastors had followed a pastor who had been forced out. These are pastors are broken and hurting, many will never return to the ministry.

23% of the particpants had been forced out themselves. These ministers now are working from wounded healers experience.

10% of participants in one survey followed pastors who had abandoned their ministries altogether! This is our loss! The church can not afford to lose ministers. We need every minister that God sends to us.

According to one survey, the average stay was 18 months or less for pastors. From experience, and research backs this up, it takes the third year of ministry that a pastor is in a church before he/she can really began to impact your church. Look at the great loss the church is suffering because we aren't taking care of our pastors. We must support our pastors!

Pastors often suffer from isolation due to a lack of close friends. They also suffer from low self-esteem, strained and broken family relationships, financial failings, and
spiritual fatigue and burnout. This in an "organization" whose commandments include the following:

"The man who is being taught the Christian message should share all the good things he has with his teacher."Gal. 6:6

"It was he (Jesus) who "gave gifts to mankind" he appointed some to be apostles, others to be prophets, others to be evangelists, others to be pastors and teachers." Eph. 4:11-12

1 Timothy 5:17-18, "Let the elders who rule well be counted worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in the word and doctrine. Scripture says, 'You shall not muzzle an ox while it treads out the grain,' and 'The laborer is worthy of his wages."

Let's stop the "Exodus" of ministers from leaving the ministry! Let's minister to the pastors, caring for them and their families.

Susan speaks with the authenticity that comes from experiencing the life of ministry. Her story will have you laughing and weeping, rejoicing and reflecting. Susan proclaims the Biblical mandates for caring for your pastor(s) and she gives you practical ways in which to follow those mandates.

How Did Lydia Ministries Get It's Name?

So Who is Lydia?

The first person recorded in the Bible to become a Christian in Europe!

Paul and Timothy were travelling in Greece, in Macedonia and sought out a place of prayer and worship. They went down to the riverside and Lydia accepted Christ. She then led her entire household to Christ.

She was a Woman of Influence!

Lydia was a professional woman. She was a merchant of fabric, but not just any fabric, instead she sold "purple" fabric that was usually reserved for royalty.

Lydia was a woman of Travel and Experience!

Lydia was from Thyatira, which was in what is modern day Turkey. However, when she encountered Paul and Timothy, she was in Greece.

Lydia was a woman of service!

When Lydia accepted Christ and led her family to Christ, she then opened her home to Paul and Timothy, fed and cared for them.

This is why we chose Lydia as our ministry's namesake. She was a woman of influence who loved Christ, loved her family and those within her household, and she loved her "ministers", enough to open her heart and her home to them. Lydia knew that it was a great honor to minister to the ministers, to support the leadership, the workers of God.

Lydia Ministry International is looking for women (and men) of influence within churches who love Christ, love their families, and love their pastors (and pastors' families).

Lydia Ministries International is a 501 (c)(3) Non-profit organization. Your Gifts of any amount are greatly appreciated and are tax-deductible. The work of Lydia Ministries International is made possible through YOUR gifts.  100% of your gift goes to the work of the ministry!

Susan's Calendar is now being scheduled for 2008-2009. Please email or write now to engage her for your next ministry event:
email sferrell287@lydiaministry.com (subject line: scheduling)
or write:
Scheduling: Lydia Ministries International
290 Half Timber Dr Marion NC 28752
Mailbox 4

swferrell286632@lydiaministry.com

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Lydia Ministries International

PO BOX 786

Taylorsville NC 28681

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